If you're looking for a degree in literature online, you may be overwhelmed by the information available. Read on to learn more about online literature programs and what schools offer them.
Online Literature Degree Overview
At the undergraduate level, some colleges with distance learning literature programs offer them as part of a more general program, such as a degree in English. With these programs, you're likely to be graduating with an online English degree that carries a literature focus. While online graduate programs in literature are less common, they do exist, and may be offered with a specific focus, such as children's literature.
Online literature degrees often require several general education courses in addition to the major-specific courses. Some programs may also require the completion of a capstone seminar or a thesis. Below are some well-known, public schools that offer online literature degrees.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutOnlineLiteratureDegrees">Important Facts About Online Literature Degrees</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Prerequisites </td><td> High school education or GED equivalent are the minimum requirements in most cases</td></tr>
<tr><td>Degrees </td><td> Bachelor of Arts (B.A.); Master of Arts (M.A.); Doctor of Philosophy</td></tr>
<tr><td>Degree Fields</td><td> English language & literature, English literature, English literature & new media</td></tr>
<tr><td>Possible Careers </td><td> Author, teacher, cultural anthropologist</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021) </td><td>$69,510 (for all writers and authors)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Growth (2021-2031)</td><td> 4% (for all writers and authors)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---UniversityOfMarylandUniversityCollege">University of Maryland University College</h3><p>The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is part of a continuing education tradition dating back more than 80 years. The school offers both a major and a minor in English, focusing on literary analysis across a wide variety of literary texts. The school's 120-credit program is primarily a literature degree; students will be expected to take a number of credits in literature across many genres and time periods. Introduction to fiction, 19th-Century British literature, and Renaissance literature are all subjects covered in course offerings.
</p><h3 id="section---UniversityOfIllinois">University of Illinois</h3><p>The University of Illinois offers an online bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in literature. The program is centered on British Literature, American Literature, and World Literature. This program is for bachelor's degree <i>completion,</i> so students must either have an associate's degree or have completed some general education classes before beginning. In addition to specific courses in British and American Literature, graduating requires extensive education in literary research and literary study. This highly selective program accepts a limited number of students each semester.
</p><h3 id="section---SouthernNewHampshireUniversity">Southern New Hampshire University</h3><p>Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online Bachelor of Arts in English language & literature. Aside from the literature portion of the degree, the program also improves written and oral communication skills and research proficiency. The degree requires 120 credit hours to complete and includes a writing workshop. Additionally, a thesis option is available. The classes taken to complete the main portion of this degree are mostly up to the student, and options include Shakespearean literature and literary theory.</p>
