Major of English Literature

Cultivating broad perspectives and intellectual sensitivity in the fields of English literature and linguistics

The Graduate Program in English Literature is comprised of three concentrations: British Literature, American Literature, and English Linguistics. Each concentration is designed to cultivate the abilities and scholarship required of those pursuing careers in research or teaching. Since the program was founded over fifty years ago, many of our graduates have gone on to play active roles both as scholars and educators. Participants in the master's program take classes in British or American literature (including novels, poetry, drama, film, culture and critical theory) or in linguistics (including syntax, phonetics, semantics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition theory, and English-language teaching), while those in the doctoral program receive guidance in research for a PhD thesis in British or American literature or English linguistics. Students from other universities and those continuing their careers while pursuing a graduate degree frequently take part in our classes as well. One of the distinctive features of the program is that both master's and doctoral students may receive credit for courses taken at any of the 11 other universities belonging to the Association of Graduate Departments of English (Aoyama Gakuin University, Sophia University, University of the Sacred Heart, Tsuda Juku University, Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Tohoku Gakuin University, Toyo University, Japan Women's University, Hosei University, Meiji University, and Rikkyo University).

Admission Policy

TOPICS

Inter-University Credit Transfer System

The English Literature program has a credit transfer arrangement with the eleven other graduate schools belonging to the Association of Graduate Departments of English. Students pursuing a master's degree in English literature can earn up to ten credits for classes taken at these partner schools in the subjects listed below. (Note that students in the Graduate Program in English Literature may also enroll in classes offered by other programs of the Graduate School of Arts and Letters, allowing them to broaden their knowledge and perspective.)
Subjects accepted for credit transfer:

Scholarships and Grants

In principle, six students (primarily doctoral students) in the Graduate School of Arts and Letters are awarded scholarships of 100,000 or 200,000 yen each school year to support overseas research and presentations (up to 50,000 yen when participating in online conferences). In addition, grants of up to 30,000 yen are available to students in the Graduate School of Arts and Letters for travel to academic conferences within Japan.