Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the main FAQ page for additional questions related to admission. If you cannot find the answers to your questions on this web site, please contact the School of Continuing Studies’ Admission Office at (847) 491-5612.

Program Information:

What are the advantages of the part-time MALit program?
The MALit program gives students, most of whom are working full-time, an opportunity to learn from dedicated and talented Northwestern University faculty. The MALit program draws extensively from the English department at Northwestern, but faculty in French and Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese, classics, Slavic languages and literature, and theater also teach in this program. The program courses are designed to give students a broad and stimulating foundation in literary study. Students engage in a variety of serious intellectual pursuits, which prepare them for further academic or professional study, enhance their career credentials, and satisfy their desire for in-depth knowledge.

The MALit and MALS course offerings look very similar: What is the difference between these two degrees?
The two programs do allow for cross-enrollment, but the main focus of each one is distinct. Students in the MALit program take most of their courses from 400- level MALit course offerings, which provide for the interdisciplinary study of literature. Each student in the MALit program must take LIT 410-0 Introduction to Graduate Study in their first year of study. That course introduces students to current issues in literary scholarship, criticism, and theory while also introducing students to graduate study and research methods.

In some cases MALit students may take MALS courses, especially if those courses relate to their academic interests. For example, a student who plans to do a master's thesis on modern literature might choose to take a course in MALS on modern art or one on modern philosophy. Or an MALit student who is studying Latin American literature may take an MALS graduate course on Latin American politics or history.

Will my degree be conferred through the School of Continuing Studies? What will my diploma read?
If you are a student who began taking courses in the MALit program Winter 2009 or later, your degree will be conferred by the School of Continuing Studies, and your diploma will state this fact. If you began taking courses prior to Winter 2009, your degree will be conferred by The Graduate School, and your diploma will state this fact. Please note that this is an administrative technicality only; the academic quality and rigor of the program is identical for all students.

Who teaches the courses?
The courses are primarily taught by full-time Northwestern University faculty. The faculty are drawn from a variety of departments such as anthropology, art history, English, history, philosophy, religion, Slavic languages and literature, and sociology.

When and where do courses meet?
Courses meet in the evenings from 7 to 9:30 pm at both our Evanston and Chicago Lakefront campuses.

How long does it take to complete the MALit program?
The Graduate School allows students a maximum of five years to complete a program, although master's degree students generally complete degree requirements in two to three years.

Can I transfer credits from another graduate program?
No course work may be transferred from outside Northwestern University to fulfill MALit degree requirements.

Are any online courses available?
No online courses are offered at this time.

How large are the classes?
Class sizes typically range from 10 to 20 students per class, which gives them considerable personal attention from the faculty.

Can I take just one course?
Yes. If you do not want to pursue the entire degree or feel that you need professional or academic upgrades in a certain area, you can take courses on an individual basis as a nondegree special student or visiting scholar.

What could this degree do for my career?
The credential of having taken a master's degree or other graduate-level work at Northwestern University looks impressive on any resume. In particular, the MALit program hones your critical thinking and communication skills, improves your research and writing abilities, and expands your problem-solving capabilities by exposing you to multiple ways of seeing the world. These qualities are highly prized by employers. Alumni report that having the degree made a positive difference in their career advancement and salary.

MALit students come from a variety of professional disciplines. Our students are doctors, lawyers, writers, accountants, teachers, librarians, entrepreneurs, museum professionals, and homemakers, all of whom are united by their interests in continuing the life of the mind. Some students switch careers as a result of their experience in the program. Others come because they are interested in intellectual pursuits for their own reward. A number of MALit students over the years have gone on for further study at both the master's and PhD levels.