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Literary Studies (Research)

Master

This research master programme offers the possibility to combine one year research skills (60 EC) with one year specialization in the literature of one’s choice (60 EC), f.i. Italian, German, Dutch, French, English, Comparative Literature etc.

Besides the obligatory courses (see below) the student can choose three electives (each 10 EC -> 30 EC) from his or her specialization (f.i. Italian, German, Dutch, French, English, Comparative Literature, etc.) and combine them with his or her thesis subject (25 EC).

Entry requirements

Read more on Entry requirements

Information

Coordinator of Studies: Ms. Mr.drs. P.C. Lai

Year 1

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory Courses
LUCAS seminar: Cultural Theory for the 21st Century 5
Research School Courses (Arts and Culture & Literary Studies) 5

Choose one out two Core Courses
Core Course Medieval and Early Modern Studies 10
Core Course: Methodological Concepts in Art and Literature 10

General Electives

Students take two General Electives in the first year and one in the second year.
Arts, Life Science and Digital Culture 10
Critical Theory and Cultural Analysis: Foucault, Lacan, Kittler 10
European Modernism 10
From Aristotle to Žižek: Approaches to Cultural Analysis 10
Interculturality 1: Key Concepts 10
Crisis, Literature and the Contemporary 10
Digital Media, New Imaging Technologies, and Machinic Cultures 10
Interculturality 2: The Global Imagination 10
Law, Culture, Media and Technology 10
Literature and Reconciliation 10
Slavery: Discourse and representation in European and Caribbean Literature 10

Specialisation Electives

Select a research seminar from one of the specialisations of the MA Literary Studies (all tracks), MA Media Studies - Comparative Literature and Literary Theory, MA Media Studies - Book and Digital Media Studies, MA Neerlandistiek: Oudere Nederlandse Letterkunde, MA Neerlandistiek: Taalbeheersing van het Nederlands or Interculturality 1 (see above).
Specialisation Electives (Literary Studies) 30
Leiden Graduate Journal 'Culture and Society' 10

Year 2

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory Courses
LUCAS Writing Seminar 10
Research School Courses (Arts and Culture & Literary Studies) 5
MA Thesis Literary Studies (research) 25

General Electives

Students take one General Elective in the second year.
Arts, Life Science and Digital Culture 10
Critical Theory and Cultural Analysis: Foucault, Lacan, Kittler 10
European Modernism 10
From Aristotle to Žižek: Approaches to Cultural Analysis 10
Interculturality 1: Key Concepts 10

Specialisation Electives

Select a research seminar from one of the specialisations of the MA Literary Studies (all tracks), MA Media Studies - Comparative Literature and Literary Theory, MA Media Studies - Book and Digital Media Studies, MA Neerlandistiek: Oudere Nederlandse Letterkunde, MA Neerlandistiek: Taalbeheersing van het Nederlands or Interculturality 1 (see above).
Specialisation Electives (Literary Studies) 30
Leiden Graduate Journal 'Culture and Society' 10

More info

Objectives

The Research Master Literary Studies is closely connected to the Research Master Arts and Culture and has three main objectives:

  • It seeks to provide students with a shared methodological and theoretical basis and to broaden their scope by adding a comparative study. These objectives will be accomplished in the compulsory team-taught common courses in the program;

  • The program will also allow students to acquire sophisticated knowledge and expertise on Literary Studies in their area of specialization. This objective will be accomplished in the specialisation electives;

  • The programme wants to train the students as independent researchers, in particular in the thesis seminar and the thesis writing.

The aim of the programme:

  • to broaden and deepen the students’ knowledge, understanding and skills, and train them in the use of scientific methods in the field of Literary Studies and;

  • to enable students to develop the following academic and professional skills;
    the ability to solve academic problems independently, critically and creatively;
    the ability to analyse complex problems;
    the ability to clearly report academic results, both in writing and orally; Furthermore the programme aims:

  • to prepare students for an academic career at a university for postgraduate programmes;

  • to prepare students for a non-academic career in the public or private sector for which advanced research skills and practical research experience are a prerequisite.

The achievement levels can be found in the Course and Exam regulations

Programme

First semester

Students take the obligatory course ‘LUCAS Seminar: Cultural Theory for the 21st Century’ (5 EC) and one course within the programmes of one of the National Research Schools (5 EC). Additionally students must take a core course either in Medieval and Early Modern Studies (semester 1) or Methodological Concepts in Art and Literature (semester 2).

In addition, students take two elective courses:

  • one elective course is an interdisciplinary Research Master course (optional course, 10 EC);

  • one elective course is from one’s area of specilisation. It is a course from one of the other MA programmes in the field of Literary Studies (10 EC);

Second semester

In the second semester students take the course ‘Methodological Concepts in Art and Literature’ (10 EC) and two elective courses:

  • one elective course is an interdisciplinary Research Master course (optional course, 10 EC);

  • one elective course is from one’s area of specilisation. It is a course from one of the other MA programmes in the field of Literary Studies (10 EC);

Third semester

The second year starts with preparation for the thesis in the ‘Thesis Seminar and Colloquium’ course (10 EC). Students take two elective courses (see Semester 1 and 2).

Forth semester

Students complete their Research Master programme by writing a thesis (25 EC) under the supervision of an academic member of staff. They also take a course within the programmes of one of the National Research Schools (5 EC).

Master thesis and requirements for graduation

The Research Master Literary Studies is concluded by a thesis. This is a written report of research which the student carries out under supervision by an academic member of staff but with a high degree of independence. In principle, the thesis must be of sufficient quality to be published in an academic journal in the relevant field. The thesis counts a maximum of 25,000 words including notes, bibliography and appendices.

Requirements for graduation are:

  • Successful completion of all courses: 95 EC

  • Successful completion of MA Thesis: 25 EC

Please note that you are also asked to fulfill certain administrative procedures, as can be found on the website of Literary Studies.

Career Preparation