About Our Interdisciplinary Program
Arts and Letters is an interdisciplinary graduate liberal studies program designed with working professionals in mind. Our two degree programs (MLitt, DLitt) offer courses in seven concentrations that build on Drew University’s strengths in the humanities, the creative/performing arts, religious studies, and teacher education. Options include part-time and full-time study in an array of academic and creative fields. Small seminar-style classes meet in person, online, and in hybrid formats. Our faculty mentors work with students to customize each course of study tailored towards their individual goals. Internships and optional professional certificates assist students in transitioning to new professional opportunities in postsecondary teaching. Our graduates include language arts and history teachers, community college and university professors, creative writers, and directors of nonprofit organizations.
Program Requirements
Master of Letters (33 Credits)
The Master of Letters gives you the option of either completing ten courses (30 credits) and a 50–75 page master’s thesis (3 credits) or taking an additional course in lieu of the master’s thesis to complete a total of 11 courses (33 credits).
Doctor of Letters (45 Credits)
The program requires the completion of 12 courses, including two required seminars plus preparing and successfully defending a 150–220 page doctoral dissertation.
Latest News
Drew University Hosts Transforming Health Through the Arts Colloquium
Organized by the Medical & Health Humanities and Arts & Letters programs
Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies Holds Fall Arts & Letters Salon
Welcoming Guest Speaker Anne Ricculli G’18
DLitt Alum Kathy Kremins G’05 Publishes Book of Poetry
“My time at Drew gave me a new vision of the writing process as both a writer and a teacher, academic and creative”
William Tooma G’17 on Drew’s Arts & Letters Program
“It is special. It is unique and it has tremendous value”
Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies Holds Arts & Letters Salon
Celebrating Doctor of Letters students who have defended their dissertations
Women’s History Month: A Reflection by Liana Piehler G’01
Words of inspiration and vision from the affiliate professor
Arts & Letters at Drew is:
Interdisciplinary
- Building on the University’s strengths in the humanities, creative/performing arts, teacher education, and religious studies
- Breadth across disciplines that span creative, academic, and pedagogical fields
- Concentrations in the DLitt are available in Creative Writing, Teaching Writing, Literary Studies, Historical Studies, Fine Arts & Media Studies, Religious Studies, and Teaching in the Two-Year College
Student-Centered
- We have a minimum number of required courses for maximum flexibility in two elective-based degree programs at the master’s and doctoral level
- Students shape their own learning trajectories by choosing from among a wide selection of elective courses
- Students have the option of combining the MLitt or DLitt with concurrent pursuit of professional certificates in Conflict Resolution or Teaching Writing
- Students can pursue coursework offered jointly by professors from Drew and the County College of Morris and internships to transition to careers in teaching at the undergraduate level
- Students can supplement curricular offerings by pursuing individual tutorials with faculty on topics of the students’ choice
- Students who complete the MLitt at Drew can subsequently return to earn the DLitt by taking only 15 additional credits and writing their dissertation
Flexible
- Students can choose to pursue their degree on a part-time or full-time basis, each semester
- Students can opt to enroll in electives or tutorials in two summer-intensive sessions in addition to the fall and spring semesters
- Students can take courses on campus in person, hybrid or online synchronously via Zoom
- Our hybrid courses are all taught in specially equipped classrooms that enable the professors to facilitate lively discussion among all participants, whether they are in person or online
- Although the majority of our students choose to come to campus at some point in their studies, all required courses are offered online or hybrid to enable students to complete the degree fully online
