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American Literature
From the colonial period to the contemporary — the writers, movements, and arguments that defined American letters.
What You'll Learn
A full semester of american literature — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Construct a comparative analysis of at least two literary periods, explaining how the cultural and historical conditions of each era shaped its dominant themes, narrative forms, and authorial voices
- Interpret literary texts across multiple genres — fiction, poetry, drama, autobiography, and essay — using established methods of close reading and textual analysis
- Compare how different authors within and across periods address shared American concerns such as identity, freedom, inequality, nature, and nationhood, drawing reasoned conclusions about each author's distinctive perspective
- Apply knowledge of literary devices, verse forms, narrative techniques, and critical terminology to construct evidence-based interpretations of primary texts
- Evaluate the historical and social contexts of specific literary works and justify how those contexts shaped an author's formal choices, subject matter, and intended audience
- Construct well-supported written arguments about literary texts, selecting relevant textual evidence, anticipating counter-readings, and organizing analysis for clarity and persuasion
- Critically assess how major American literary movements — including Transcendentalism, Realism, Modernism, the Harlem Renaissance, and Contemporary Multiculturalism — responded to, challenged, or transformed the social and political conditions of their historical moment
- Evaluate the literary strategies employed by historically underrepresented writers — including Indigenous, African American, immigrant, and women writers — to claim narrative authority and challenge dominant cultural assumptions within the American literary tradition
- Produce an original literary analysis essay that synthesizes close reading of primary texts with knowledge of historical context, literary movement, and critical terminology to construct an independent interpretive argument
Major Course Topics
How It Works
Three steps from enrollment to transferable college credit — no campus visits, no application required.
Pick & Enroll
Start one or more courses covering lower or upper division requirements — instantly, today.
Earn College Credit
Watch short video lessons, take quizzes and the final exam — all from home, on your schedule.
Transfer Your Credits
Send earned credits to your school and graduate sooner, at a fraction of the cost.
Does My School Accept This Course?
UPI Study courses carry NCCRS recommendations — the same standard recognized by hundreds of cooperating colleges and universities. Check if your school is on our list and move forward with confidence — or schedule a call with our team.
Students Also Enrolled In
Stack multiple courses to build 6, 9, or 12+ transferable college credits — at a fraction of the cost of most campus options.
UPI Study Courses Include
Master american literature and build a foundation for your degree — and your future.
From the colonial period to the contemporary — the writers, movements, and arguments that defined American letters.
🎯 Why It Matters
- Satisfies literature and humanities general-education requirements at most universities
- Close reading is a transferable analytical skill valued in law, publishing, and research
- Provides cultural and historical literacy tied directly to American history coursework
- Strong preparation for upper-division English and education degree paths
💼 In-Demand Careers
- English Teacher
- Editor / Publishing Professional
- Content & Copywriter
- Librarian
- Communications Specialist
- Paralegal
- Academic Researcher
- Arts & Culture Programming
🚀 How This Sets You Up
- Work through 9 chapters spanning the full American literary tradition
- Complete critical analysis assignments and a cumulative final exam
- Earn transferable literature/humanities credit
- 74 contact hours, fully self-paced
- Pairs naturally with U.S. History I & II
135,000+ Learners.
Real Results.
From college freshmen to career changers, international students to working adults — here's what our community says.
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Common Questions Answered.
Everything you need to know about American Literature — credits, grading, transfer, and how it compares to traditional options.
What is American Literature?
Do I need Composition I or II first?
Does this satisfy a humanities requirement?
What kind of writing is required?
Are the texts included?
How long does it take?
Will the credit transfer?
Is this the same as British Literature?
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Why Take College Credits?
Quick answers about transferable online credits, test-out style learning, and ACE & NCCRS-recommended options through UPI Study.
Which universities accept these credits?
UPI Study courses carry NCCRS recommendations recognized by various NCCRS cooperating colleges and universities across the U.S., Canada, and UK.
Who can take self-paced college courses?
Anyone can enroll — including high school students, incoming college students, adult learners, and students trying to test out of traditional courses.
Why choose this over traditional classes?
Save time and reduce tuition costs. Many students complete prerequisites faster and shorten their time to graduation — at a fraction of the cost.
How many credits can I earn?
This course is NCCRS-recommended for 3 semester credit hours. Transfer as many credits as your university allows — students have transferred anywhere from 3 to 90+ credits depending on their school's policy.
Everything You Need to Succeed
Video-Based Lessons
HD video lectures broken into short, focused modules. Watch at your own pace — pause, rewind, replay any time.
Quizzes & Final Exam
Evaluate your understanding after every section with quizzes and a comprehensive final exam that mirrors real college assessment.
Structured College-Level Course
Structured lessons covering every topic — designed as a standard American Literature college-level course.
Official Transcript
Complete the course, request your transcript, and transfer 3 credit hours to cooperating universities. No separate exam required.
Earn 3 College Credits
for $250.
Self-paced. No deadlines. NCCRS-recommended, recognized by various NCCRS cooperating universities. Join 135,000+ learners on the UPI Study platform.