American Literature surveys prose and poetry written in the United States from colonial times to the present. The course emphasizes knowledge of major literary works and authors, while also developing your ability to interpret poetry, fiction, and nonfiction prose.

This is a free, self-paced Modern States course with no prerequisites. It is aligned to the CLEP® American Literature exam and is designed to prepare you to succeed on the test and earn college credit at no cost.

Modern States originally developed this course in collaboration with Mr. Simpson. Ann M. Pelelo, Ph.D. of Clarke University supported course enhancements published in 2025.