MA in English
English is the major international language of every discipline, its value is increasing day by day. English majors are regarded as superior thinkers and team players all over the world, who tend to achieve well-paying careers and kudos.
The M.A. English courses offer students insight into literature, language, culture, and history. Besides studying required core courses that reflect the nature of the discipline, students will have the flexibility of selecting courses from different areas such as language, literature, rhetoric and humanities. While retaining the fundamental philosophy of humanities education—cultivation of humanistic values and critical thinking—this syllabus aims at developing students‘ creative, critical, and communicative skills that they need in their academic and professional life. Focus on writing, intensive study of literary genres, emphasis on interpretive and cultural theories, and the incorporation of interdisciplinary and comparative study are some of the underlying features of the courses. The syllabus requires a participatory and inquiry-based pedagogy for effective teaching and learning.
The course seeks to:
- develop linkage between the B. A. English syllabus and the M. Phil. syllabus,
- apply traditional and modern literary theories while reading and teaching literary texts, train students to use English for effective communication,
- help students produce creative and critical writing, sharpen students creative and critical thinking,
- cater to students‘ need of gaining knowledge of literature and ideas, provide flexibility to the teachers in developing courses of their interests,
- develop courses that emphasize close reading and relationship among form, content and context, ensure application of critical theories in the interpretation of texts, and
- adopt interdisciplinary methods and approaches, and
- enable students to comprehend and respond to issues and problems.
Objectives:
The syllabus reflects the current trends in English Studies that have radically expanded the scope of the discipline. Taking into account the curriculum models adopted in many universities across the world, it recognizes and draws upon multiple traditions, communities, and literature. The syllabus, therefore, comprises of a productive mix of canonical and non-canonical texts, traditionally-recognized literary and semi-literary genres, and expressive artifacts from multiple cultural traditions. The goal is to enable students to read, interpret and critique texts in a wide range of modes, genres and media. The syllabus, hence, envisions the following general objectives:
- to realign the canons and methods,
- to stress interrelationship among literary criticism, theory and cultural studies, to foster critical and creative thinking,
- to promote research in the humanities,
- to give exposure to a wide range of global literary texts, and to introduce area studies.
Salient Features
Program Policies
Attendance: Six hours of absences in a course constitute grounds for failure in the course.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism refers to the appropriation of another‘s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that work as one‘s own offered for credit. Appropriation includes quoting or paraphrasing of another‘s work without giving credit thereof. In case of plagiarism, students will be penalized. Depending on the severity of the case, punishment may range from failing the assignment to expulsion from the program.
Research and Thesis
In the fourth semester, students will have an opportunity to opt for a thesis, worth 3 credits. In order to meet the thesis requirement, students will have to submit 1) Review of Literature relevant to the research topic (10-15 pages in length) and 2) a well-researched paper (20-25 pages in length) that engages with the existing scholarship and presents a persuasive argument on issues related to language, literature, culture, and/ or theory. Candidates also will have to go through an oral examination (viva voce) and defend their positions. The oral examination will consist of 25% of the total thesis grade.
Evaluation Scheme and Examinations
Course outcomes will be evaluated through a continuous internal evaluation system and end-of-semester final examinations.
Internal (continuous) Evaluation: Except for the writing-intensive courses, the internal continuous evaluation for each course comprises of 40% of the total grade, distributed as follows:
One research essay of 5-7 pages (double-spaced) | 50% of Internal Grade |
Mid-term examination | 30% of Internal Grade |
Presentation, attendance, participation, reading quizzes, etc. | 20% of Internal Grade |
Final Examinations: There will be final examinations for each course at the end of the semester, and they carry 60% of the total grade.
Grading System
Each course carries 3 credits with 48 teaching hours, spread over 16 weeks. The final grade for each course will be reported in a letter grade, indicated by the letters A, A-, B+, B, B-, and F. To pass a course, students must receive a B grade. The Cumulative Grade Point will be calculated on the scale of 4 as indicated below.
Letter Grades | Grade Points | Equivalent Nume rical Grade Points | Performance Remarks |
A | 4.0 | 90 and above | Distinction |
A – | 3.7 | 80-89.9 | Very good |
B+ | 3.3 | 70-79.9 | First Division |
B | 3.0 | 60-69.9 | Second Division |
B – | 2.7 | 50-59.9 | Pass in individual subject |
F | 0 | below 50 | Fail |
Eligibility
Individuals who have completed their bachelor’s degree in any subject from Tribhuvan University or any recognized university, with a minimum of 100 marks or equivalent, are eligible for postgraduate studies in English. Moreover, graduates from any university in a country where English is the mother tongue, with equivalent graduation level recognition from a tertiary institution, are also welcome to pursue postgraduate studies in English.
Course Structure and Teaching Program
In order for students to be awarded MA degree in English, they will have to successfully complete 20 courses, each carrying 3 credits. The courses will be offered over 4 semesters. The syllabus consists of courses, grouped under ―required‖ and ―electives.‖ While courses grouped under ―required‖ are compulsory, students will have the flexibility of selecting courses from the ―elective‖ groups. Each semester, students will have to complete 5 courses, worth 15 credits.
Curricular Structure
For SEMESTER SYSTEM
Download Curriculum of MA English Tribhuvan University.pdf
Courses Offered
The following is the list of courses offered during the entire MA program, spread over 4 semesters.
First Semester
(Required Courses)
- ENGL 551 Introduction to Literature and Literary Analysis
- ENGL 552 Academic Writing (I)
- ENGL 553 Literary Criticism
- ENGL 554 Ideas and Themes in Poetry
- ENGL 555 Themes and Trends in Fiction
Second Semester
(Required Courses)
- ENGL 556 History of British and American Literature
- ENGL 557 Critical Stylistics
- ENGL 558 Modern and Contemporary Literary Theory
(Any two courses)
- ENGL 559 Postcolonial Studies
- ENGL 560 Travel Writing
- ENGL 561 Non-fiction (from the Margin)
- ENGL 562 Literature of War, Conflict and Trauma
- ENGL 563 Media Studies
- ENGL 564 Environmental Literature and Criticism
- ENGL 565 Children‘s Literature
Third Semester
(Required Courses)
- ENGL 566 British and American Drama
- ENGL 567 Ideas and Themes in Contemporary Poetry
- ENGL 568 Academic Writing (II)
(Any two courses)
- ENGL 569 Nepal Studies
- ENGL 570 South Asian Studies
- ENGL 571 19th century studies
- ENGL 572 Modernist Studies
- ENGL 573 Gender and Masculinity Studies
- ENGL 574 Life Writing and Autobiography
- ENGL 575 Literature and History
- ENGL 576 Translation Studies
Fourth Semester
(Required courses)
- ENGL 577 Experimental Fiction
- ENGL 578 Cultural Studies
- ENGL 579 Language and Communication
Any two courses)
- ENGL 580 Postmodernist Studies
- ENGL 581 Performance and Theatre Studies
- ENGL 582 Single Author
- ENGL 583 Economics and Literature
- ENGL 584 Interpersonal Communications
- ENGL 585 English Language Teaching (ELT)
- ENGL 586 Thesis Writing
FOR ANNUAL SYSTEM
Course Structure:Master of Arts (M.A.) Programme for ENGLISH
The syllabus comprises 10 groups and the students will take one paper from each group in the two-year cycle. Campuses running M.A. programmes in English outside the Central Departmental of English can introduce only the first paper of each group from one to nine and the first three papers of group X-Tragedy. American literature and Teaching of Language and Literature. To teach other papers of any of the ten groups, prior approval should be taken from the Central Department of English. Private candidates can take only the first course of each group from one to nine and the first three papers of group X-Tragedy, American Literature and Teaching of Language and Literature. As for the thesis, Private candidates should take a prior approval from the central Department of English.
Course Structure : First Year
History of Literature ( Any One) | |||
| I | Eng 501-1 | Survey of English and American Literature | 100 Marks |
| Eng 501-2 | Movement / Genre Studies | ||
| Eng 501-3 | Period Studies | ||
Critical Foundation ( Any One) | |||
| II | Eng 502-1 | Critical Theories from Plato to the Post-modern | 100 Marks |
| Eng 502-2 | Critical Approaches to the study of Literature | ||
| Eng 502-3 | Theories of Literature | ||
| Eng 502-4 | Post-modern and Post colonial Studies | ||
Linguistics ( Any One) | |||
| III | Eng 503-1 | Stylistics | 100 Marks |
| Eng 503-2 | Pragmatics | ||
| Eng 503-3 | Semiotics | ||
Writing ( Including Research Methodology (Any One) | |||
| IV | Eng 504-1 | Creative Writing | 100 Marks |
| Eng 504-2 | Rhetoric / Composition | ||
| Eng 504-3 | Composition Studies | ||
Fiction (Any One) | |||
| V | Eng 505-1 | A General Survey of British and American Fiction | 100 Marks |
| Eng 505-2 | Fictional Genres & Themes | ||
| Eng 505-3 | Short Fiction | ||
| Eng 505-4 | Special Authors | ||
Course Structure : Second Year
Poetry ( Any One) | |||
| VI | Eng 506-1 | British and American Poetry: A Survey | 100 Marks |
| Eng 506-2 | Poetry’s Public | ||
| Eng 506-3 | Special Author(S) | ||
| Eng 506-4 | Special Topics | ||
Drama ( Any One) | |||
| VII | Eng 507-1 | British and American Drama: Canons and Contexts | 100 Marks |
| Eng 507-2 | Theatre Studies | ||
| Eng 507-3 | Global Perspectives on Drama | ||
| Eng 507-4 | Special Authors(S) | ||
Area Studies ( Any One) | |||
| VIII | Eng 508-1 | South Asian Studies | 100 Marks |
| Eng 508-2 | Non-Western Studies | ||
| Eng 508-3 | Comparative Studies | ||
Special Topics (Any One) | |||
| IX | Eng 509-1 | Intellectual History | 100 Marks |
| Eng 509-2 | Modernism | ||
| Eng 509-3 | Colonialism and Postcolonialism | ||
Additional Topics (Any One) | |||
| X | Eng 510-1 | Tragedy | 100 Marks |
| Eng 510-2 | Teaching of Language and Literature | ||
| Eng 510-3 | American Literature | ||
| Eng 510-4 | Children’s Literature | ||
| Eng 510-5 | Environmental Literature | ||
| Eng 510-6 | Gender Literature | ||
| Eng 510-7 | Literature In Translation | ||
| Eng 510-8 | Interdisciplinary American Studies | ||
| Eng 510-9 | Media studies | ||
| Eng 510-10 | Inter-Art Studies | ||
| Eng 510-11 | Nepalese Studies | ||
| Eng 510-12 | Cultural Studies | ||
| Eng 510-13 | Thesis | ||