Why MA English at RR campus?
- We have experienced faculty with foreign university degree
- We have regular classes
- We conduct classes in conducive and home-like environment
- We launch classes with power point
- We run regular formative exams to strengthen our pupils academically
- We offer academic counseling for further and abroad studies
- We focus on amiable socialization
- We enthuse pupils for academic research writing via term papers
Introduction
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 courses seek 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 literatures. 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:
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- 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.
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.
Eligibility for Admission
Students holding a bachelor’s degree in English from any university recognized by Tribhuvan University shall be considered eligible to apply for admission to M.A. English program. An applicant seeking admission must take Entrance Examination as required by the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Admissions will be based strictly on merit.
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 Numerical 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
Courses Offered at RR Campus
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 552. 1 British and American Drama
ENGL 552.2 Ideas and Themes in Contemporary Poetry
ENGL 552.3 Academic Writing (II)
(Any two courses)
ENGL 552.4 Nepal Studies
ENGL 552. 5 South Asian Studies
ENGL 552.6 19th century studies
ENGL 552.6 Modernist Studies
ENGL 552.7 Gender and Masculinity Studies
ENGL 552.8 Life Writing and Autobiography
ENGL 552.9 Literature and History
ENGL 552.10 Translation Studies
Fourth Semester
(Required courses)
ENGL 553.1 Experimental Fiction
ENGL 553.2 Cultural Studies
ENGL 553.3 Language and Communication
(Any two courses)
ENGL 553.4 Postmodernist Studies
ENGL 553.5 Performance and Theatre Studies
ENGL 553.6 Single Author
ENGL 553.7 Thesis Writing
ENGL 553.8 Economics and Literature
ENGL 553.9 Interpersonal Communications
ENGL 553.10 English Language Teaching (ELT)