Degree programme specification
In the program English Language and Literature you will acquire an overview of the histories, cultures and literatures of English-speaking countries, mainly the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. You will also learn about basic linguistic theories and will be introduced to the theory and practice of translation. Lectures and small group seminars are designed to develop students’ analytical and critical thinking. Emphasis is also placed on developing skills needed for working in independent and creative ways, as well as using both written and spoken English appropriately in various contexts and environments.
Apart from translation courses, all teaching, instruction and exams are in English. Our faculty include both Czechs and native speakers and our standard curriculum is regularly complemented by intensive courses and guest lectures and seminars offered by international experts in their respective fields. Topics covered by international guests range from contemporary pop culture, interdisciplinary and creative pedagogy, to specific cultural phenomena. In the past we have hosted, for example, courses on Anglo-American TV series, urban walking in literary contexts, or the cultural meanings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, etc.
During your studies, you will improve your language skills to B2-C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You will also learn to prepare in English presentations, write argumentative essays, and critically assess films and literary texts. You will also learn to carry out research and write a thesis. English Department students are encouraged to travel to our partner universities across Europe and in North America through Erasmus+ program or through other grants and scholarships.
The Department of English and American Studies supports a number of extracurricular activities. Every year our students in the Department’s theater group The Gypsywood Players rehearse and premiere a play; students organize a Halloween party and Creativity Night through Escape (the English Students Club). Students also manage and publish a high-profile student magazine Re:Views as well as a department newsletter, the KAArdian.
Is the English Language and Literature program right for you?
If you are interested in learning more about how language, literature, and film work, if you enjoy discussing and thinking critically about what you read and watch, if you like the history and culture of English-speaking countries, then this program is the right one for you!
Study plans
Studies
- Objectives
This program aims to equip students with deep knowledge of history, culture and literature of English-speaking countries, with a focus on Great Britain, USA, Canada and Australia; to aquaint students with knowledge of functions and theory of (English) language, as well as with knowledge of theory and practice of translating from and to English. The program helps develop students' critical and analytical thinking, teaches students to work independently and produce relevantly sophisticated written and oral expression in English. The program contains four related disciplines focusing on issues relating to the study of English philology: language skills, linguistics and translation, literary studies, and cultural studies. With the exception of some translation courses, all teaching, coursework, and exams are carried out in the English language.
- Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:
- have deep knowledge of the literatures, cultures, and histories of the major English-speaking countries, including the Great Britain and Ireland, the United States, and the Commonwealth countries (in particular Australia and Canada)
- have basic theoretical knowledge of anglophone lingustics as well as theory of translation
- analyze, evaluate and interpret primary as well as secondary texts from the fields of literature, cultural studies, linguistics and translation
- work independently and think critically
- produce complex written and oral expression in English
- employ English language skills on the C1 level
- Occupational Profiles of Graduates
The graduates of the English literature and language Bachelor’s degree program are able to communicate on a complex level in both written and spoken English and they are equipped with knowledge of the historical, social and cultural contexts of English-speaking countries. Apart from finding jobs in the field—teaching English at language, primary and high schools and in translation—our graduates may also find employment in jobs and positions which require independent, critical thinking, creativity, and excellent communication and language skills. These may include, for example, editorial work, positions in the publishing industry, tourism, the NGO sector, or international departments of companies.
- Practical Training
No practical training or work experience is required in this program. However, students can travel abroad through the Erasmus+ internship training program which allows them to gain practical experience on various positions in, for example, English language schools, translation agencies, etc.
- Goals of Theses
The minimum length of a Bachelor's thesis is set to 65,000 characters including footnotes, list of literature, and annotations. A Bachelor's thesis does not have the character of an independent empirical research (potential exception shall be approved by the thesis supervisor). Students can work with already published texts and data accessible for secondary analysis. They should demonstrate the ability to work critically with specialized scholarlz texts, process the concepts and theories discovered there, and find relevant answers to the given question.
More details available at the Department website: http://anglistika.phil.muni.cz/studium/informace-ke-studiu/bakalarska-diplomova-prace
- Access to Further Studies
Students can continue in their studies in one of the following master’s programs: a philology-focused Master’s degree in English Language and Literature; an area studies Master’s degree in North American Cultural Studies; a Master’s degree in Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in English Language and Literature; and the translation-oriented Master’s degree English Language Translation.
Basic information
Czech