Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Double Major - English and Philosophy

Double major

Programme Type

Full-time

The Double Major Programme is a four-year direct honours degree programme. Undergraduate students will read two majors chosen from among the disciplinary strengths of the four schools in the College, namely, the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM), the School of Humanities (SoH), the School of Social Sciences (SSS), and the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI).

Unlike the existing single discipline-based degrees, this degree will feature two distinct majors within an innovative new structure. As such this is a fully conceived double-disciplinary degree. Each major will have equal weightage. Students will be admitted into this Double Major degree programme at the point of entry to NTU, and declare their two majors at this point.

During this four-year degree programme, undergraduates will read both English Literature (ELH) and Philosophy (PHIL), benefiting from the expertise and resources of the two disciplines from the School of Humanities (SoH). 

For English Literature, students will focus both on traditional historical periods and on contemporary innovative approaches to the subject. Specialisations offered include all the major literary periods, Singaporean and Asian literatures, critical and literary theory, cultural studies, film studies, drama, postmodernism, and gender studies.

The Philosophy curriculum allows students to explore, in a rigorous, systematic, and critical manner, fundamental problems about the nature of knowledge, reality, existence, mind, language, science, and morality, the curriculum includes a solid foundation in both eastern and western traditions of philosophy, and prepares students for the application of philosophy to the challenges of modern society.

4-Year Direct Honours Programme

This is a four-year direct honours degree programme. If your CGPA is 3.0 and above, your Honours stays with you.

 

Equal Weightage

Unlike second major, you will receive equal training for both majors.

 

Degree Scroll

Both majors will be listed on the degree school. You will be recognised for the effort and time spent for the programme

 

Flexible

You may apply to change your programme after your first year. You must meet the minimum requirement set for your admit year and the acceptance of the new selected programme.

For GCE 'A' level certificate holders:

  • NTU General Admission Requirements
  • A good grade in General Paper/Knowledge & Inquiry/H1 or H2 Level Humanities subject 

For International Baccalaureate Diploma holders:

  • NTU General Admission Requirements
  • A good grade in SL English 

For NUS High School Diploma holders:

  • NTU General Admission Requirements
  • Good Overall CAP in English Language 

For International Students & Students with other qualifications:

  • NTU General Admission Requirements
  • A good grade in General Paper/English at Senior High School Level
Successful Polytechnic applicants will be exempted certain courses that will be confirmed before the start of their first semester.
A 4-year direct honours programme.  The core courses equip students with a firm foundation in their two Majors. Students can then choose from a range of prescribed electives in their interests. 

To graduate, students must complete two (2) categories of requirement, totalling at least 138 Academic Units (AUs): 

*Students who are eligible to do the FYP will be strongly encouraged to do an inter-major FYP.  Students whose GPAs fall in a certain range can choose whether or not to do the FYP. Students who do not do the FYP must clear 8 AUs of PEs (two 4000-level courses, one from each discipline) within the double major.


Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core Courses (ICC):

ICC Curriculum

Broadening and Deepening Electives (BDE):

BDE Curriculum

 

I. English Curriculum

Core [12 AUs]
HL1001 Introduction to Literature
HL1002 Survey of English Literature I
HL1003 Survey of English Literature II
HL1005 Introduction to Singapore Literature

Major Prescribed Electives [26 AUs]

Choose at least TWO from Category A (including at least one of the following: HL2001, HL2002, HL2003, HL2004). Choose ONE each from Categories B, C, and D and the remaining AUs from any category. (At least THREE courses must be of HL4xxx.)

Note to English Literature Double Majors: 
For the remaining 2 courses not specified in the Category requirements, besides courses from Cat A to D, you can choose the following uncategorised courses to count towards your Major Prescribed Electives:

  • HL1006 Introduction to American Literature
  • HL2024 ​Approaches to Literature

Category A: Period Studies (Choose at least two electives)
Click here for the list of courses under Cat A

 
Category B: World Literatures (Choose at least one elective)
Click here for the list of courses under Cat B

Category C: Theory, Culture, and Film (Choose at least one elective)
Click here for the list of courses under Cat C

Category D: Special Interest Areas (Choose at least one elective)
Click here for the list of courses under Cat D
Note: You may take no more than two HZ5xxx courses as MPEs

II. Philosophy Curriculum

Core [12 AUs]
HY1001 Introduction to Philosophy 
HY2003 Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
HY2010 Ancient Philosophy OR HY2005 Political Philosophy
HY2012 Early Modern Philosophy OR HY3011 Philosophy of Mind 

Major Prescribed Electives [26 AUs]

Minimum 4 from HY4000 level courses

Other core subjects of Philo major
HY1002 Symbolic Logic

Click here for the list of Philosophy MPEs.


III. Inter-Major Prescribed Electives

8 AUs
Students must clear at least 8 AUs from the Inter-Major Prescribed Electives listed below. 
(Note: Courses listed as Inter-Major PEs can be counted as Major PEs)

Inter-Major PE offerings from English:
HL2008 Singapore Literature and Culture (Cat B)
HL2009 Southeast Asian Literature and Culture (Cat B)
HL2021 Literature of Empire (Cat D)
HL2044 Introduction to Publishing (Cat D)
HL3016 Gender and Sexuality Studies (Cat C)
HL3036 History of the Book (Cat D)
HL3040 Gender and Diversity (Cat C)
HL4009 Popular Literature and Culture (Cat C) 
HL4010 Feminist Studies (Cat C)
HL4013 Advanced Studies in Literature & Culture (Cat D)
HL4037 Writing the Self  (Cat D)
HI3001 1984: Past, Present, Prophecy (Cat D)

Inter-Major PE offerings from Philosophy:
HY2002 Moral Philosophy
HY2005 Political Philosophy
HY2016 Friendship
HY3001 Existentialism
HY3003 World Religions
HY3021 Philosophy of Race and Gender
HY4002 Knowledge and Reality
HY4007 Aesthetics
HY4011 Moral Psychology
HY4013 Philosophy of  Language
HY4025 Ethics and Public Policy
HY4042 Imagination

Graduates in this double major programme will develop key transferable skills highly prized by employers. With their training in the English Literature component of the program, students will be equipped with an outstanding command of the language, and they are skilled in analyzing critical narratives both within and beyond the literary realm. They are trained in all aspects of English literary studies with some comparative and cross-cultural components and features. English graduates can look forward to careers that require analytical skills and strong language proficiency. The Philosophy component of this programme will equip graduates with the ability to critically analyze complex concepts and arguments, the ability to argue logically and effectively, and the ability to express themselves clearly. They will also have a grounding in a diversity of intellectual traditions.

Potential job sectors include careers in education, journalism, media and marketing, advertising, publishing, human resources, management, public administration, arts administration, and other creative industries. Graduates will also possess the unique skills to take on positions in public service administration, language analysts, education, healthcare research, public campaign organization, communication, marketing, advertising, business, and management consulting. Graduates from the programme are also well-positioned to pursue their academic interests at the MA and PhD levels.