English

The BA (Hons) in English combines the traditional core elements of the British literary canon with comprehensive offerings of Asian literature and culture, new literatures in English and film and theatre studies, as well as incorporating contemporary literary and cultural studies.  Thus, while the degree retains canonical core elements, particularly in the Period Studies category, it also reflects a breadth of interests that is relevant both regionally and globally, and embraces many of the key areas that comprise contemporary literary studies. In addition, the degree is structured to allow the possibility of a range of specialisations within the degree itself.  As such, once a student fulfils the basic requirements of the degree, they are then entitled to specialise exclusively, if they wish, in any of the specific categories.

The curriculum is designed as a four-year course. Well-prepared students can complete the degree in a shorter period by taking more courses during the semester and/or attending inter-semestral sessions. 

Curriculum Structure 

To graduate, students must complete two categories of requirements, totaling at least 125 Academic Units (AUs):  

A. Major Requirements (69 AUs) 
B. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC)

  • Common Core (17 AUs)
  • Foundational Core (10 AUs)

C. Broadening & Deepening Electives (29 AUs)

Curriculum Structure | AY2021-2022 Intake
A. Major RequirementsB. Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC)C. Broadening & Deepening Electives (BDE)Total (AUs)
CorePrescribed ElectivesFYP or Two HL4000 level coursesCommon CoresFoundational Cores
18438171029125

 

Duration of study 

The curriculum is designed as a four-year course. Well-prepared students can complete the degree in three and a half years. 

A. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (69 AUs)

The requirements for an English major consist of 3 components:


A1. English Core Courses (18 AUs)
A2. English Prescribed Electives (43 AUs)
A3. Graduation Project (FYP) or 2 HL4000 level courses (8 AUs)
     (The two HL4000 level courses are for those who are not eligible to do FYP.)


A1. English Major Core (18 AUs) 

Students majoring in English are required to complete the following courses to earn 18 AUs.  Click here to view course descriptions.

English Major Core (18 AUs) 
Course Code and Title [Click here to view course descriptions.]AUs
HL1001   Introduction to the Study of Literature3
HL1002   Survey of English Literature I3
HL1003   Survey of English Literature II3
HL1005   ​Introduction to Singapore Literature3
HL1006   Introduction to American Literature3
HL2024 ​  Approaches to Literature3

 

A2. Major Prescribed Electives (43 AUs)

Choose at least THREE from Category A (including at least one of the following: HL2001, HL2002, HL2003, HL2004). Choose ONE each from Categories B, C, and D and fulfill the remaining AUs from any category. No more than TWO Creative Writing courses (HZ5xxx) can count towards your MPE requirements.

(At least FOUR courses must be of HL4xxx.)​​

Category A: Period Studies 
Course Code and Title  [Click here to view course descriptions.]AUs
HL2001   ​Medieval Literature3
HL2002   Renaissance Literature3
HL2003   Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Literature3
HL2004   Sensibility and Romanticism3
HL2005   Victorian Literature3
HL2006   Modernism3
HL2007   Contemporary Literature and Culture3
HL2027   Early American Literature3
HL2028   Nineteenth-Century American Literature and Culture3
HL2029   American Modernism3
HL2030   Post 1945 American Literature and Culture3
HL4015   Advanced Studies in Medieval Literature4
HL4016   Advanced Studies in Renaissance Literature4
HL4017   Advanced Studies in Restoration and Eighteen-Century Literature4
HL4018   Advanced Studies in Romanticism4
HL4019   Advanced Studies in Victorian Literature4
HL4020   Advanced Studies in Modernist Literature4
HL4023   Advanced Studies in Twentieth-Century American Literature4
HL4024   Advanced Studies in Contemporary Literature4
HL4043    Postmodernism4

Category B: World Literatures 
Course Code and Title  [Click here to view course descriptions.]AUs
HL2008   Singapore Literature and Culture II3
HL2009   Southeast Asian Literature and Culture3
HL2012   Asian-American Literature3
HL2022   South Asian Literature3
HL2032   African Literature3
HL2033   Irish Writing: Romanticism to Modernism3
HL2041   Asian Historical Fiction3
HL3007   Postcolonial Literature3
HL3010   European Literature3
HL3014   Latin American Literature3
HL3034   Irish Writing: Modernism to the Contemporary3
HL3041   Global Cities in World Literature3
HL3042   Gothic Literature3
HL4030   Scottish Literature4
HL4031   Comparative Literature4
HL4034   British Asian Literature4
HL4038   Advanced Studies in Postcolonial Literature4

Category C: Theory, Culture, and Film 
Course Code and Title  [Click here to view course descriptions.]AUs
HL2026   Reading Drama3
HL2045   Workshop in Theatre Practice3
HL3001   Film Theory3
HL3002   Film, Politics and Ethics3
HL3003   Film & Literature3
HL3004   World Cinema3
HL3006   Modern Drama3
HL3016   Gender and Sexuality Studies3
HL3037   The Environment and Cultural Production3
HL3038   Theatre of the Absurd3
HL3040   Gender and Diversity3
HL4005   Literary Criticism4
HL4008   Postcolonial Studies4
HL4009   Popular Literature and Culture4
HL4010   Feminist Studies4
HL4012   Advanced Studies in Drama​4
HL4014   Advanced Studies in Film​4
HL4042   Being Human in Film and Literature4
HL4044  The Literary History of Virtual Reality4

Category D: Special Interest Areas 
Course Code and Title  [Click here to view course descriptions.]AUs
HI3001    1984: Past, Present, Prophecy3
HI3002    Opera and Literature3
HL2015   War in Literature and Film3
HL2020   Creative Writing Workshop3
HL2021   Literature of Empire3
HL2036   Virgins and Vixens3
HL2040   Adapting Greek Mythology3
HL2042   Children's Literature3
HL2043   Fantasy Literature3
HL2044   Introduction to Publishing3
HL2090   Special Topic in Literature I3
HL3011   Science Fiction: Origins to Parody3
HL3012   The Discourse of Love3
HL3017    The Rise of the Novel3
HL3024    Contemporary Women's Writing3
HL3030    Major Author Study: Shakespeare3
HL3036    The History of the Book3
HL3039    Major Author Study: Samuel Beckett3
HL3043    Modernist Soundscapes3
HL3044    The Legends of King Arthur3
HL3045    The Poetry of Precarity3
HL3090    Special Topic in Literature II3
HL4013    Advanced Studies in Literature & Culture4
HL4028    Science and Literature4
HL4033    Major Author Study: James Joyce4
HL4036    Literature and Medicine4
HL4037    Writing the Self4
HL4039    Advanced Studies in Children's Literature4
HL4040   Literature and Art4
HL4090   Special Topic in Literature III4
HR3010   Weird Art Writing3
HR4001   Exhibition Histories: Museums to Biennales4
HR4005   Studies in Art Criticism and Culture (previously HL4041) 4
HY3025   Literature & Philosophy 3
Note: You may take no more than two HZ5xxx courses as MPEs 
HZ5101   Introduction to Creative Writing3
HZ5201   Creative Writing: Poetry3
HZ5202  Creative Writing: Fiction 3
HZ5203  Creative Writing- Non-Fiction Prose3
HZ5204  Creative Writing- Playwriting3
HZ5205  Creative Writing- Screenwriting3
HZ5301  Advanced Creative Writing3

 

A3. Graduation Project (FYP) or 2 HL4000 level courses (8 AUs)
The two HL4000 level courses are for those who are not eligible to do FYP.



B. OTHER REQUIREMENTS (56 AUs)

  • ICC-Common Core (17 AUs)
Course TitleAUs
Inquiry and Communication in an Interdisciplinary World2
Navigating the Digital World2
Ethics & Civics in a Multi-Cultural World2
Career and Entrepreneurial Development for the Future World2
Science & Technology for Humanity 
3
Sustainability: Society, Economy & Environment3
Healthy Living & Wellbeing3

 

  • ICC-Foundational Core (10 AUs)
Course TitleAUs
Effective Communication II2
Digital Literacy II3
Internship5

 

  • Broadening & Deepening Electives (29 AUs)

There are no restrictions on the selection of courses to make up broadening & deepening electives. Students can choose any of the following:

- Complete a 2nd Major.
- Complete a Minor in another discipline.
- Earn AUs under an International Exchange programme.
- Any course offered by any School as long as the pre-requisites are satisfied​.

 

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Humanities

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English

Our programme reflects a breadth of interests that is relevant both regionally and globally, and embraces many of the key areas that comprise contemporary ...