The BA in English Studies is a single-major undergraduate degree programme designed to provide students with thorough knowledge of global English literature, a flavour of emerging literature in English by Bhutanese writers, and a solid grounding in communication skills using English as the medium. The literature section of the programme is supplemented by modules addressing the English language, creative writing, journalism, and a selection of General Education modules covering core competencies and electives from across programmes.
Literature modules form the most substantial portion of the programme, and the programme seeks to encourage students' appreciation of it on multiple levels and thoughtful engagement with important issues and questions raised. The programme aims to train students to listen and read carefully, to think critically and independently, and to express their ideas and thoughts clearly in speech and writing. Students will also be nurtured to be conscientious and responsible individuals who develop an awareness of the wealth of their culture and community, and thereby seek to preserve and contribute to it.
Graduates of this programme are expected to acquire not only a grounding within the field of English Literature and Language proficiency (subject-specific skills) but will also gain competency in the following skill areas: critical thinking skills, application skills, and transferable skills. Specific learning outcomes based on these four different skill sets are the foundation of this programme, along with appropriately aligned teaching, learning, and assessment approaches.
- see complete programme details here -
The combination of modules gives students the opportunity to develop content and skills, with a view to entry-level employment in creative areas (e.g., writing & publishing), traditional and digital media settings (e.g., journalism and freelancing), education, business (e.g., entrepreneurship, advertising and marketing, and content writing), government, and non-government organisations. Moreover, the programme will also provide a sound foundation for those students wishing to pursue higher studies in the fields of literature, English language, media, and cultural studies.
All modules shown are 12-credit modules, cumulating to 480 credits achieved over four years of full-time study. Each semester requires approximately 15-16 weeks of teaching-learning incorporating 40 hrs of student effort per week, and approximately 2 weeks of examinations.
| Yr | Sem | Modules | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | LIT101 Folk Literature | LIT102 Literature from Renaissance Period to 18th Century | CMS101 Introduction to Communication Arts & Technology | EAP101 Intermediate English for Academic Purposes [English comm. Gen. Ed.] | IPS101 IT and Basic Problem Solving [IT Skills Gen. Ed] |
| II | LIT103 Introduction to Contemporary Poetry | LIT104 Literature from the Romantic Period to 20th Century | [Science and Technology Gen. Ed. Elective] | EAP102 Upper-Intermediate English for Academic Purposes [English comm. Gen. Ed.] | DZG101 Dzongkha Communication [Dzongkha comm. Gen. Ed.] | |
| 2 | I | LIT205 Evolution of the Novel | LAN202 Creative Writing | AFD104 Language and Culture | [Numeracy Gen. Ed. Elective] | [Social & behavioural sciences Gen. Ed. Elective] |
| II | LIT206 Classical Greek Drama to the Theatre of Ideas | LIT207 Contemporary Bhutanese Writings in English | LIT208 Classical Literary Theory and Criticism | [Business / Financial Literacy Gen. Ed. Elective] | GSE101 Analytical Skills [Analytical Skills Gen. Ed.] | |
| 3 | I | LIT309 20th Century Drama | LIT310 Novel from Modernism to Postmodernism | LIT311 Science Fiction | LIT312 20th Century Literary Theory and Criticism | [Global Affairs/ Civics Gen. Ed. Elective] |
| II | LIT313 Modernist and Postmodernist Literature | LIT314 Children's Literature | LAN303 Prose Writing | UGR305 Introduction to Literary Research Methods | [Ethics/ Values Orientation Gen. Ed. Elective] | |
| 4 | I | LIT415 Postcolonial Literature | LAN404 Power of Ideas | LIT416 Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation | UGR406 English Project | [Open Gen. Ed. Elective] |
| II | LIT417 Poetry Through the Ages | LIT418 Women's Writing | LAN405 Journalistic Writing | [Open Gen. Ed. Elective] | ||
The programme structure is designed in a progressive manner with five modules offered in each semester. This includes university-wide modules like Dzongkha Communication. The first-year modules provide foundations in academic learning and technology. From the second year onward, the modules offered are more focused on specialised English topics. In the fourth year of the programme, the scope of learning is expanded to include research-based independent learning and open electives for the students to choose from.