

MA in English at Anjuman-e-Islam's Anjuman Arts, Science, Commerce College & P.G. Studies, Dharwad


Dharwad, Karnataka
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About the Specialization
What is English at Anjuman-e-Islam's Anjuman Arts, Science, Commerce College & P.G. Studies, Dharwad Dharwad?
This MA English program at Anjuman Arts, Science, Commerce College & P.G. Centre, Dharwad, focuses on providing an in-depth understanding of English literature, language, and critical theories across various historical periods and cultural contexts. The curriculum covers a wide spectrum from classical English literature to Indian, American, and Commonwealth writings, alongside crucial areas like Literary Criticism, Theory, ELT, and Research Methodology. It aims to develop advanced analytical, interpretive, and communication skills.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for fresh graduates with a Bachelor''''s degree in English or related humanities disciplines who aspire to careers in academia, research, publishing, or content creation. It also caters to aspiring teachers and lecturers seeking to enhance their pedagogical skills in English Language Teaching. Individuals looking to develop strong critical thinking and communication abilities for diverse professional roles will find this program highly beneficial.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including roles as university lecturers, researchers, content writers, editors in publishing houses, journalists, and English language trainers. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 3 LPA to 6 LPA, with experienced professionals earning upwards of INR 8-12 LPA. The program equips students with the academic rigor and professional communication skills highly valued in India''''s growing education and media sectors.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Literary History and Theory- (Semester 1-2)
Dedicate significant time to understanding literary periods, key authors, and foundational critical theories. Form study groups to discuss complex texts and engage in peer-to-peer learning to clarify concepts. Regularly attend seminars and workshops on literary analysis techniques.
Tools & Resources
Norton Anthology of English Literature, Purdue OWL Literary Theory guides, Online academic journals
Career Connection
A strong foundation is crucial for excelling in competitive exams like NET/SET for lectureship and for analytical roles in content and research.
Enhance Academic Writing and Research Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on developing strong academic writing skills by practicing essay writing, summary writing, and critical analysis. Pay attention to proper citation styles (e.g., MLA) and avoid plagiarism. Start familiarizing yourself with basic research methodologies.
Tools & Resources
Grammarly, Mendeley/Zotero for citation management, University library databases, Writing workshops
Career Connection
Excellent writing is indispensable for higher studies, publishing, content writing, and academic careers.
Actively Participate in ELT Workshops- (Semester 1-2)
As English Language Teaching is a core component, actively participate in any ELT-focused workshops or short courses offered by the department or local institutions. Practice teaching methodologies and develop basic lesson plans.
Tools & Resources
British Council ELT resources, TEFL/TESOL introductory materials, Local spoken English academies
Career Connection
Directly prepares students for roles as English teachers, trainers, and curriculum developers in the Indian education sector.
Intermediate Stage
Deep Dive into Literary Theory and Criticism- (Semester 3)
Explore advanced literary theories (e.g., Post-Structuralism, Feminism, Post-colonialism) by reading primary theoretical texts and their applications. Engage in critical debates and present your insights in departmental seminars or conferences.
Tools & Resources
Critical Theory: A Very Short Introduction, Online philosophical/literary theory blogs, Departmental faculty for guidance
Career Connection
Develops sophisticated analytical skills essential for research, academic publications, and advanced critical thinking in any field.
Explore Elective Specializations Strategically- (Semester 3-4)
Carefully choose elective papers (e.g., Shakespeare, Women''''s Writing, Dalit Literature, Film and Literature, Translation Studies) that align with your long-term career interests. Use these to build a specialized knowledge base for future research or professional pursuits.
Tools & Resources
Consult with senior faculty on elective choices, Explore relevant online courses/MOOCs related to the specialization
Career Connection
Tailors your expertise, making you a more attractive candidate for specific academic niches or industry roles requiring specialized literary knowledge.
Attend Inter-collegiate Literary Events and Competitions- (Semester 3-4)
Actively participate in literary festivals, paper presentation competitions, debates, and quizzes organized by other colleges or universities. This builds confidence, expands your network, and tests your knowledge against a broader peer group.
Tools & Resources
College notice boards for event announcements, Networking with faculty for recommendations
Career Connection
Enhances public speaking, critical thinking, and networking skills vital for academic presentations and professional interactions.
Advanced Stage
Undertake a Comprehensive Research Dissertation- (Semester 4)
If opting for the dissertation, select a compelling research topic, conduct thorough literature review, and meticulously execute your research under faculty guidance. Focus on originality and academic rigor in your thesis writing.
Tools & Resources
Access to J-STOR, Project MUSE, SPSS/NVivo for qualitative data if applicable, Thesis writing guides
Career Connection
A strong dissertation is a key credential for PhD applications, research positions, and demonstrates independent academic capability.
Prepare for NET/SET and PhD Admissions- (Semester 4)
Begin focused preparation for the National Eligibility Test (NET) or State Eligibility Test (SET) for Assistant Professorship. Simultaneously, explore PhD opportunities and universities, preparing research proposals and application materials.
Tools & Resources
Previous year NET/SET question papers, Online coaching platforms, University research portals
Career Connection
Directly leads to opportunities for pursuing a career in higher education as a lecturer or researcher in India.
Develop Professional Portfolio for Content and Media- (Semester 4)
For those interested in journalism, publishing, or content creation, build a portfolio of your best academic essays, critical reviews, and any creative writing. Seek internships with local newspapers, magazines, or digital media firms.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn profile for networking, Personal blog/website for showcasing work, Internship portals like Internshala
Career Connection
Showcases practical skills for roles as content strategists, editors, copywriters, or journalists in India''''s burgeoning media industry.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- A candidate who has passed the B.A. Degree examination with English as an optional subject or B.A. English (Major) with 45% marks in aggregate or a B.A. / B.Sc. / B.Com. / B.B.A. / B.C.A. / B.S.W. / B.L.I.Sc. / B.Ed. / B.P.Ed. with 50% marks in aggregate and 50% in English (core/compulsory) or equivalent examination of this University or any other University recognized as equivalent thereto. (For SC/ST/CAT-I and Physically Handicapped candidates, there is a relaxation of 5% in the aggregate marks and 5% in English marks).
Duration: 4 semesters / 2 years
Credits: 64 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 30%, External: 70%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL 1.1 | CHAUCER TO THE AGE OF DRYDEN | Core | 4 | Geoffrey Chaucer: General Prologue, Edmund Spenser: Prothalamion, John Milton: Paradise Lost Book I, John Donne: Selected Poems, Andrew Marvell: To His Coy Mistress, John Dryden: All for Love |
| EL 1.2 | THE AGE OF POPE TO THE AGE OF WORDSWORTH | Core | 4 | Alexander Pope: The Rape of the Lock Cantos I & II, Samuel Johnson: Rasselas, William Blake: Selected Poems, William Wordsworth: Selected Poems, S.T. Coleridge: Kubla Khan, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Lord Byron: She Walks in Beauty |
| EL 1.3 | LITERARY CRITICISM | Core | 4 | Aristotle: Poetics, Plato: Attack on Poetry, Horace: Ars Poetica, Longinus: On the Sublime, Philip Sidney: An Apology for Poetry, Dr. Johnson: Preface to Shakespeare |
| EL 1.4 | HISTORY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE | Core | 4 | Indo-European Family of Languages, Old English Period, Middle English Period, Modern English Period, Semantic Change, Word Formation |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL 2.1 | THE VICTORIAN AGE | Core | 4 | Alfred Lord Tennyson: Selected Poems, Robert Browning: Selected Poems, Matthew Arnold: Selected Poems, Charles Dickens: Hard Times, Thomas Hardy: The Mayor of Casterbridge, George Eliot: The Mill on the Floss |
| EL 2.2 | THE TWENTIETH CENTURY LITERATURE | Core | 4 | W.B. Yeats: Selected Poems, T.S. Eliot: The Waste Land, W.H. Auden: Selected Poems, Virginia Woolf: To the Lighthouse, D.H. Lawrence: Sons and Lovers, George Bernard Shaw: Pygmalion |
| EL 2.3 | ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING (ELT) | Core | 4 | Methods and Approaches to ELT, Teaching of Listening and Speaking, Teaching of Reading and Writing, Developing Teaching Materials, Classroom Management in ELT, Evaluation in ELT |
| EL 2.4 | INDIAN WRITING IN ENGLISH | Core | 4 | Rabindranath Tagore: Gitanjali (selections), Sarojini Naidu: Selected Poems, R.K. Narayan: The Guide, Raja Rao: Kanthapura, Kamala Markandaya: Nectar in a Sieve, Mahesh Dattani: Tara |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL 3.1 | AMERICAN LITERATURE | Core | 4 | Ralph Waldo Emerson: Self-Reliance, Walt Whitman: Selected Poems, Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems, Robert Frost: Selected Poems, F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby, Arthur Miller: Death of a Salesman |
| EL 3.2 | LITERARY THEORY | Core | 4 | Structuralism, Post-Structuralism and Deconstruction, Feminism and Gender Studies, Post-colonialism, Marxism and Cultural Materialism, New Historicism |
| EL 3.3 | COMMONWEALTH LITERATURE | Core | 4 | A.D. Hope: Selected Poems, Patrick White: Voss, Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid''''s Tale, Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart, Wole Soyinka: The Lion and the Jewel, Derek Walcott: Selected Poems |
| EL 3.4 (A) | SHAKESPEARE | Elective | 4 | Shakespearean Comedies: As You Like It, Shakespearean Tragedies: Hamlet, Shakespearean Histories: Richard II, Shakespearean Romances: The Tempest, Shakespeare''''s Sonnets, Shakespearean Criticism |
| EL 3.4 (B) | WOMEN''''S WRITING | Elective | 4 | Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre, Virginia Woolf: A Room of One''''s Own, Sylvia Plath: Selected Poems, Alice Walker: The Color Purple, Shashi Deshpande: That Long Silence |
| EL 3.4 (C) | DALIT LITERATURE | Elective | 4 | Baburao Bagul: When I Hid My Caste, Omprakash Valmiki: Joothan, Namdeo Dhasal: Selected Poems, Bama: Karukku, Daya Pawar: Baluta, Urmila Pawar: The Weave of My Life |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EL 4.1 | NEW LITERATURES IN ENGLISH | Core | 4 | V.S. Naipaul: A House for Mr Biswas, Salman Rushdie: Midnight''''s Children, Arundhati Roy: The God of Small Things, Hanif Kureishi: The Buddha of Suburbia, Vikram Seth: A Suitable Boy, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Half of a Yellow Sun |
| EL 4.2 | CULTURAL STUDIES | Core | 4 | Introduction to Cultural Studies, Popular Culture and Media, Gender and Sexuality in Culture, Subcultures and Counter-cultures, Globalisation and Culture, Cultural Production and Consumption |
| EL 4.3 | RESEARCH METHODOLOGY | Core | 4 | Introduction to Research, Types of Research and Approaches, Research Design and Methods, Data Collection and Analysis, Referencing and Citation, Report Writing and Presentation |
| EL 4.4 (D) | DISSERTATION | Project | 4 | Research Topic Selection, Extensive Literature Review, Methodology and Research Design, Data Analysis and Interpretation, Thesis Writing and Structuring, Oral Presentation and Defense |
| EL 4.4 (E) | LITERARY JOURNALISM | Elective | 4 | Introduction to Journalism and Feature Writing, Interview Techniques and Reporting, Writing Book and Film Reviews, Column Writing and Op-Eds, Ethics in Journalism, Online Journalism and Digital Media |
| EL 4.4 (F) | FILM AND LITERATURE | Elective | 4 | Adaptation of Literature to Film, Narrative Techniques in Film, Film Theory and Criticism, Representation of Gender and Culture in Cinema, Indian Cinema and its Literary Connections, Documentary Film Studies |
| EL 4.4 (G) | TRANSLATION STUDIES | Elective | 4 | Theories of Translation, Types of Translation: Literary, Technical, Challenges in Translation: Culture, Idioms, Translation as a Cultural Bridge, Role of Translator, Practice of Translation (English to local languages) |




