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BA-HONS in English at Helen Lowry College
Aizawl, Mizoram
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About the Specialization
What is English at Helen Lowry College Aizawl?
This BA Hons English program at Helen Lowry College of Arts & Commerce, Aizawl, Mizoram, focuses on developing a deep understanding of literature, critical thinking, and communication skills. In the Indian context, a strong command of English is crucial for various sectors, from academia and media to corporate communications and government services. This program equips students with analytical prowess and a nuanced appreciation of diverse literary traditions, preparing them for a multitude of professional pathways.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for fresh graduates with a passion for reading, writing, and critical analysis, seeking entry into fields like journalism, publishing, content creation, teaching, or civil services. It also benefits those looking to enhance their communication and analytical skills for higher studies or career advancement. Students with a strong foundation in English language and literature are particularly well-suited for this comprehensive and intellectually stimulating curriculum.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including roles as content writers, editors, journalists, educators, public relations specialists, or pursue advanced degrees. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 2.5 to 4.5 LPA, with significant growth trajectories in dynamic industries like digital media and ed-tech. The program fosters critical thinking, research skills, and eloquent communication, highly valued attributes in any professional setting.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Cultivate Strong Reading & Critical Analysis Habits- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage with prescribed texts by taking detailed notes, highlighting key arguments, and forming personal interpretations. Participate regularly in classroom discussions to articulate your views and critically evaluate others''''. Supplement course material with readings from reputable literary criticism journals or online academic resources to broaden perspectives.
Tools & Resources
University library, JSTOR, Project Gutenberg, Online literary magazines, Peer study groups
Career Connection
Develops foundational analytical skills essential for research, content creation, and critical reasoning in any professional role.
Enhance Academic Writing and Communication Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on mastering essay structure, argumentation, and academic referencing (e.g., MLA style). Seek feedback from professors on assignments and actively revise papers based on their suggestions. Practice formal presentations and public speaking by joining college clubs or participating in debates to build confidence and articulate complex ideas clearly.
Tools & Resources
Writing centers (if available), Grammarly, Purdue OWL, College debate/literary societies
Career Connection
Builds professional communication and documentation skills vital for reports, presentations, and client interactions in various industries.
Explore Diverse Literary Genres and Cultural Contexts- (Semester 1-2)
Go beyond the syllabus by exploring different literary periods, genres (e.g., poetry, drama, prose fiction), and global literatures. Understand the historical, social, and cultural contexts that shaped these works. This broadens your literary horizon and helps identify areas of deeper interest for future specialization.
Tools & Resources
Online databases, Classic literature archives, Documentary films on literary figures/periods, College literary festivals
Career Connection
Fosters cultural awareness and adaptability, crucial for roles involving cross-cultural communication, content localization, and global business environments.
Intermediate Stage
Engage in Research Projects and Literary Debates- (Semester 3-5)
Undertake independent research projects on topics of interest, utilizing the college library and online academic databases. Actively participate in inter-college literary competitions, essay contests, and debates. This hones research methodology, critical argumentation, and public speaking skills, preparing for higher academic pursuits or competitive professional environments.
Tools & Resources
Research guides, Academic search engines, College research mentors, Literary societies
Career Connection
Strengthens research and analytical capabilities, directly applicable to roles in journalism, market research, content strategy, and policy analysis.
Develop Specialized Skills through Electives and Workshops- (Semester 3-5)
Strategically choose Discipline Specific Electives (DSEs) and Skill Enhancement Courses (SECs) that align with potential career paths (e.g., creative writing, translation studies, media studies). Attend workshops on digital content creation, podcasting, or professional writing to acquire practical, in-demand skills beyond traditional academics.
Tools & Resources
Online course platforms (Coursera, edX), Local training centers, Industry guest lectures
Career Connection
Creates a specialized skill set that makes graduates more competitive for niche roles in digital media, publishing, communications, and language services.
Network with Faculty and Industry Professionals- (Semester 3-5)
Build rapport with professors, seeking guidance on academic and career paths. Attend seminars, conferences, and webinars featuring literary figures or professionals from media and publishing industries. This provides insights into industry trends, potential internship opportunities, and mentorship.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, College alumni network, Industry association events (e.g., Federation of Indian Publishers), Guest lecture series
Career Connection
Facilitates professional connections, leading to internships, mentorship, and potential job opportunities in a competitive Indian market.
Advanced Stage
Prepare for Higher Education and Competitive Exams- (Semester 6)
If aiming for postgraduate studies (MA English, Journalism) or competitive exams (UPSC Civil Services, NET/SET), begin dedicated preparation. Focus on general knowledge, current affairs, and intensive revision of literary theories and periods. Utilize mock tests and coaching resources.
Tools & Resources
Online test series, Coaching institutes, Previous year question papers, Government publications
Career Connection
Directly prepares students for entry into prestigious higher education programs or secure government jobs in India, offering long-term career stability and growth.
Undertake Internships and Practical Projects- (Semester 6)
Secure internships in relevant fields such as journalism, publishing houses, content writing firms, NGOs, or educational institutions. Gain hands-on experience in editing, proofreading, content creation, or public relations. Actively seek practical projects within the college or community that apply your literary and communication skills.
Tools & Resources
College placement cell, Internship portals (Internshala, LinkedIn), Personal networking
Career Connection
Provides valuable work experience, enhances resumes, and often leads to pre-placement offers, significantly boosting employability immediately after graduation in the Indian job market.
Build a Professional Portfolio and Personal Brand- (Semester 6)
Compile a portfolio of your best academic papers, creative writing samples, research projects, and any published works. Create a professional LinkedIn profile highlighting skills, experiences, and academic achievements. Actively seek opportunities to present your work at college events or local literary forums.
Tools & Resources
Personal website/blog, LinkedIn, Professional writing platforms (Medium, Wattpad for creative work), Campus publications
Career Connection
Establishes a strong professional presence, making you visible to potential employers and clients, critical for securing jobs in content, media, and communications sectors.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- No eligibility criteria specified
Duration: 6 semesters / 3 years
Credits: 144 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 25%, External: 75%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AECC-1 | English / MIL Communication | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | 4 | Theory of Communication, Reading Skills, Writing Skills, Speaking Skills, Grammar and Vocabulary |
| CC-1 | Indian Classical Literature | Core Course | 6 | Kalidasa''''s Abhijnana Shakuntalam, Sudraka''''s Mricchakatikam, Bharata Muni''''s Natya Shastra, Vyasa''''s Mahabharata, Valmiki''''s Ramayana |
| CC-2 | European Classical Literature | Core Course | 6 | Homer''''s The Iliad, Sophocles'''' Oedipus Rex, Horace''''s Ars Poetica, Ovid''''s Metamorphoses, Plato''''s Republic |
| GE-1 | Academic Writing and Composition | Generic Elective | 6 | Academic Conventions, Writing Process, Paragraph and Essay Writing, Argumentation, Referencing and Citation |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AECC-2 | Environmental Studies | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | 4 | Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Natural Resources, Environmental Pollution, Social Issues and the Environment, Human Population and the Environment |
| CC-3 | Indian Writing in English | Core Course | 6 | R.K. Narayan''''s The Guide, Mulk Raj Anand''''s Untouchable, Raja Rao''''s Kanthapura, Nissim Ezekiel''''s Poetry, Kamala Das''''s Poetry |
| CC-4 | British Poetry and Drama: 14th to 17th Centuries | Core Course | 6 | Geoffrey Chaucer''''s The Canterbury Tales, Christopher Marlowe''''s Doctor Faustus, William Shakespeare''''s Twelfth Night, John Donne''''s Poetry, John Milton''''s Paradise Lost |
| GE-2 | Language and Linguistics | Generic Elective | 6 | Language and Communication, Phonetics and Phonology, Morphology and Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics, Historical Linguistics |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-5 | American Literature | Core Course | 6 | Ralph Waldo Emerson''''s Essays, Walt Whitman''''s Poetry, Emily Dickinson''''s Poetry, Mark Twain''''s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Ernest Hemingway''''s The Old Man and the Sea |
| CC-6 | Popular Literature | Core Course | 6 | Lewis Carroll''''s Alice in Wonderland, Agatha Christie''''s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Chetan Bhagat''''s Five Point Someone, Shiv Khera''''s You Can Win, Folktales and Children''''s Literature |
| CC-7 | British Poetry and Drama: 17th and 18th Centuries | Core Course | 6 | John Dryden''''s Absalom and Achitophel, Alexander Pope''''s The Rape of the Lock, William Congreve''''s The Way of the World, Oliver Goldsmith''''s She Stoops to Conquer, Restoration Comedy |
| SEC-1 | Translation Studies | Skill Enhancement Course | 2 | Theory and History of Translation, Types of Translation, Translation Techniques, Cultural Issues in Translation, Practicum in Translation |
| GE-3 | Media and Communication Skills | Generic Elective | 6 | Introduction to Media Studies, Print and Electronic Media, Advertising and Public Relations, Journalism and Reporting, Digital Communication |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-8 | British Literature: 18th Century | Core Course | 6 | Jonathan Swift''''s Gulliver''''s Travels, Daniel Defoe''''s Robinson Crusoe, Samuel Johnson''''s Rasselas, Henry Fielding''''s Tom Jones, Augustan Age Literature |
| CC-9 | British Romantic Literature | Core Course | 6 | William Blake''''s Poetry, William Wordsworth''''s Lyrical Ballads, S.T. Coleridge''''s Kubla Khan, John Keats''''s Odes, Jane Austen''''s Pride and Prejudice |
| CC-10 | British Literature: 19th Century | Core Course | 6 | Alfred Tennyson''''s Poetry, Robert Browning''''s Poetry, Charles Dickens''''s Great Expectations, George Eliot''''s The Mill on the Floss, Victorian Age Literature |
| SEC-2 | Creative Writing | Skill Enhancement Course | 2 | Elements of Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Poetry Writing, Script Writing, Editing and Revision |
| GE-4 | Introduction to Literary Forms | Generic Elective | 6 | Poetry: Forms and Devices, Drama: Structure and Elements, Prose Fiction: Novel and Short Story, Literary Criticism, Non-Fiction Writing |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-11 | Women''''s Writing | Core Course | 6 | Mary Wollstonecraft''''s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Virginia Woolf''''s A Room of One''''s Own, Alice Walker''''s The Color Purple, Sylvia Plath''''s Poetry, Mahasweta Devi''''s Draupadi |
| CC-12 | Modern European Drama | Core Course | 6 | Henrik Ibsen''''s A Doll''''s House, Bertolt Brecht''''s Mother Courage and Her Children, Samuel Beckett''''s Waiting for Godot, Theatre of the Absurd, Social Realism in Drama |
| DSE-1 | Literary Theory | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Structuralism and Post-Structuralism, Marxist Criticism, Feminist Criticism, Postcolonial Theory, Deconstruction |
| DSE-2 | Postcolonial Literatures | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Edward Said''''s Orientalism, Chinua Achebe''''s Things Fall Apart, Ngugi wa Thiong''''o''''s Decolonising the Mind, Salman Rushdie''''s Midnight''''s Children, Gabriel Garcia Marquez''''s One Hundred Years of Solitude |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-13 | Partition Literature | Core Course | 6 | Saadat Hasan Manto''''s Toba Tek Singh, Bhisham Sahni''''s Tamas, Intizar Husain''''s A Chronicle of the Peacocks, Khushwant Singh''''s Train to Pakistan, Trauma and Memory in Literature |
| CC-14 | Modern Indian Writing in English | Core Course | 6 | Rabindranath Tagore''''s The Home and the World, Nirad C. Chaudhuri''''s The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian, Amitav Ghosh''''s The Shadow Lines, Arundhati Roy''''s The God of Small Things, Contemporary Indian Fiction |
| DSE-3 | Literary Criticism | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Plato and Aristotle on Poetics, Philip Sidney''''s An Apology for Poetry, Samuel Johnson''''s Preface to Shakespeare, William Wordsworth''''s Preface to Lyrical Ballads, T.S. Eliot''''s Tradition and the Individual Talent |
| DSE-4 | Children''''s Literature | Discipline Specific Elective | 6 | Fables and Fairy Tales, Adventure Stories (e.g., Enid Blyton), Fantasy Literature (e.g., J.K. Rowling), Picture Books and Graphic Novels, Themes in Children''''s Literature |
