Introduction
Be eloquent with a degree in English Language & Literature
Literature is one of the primary creative acts of humankind, and the study of literature not only exercises our skills of interpretation and critical thinking but also gives us access to the history and ideas that have shaped our world.
Take this unique opportunity to study in Central Europe with the University of New York in Prague’s talented, international English language and literature instructors. The Czech Republic’s literary history spans languages, genres, and centuries, and includes such notables as Karel Čapek, Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, and Bohumil Hrabal. Appropriately, the program includes a significant emphasis on comparative world literature; literature in English from outside the major centers of literary production; and non-canonical literature.
The program’s interdisciplinary focus fosters the development of broadly educated individuals who are able to apply their knowledge and skills creatively and flexibly in a broad range of situations and prepares them for a wide range of careers, or for further study at postgraduate level. This four-year degree is awarded by State University of New York, Empire State College.
American Bachelor of Arts in English Language Literature
Main study areas for the English Language & Literature program:
Literature, Literary History, and Literary Criticism.
Language and Culture.
Applied, Professional, and Research Writing.
The UNYP Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature program will:
Introduce students to the history of English literature and the discipline of literary criticism and interpretation;
Develop the critical thinking and interpretive skills, research skills, and information literacy needed to enable successful graduates to find work in a broad range of fields, or to pursue further study at the postgraduate level;
Develop, to a high degree, the students’ abilities to interpret written communication, to create analytical and interpretive arguments, and to express themselves in complex, polished English prose.
What can I do with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature?
Successful graduates interested in further study may progress to master’s degrees and doctoral programs in:
Literature
Professional Communication
Culture Studies
Media and Communication Studies
Education
Graduates who enter the job market with a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature may find employment in a wide range of professions, often those emphasizing research skills; analytic and interpretive skills; production of written materials; and communication, whether oral or written.
Janko Ferlic / Pexels
Course Content
Required Courses
Lower-level compulsory English Language & Literature courses
English Composition 1
English Composition 2
College Algebra
Computers and Applications
Reason and Argument
Analysis and Interpretation of Literature
Genre-based course: 3 credits from the list below:
Short Story
The Novel
Introduction to Poetry
Theme- or period-based course: 3 credits from the list below:
Great Books: Western
U.S. Multicultural Fiction
Ideal Worlds: Utopian Literature
Contemporary Issues in Literature
Myth, Symbol, and Fable in Literature
Social sciences / Cultural studies course: 3 credits from the list below:
Introduction to Communication
Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Media Writing
Professional writing course: 3 credits from the list below:
News Writing
Public Relations Principles
Upper-level compulsory English Language & Literature courses
Other World Literatures in English
Shakespeare: Power and Justice
Major 19th-Century British and American Writers
20th-Century British and American Novel
British and American Poetry of the 20th Century
World Literature in Translation
English Grammar and Linguistics
Communication Theories
Sociolinguistics
Rhetorical Dimensions of Race, Class, and Gender
Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Advanced Research and Writing
Advanced professional writing: 3 credits from the list below:
News Reporting
Advanced Public Relations
Translation Workshop
Senior Project Proposal and Academic Planning
Senior Project Thesis
Complementary and elective courses
In consultation with their academic advisor, students may choose complementary courses to focus on a certain literary genre, period, or theme; or may focus on a particular area of applied skills such as news writing, public relations, teaching English, or translation.
Elective courses
Each semester, students select elective courses in consultation with an academic advisor, choosing from a wide range of courses, including honors courses and courses in UNYP’s other majors (such as Business, Communication & Media, International Relations, and Psychology).
Please note that students must also fulfill the General Education requirements as part of their bachelor's degree program.
Prospective Career Opportunities
Editorial assistant
English as a foreign language teacher
Lexicographer
Magazine journalist
Newspaper journalist
Primary school teacher
Secondary school teacher
Writer
Academic librarian
Advertising account executive
Advertising copywriter
