American Bachelor in English Language and Literature

⚡️ Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

We have temporarily adopted our programs for virtual instruction so that our new students have an option to begin their program in Summer or Fall 2020 virtually, and then change to on-campus learning, once the Czech Republic re-opens its borders.

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