The English Department offers a graduate programme leading to the award of MA in English in one of the following areas of specialisation:
• English Language and Linguistics
• English Literature
• African Literature and Literature of Africans in the Diaspora
• Theatre Studies (Currently not offered)
Departmental Regulations for the MA in English
Applicants must have the following minimum requirements to be considered:
a. A major in English in a Single or Combined-major Bachelor degree programme, from this university of another recognized institution or
b. A degree classification of 2(ii) with at least 65% in the subject English or
c. Other qualifications that in the view of Senate are deemed equivalent to those in Graduate School Regulations. The Department shall interview candidates whom it deems worthy of admission but who do not satisfy the requirements of the Regulations.
Full-time: Four semesters of full-time study consists of:
Part I. Two semesters of full-time study during which the candidate shall undertake course work as prescribed for his/her programme, including the course on Research Methods which shall be a compulsory course taken at the beginning of the second semester of study.
Part II. Two semesters of full-time study during which the candidate shall undertake supervised research and prepare a Dissertation of not less than 20,000 words.
Part-time: Six to eight semesters, consisting of:
Part I. Four semesters of part-time study during which the candidate shall undertake course work as prescribed for his/her programme, including the course on Research Methods which shall be a compulsory (one semester) course.
Part II. Up to four semesters of part-time study during which the candidate shall undertake supervised research and prepare a Dissertation of not less than 20,000 words.
Specialization 1: English Language and Linguistics:
Semester 1 - Candidates must take 12 credits comprising the two core courses plus two optional courses.
ENG 601 Core: Grammatical Theory
ENG 611 Core: Advanced Phonology of English
Optional courses
ENG 621 Issues in Psycholinguistics
ENG 631 Advanced Pragmatics
ENG 641 Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching
ENG 651 Lexicographic and Translation Theory
ENG 661 Stylistics
ENG 671 English for Specific Purposes
Semester 2 - Candidates must take 15 credits comprising the three core courses plus two optional courses.
ENG 600 Core: Research Methods
ENG 701 Core: Modern English Structure and Usage
ENG 711 Core: Advanced morphology in English
Optional courses
ENG 721 Topics in Sociolinguistics
ENG 731 Advanced Discourse Analysis
ENG 751 Methodology in Lexicography
ENG 761 Literary Stylistics
Semester 3
ENG 771 Supervised Research and Dissertation in English Language and Linguistics
Semester 4
ENG 771 Supervised Research and Dissertation in English Language and Linguistics
Specialization 2: English Literature
Semester 1 - Candidates must take 12 credits comprising the one core course plus three optional courses.
ENG 602 Core: A Period in English Literature: The Modern Age
Optional courses
ENG 622 Tradition and Continuity in English Poetry
ENG 642 The English Novel from Defoe to Joyce
ENG 652 Readings in World Literature
ENG 682 19th Century Novel in America
Semester 2 - Candidates must take 15 credits comprising the three core courses plus two optional courses.
ENG 600 Core: Research Methods
ENG 612 Core: 20th Century Literature Theory and Criticism
Optional courses
ENG 632 Early 17th Century English Poetry: 1603- 1006
ENG 662 Special Author in English Literature
ENG 672 Language in Literature in English Literature
ENG 692 20th Century Novel in America
ENG 702 The Modern British Novel
Semester 3
ENG 772 Supervised Research and Dissertation in English Literature
Semester 4
ENG 772 Supervised Research and Dissertation in English Literature
Specialization 3: African Literature and Literature of Africans in the Diaspora
Semester 1 - Candidates must take 12 credits comprising the one core course plus three optional courses.
ENG 603 Core: Modern African Literature: A Historical Perspective
Optional courses
ENG 623 Oral Literature
ENG 633 Caribbean Literature
ENG 643 Special Author in African Literature I
ENG 663 Special Author in African Literature I
Semester 2 - Candidates must take 15 credits comprising the three core courses plus two optional courses.
ENG 600 Core: Research Methods
ENG 613 Core: The Criticism of African Literature
Optional Courses
ENG 653 African American Literature
ENG 673 Language and Literature of Africans in Diaspora
ENG 683 The African Novel: A Regional and In-Depth Approach
ENG 693 Special Author in African Literature II
ENG 715 The Contexts of Modern African Literature (to be offered online)
Semester 3
ENG 773 Supervised Research and Dissertation in African Literature and Literature of Africans in the Diaspora
Semester 4
ENG 773 Supervised Research and Dissertation in African Literature and Literature of Africans in the Diaspora
Specialization 4: Theatre Studies (Currently not offered)
Semester 1 - Candidates must take 12 credits comprising the two core courses plus two optional courses.
ENG 604 Core: Topics in Theatre History
Optional courses
ENG 624 Topics in Dramatic Literature
ENG 634 Acting I
ENG 654 Directing I
ENG 674 Technical Theatre I
ENG 694 Botswana Theatre I
Semester 2 - Candidates must take 15 credits comprising the three core courses plus two optional courses.
ENG 600 Core: Research methods
ENG 614 Core: Seminar in Dramatic Theory and Criticism
Optional courses
ENG 644 Acting II
ENG 664 Directing II
ENG 684 Technical Theatre II
ENG 704 Theatre Management
Semester 3
ENG 774 Supervised Research and Dissertation in Theatre and Theatre Studies
Semester 4
ENG 774 Supervised Research and Dissertation in Theatre and Theatre Studies
To proceed from Part I to Part II of the pro-programme, the candidate must complete the coursework and pass all the eight courses in Part I. In addition, the candidate must present a Dissertation proposal which should be approved by the Department. Assessment of each course in all programmes shall consist of: 50% continuous assessment and 50% final examination, except for:
a. Research Methodology courses in which a 5,000-word research paper shall be required in place of the final examination. The research paper shall form the basis of the Dissertation proposal to be presented to the Department as stipulated above; and
b. Practical Drama in which continuous assessment shall be 70%, made up of 40% Portfolio and 30# Practical; the final examination shall be 30%.
A student who has failed not more than 4 courses will be required to retake the failed courses in subsequent semesters, according to the General Regulations.