Faculty of Arts

 English Language

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions

English Language enables students to specialise in the English language by studying it from a number of perspectives - communicative, grammatical, semantic, historical, developmental and pedagogical. To speak and write the world's most widely used language effectively, we need to understand its history, its supple and intricate grammar, and the status of its many social and geographical varieties. This interdepartmental program which is housed in the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics draws from its subjects in the Departments of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, English, and the Centre for Communication Skills and English as a Second Language.

The English Language Program may be undertaken as a major independently of any other studies. It would be a useful complement to studies in the English Department, the Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Department, Australian Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies or Women's Studies.

 1. English language assistance

Although the program assumes a good mastery of English, overseas students and local students of non-English speaking background who need to consolidate their proficiency in either spoken or written English may wish to take some units offered by the Centre for Communication Skills and ESL. Students should note that these subjects are not creditable to the English Language major. The subjects offered are:

First-year subjects:
	145-123 Spoken Interaction	1
	145-120 Advanced English As A Second Language 1	1, repeated 2
	145-121 Advanced English As A Second Language 2	1, repeated 2

 2. Prerequisites

First-year subjects require no specific prerequisites.

The general prerequisite for second and third-year English Language subjects is usually the completion of 175-106 English: Its Structure and History.

Although not required as a prerequisite for second and third year English Language subjects, the following first year subject may be of interest: 175-108 Communication Across Cultures.

 3. Requirements for a major

A major in English Language requires the completion of at least five subjects (two compulsory subjects and three electives) over second and third-year (a total of 83.3 points).

 3.1. Subjects for the major

Compulsory Subjects:
Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics		Semester
	175-236 Grammar of English	2
	One of the following:
	175-201 Second Language Learning and Teaching	2
	175-202 Discourse and Pragmatics	1

Electives
Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics:		Semester
	175-201 Second Language Learning and Teaching	2
	175-202 Discourse and Pragmatics	1
	175-203 First and Second Language Literacies	2
	175-210 Phonetics and Phonology	1
	175-212 Semantics	2
	175-219 Language in Society	2
	175-225 Language and Culture	1
	175-237 Language and Gender	2
	175-415 Advanced Syntax	2
Department of English:
	Note that only one Writing unit may be taken towards the English Language major. Writing subjects are quota subjects and special entry conditions apply.
	106-208 Beowulf	1
	106-210 Medieval English Literature: Texts and Contexts	2
	106-224 Introductory Old English Language and Literature	1
	106-225 Creative Writing	1
	106-226 Writing Fiction	2
	106-227 Writing Scripts	2
	106-228 Writing Poetry	2

 4. Entry to Honours

The normal prerequisite for entry to Honours in English Language is completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree, completion of a major in English Language with a grade average over the major of at least H2A, and admission into honours in another area of study (most commonly in English or Linguistics and Applied Linguistics).

 5. Honours requirements

Students undertaking Combined Honours in English Language must complete:

• Two of the following English Language subjects (33.3 points):
  • 175-413 Advanced Topics in the Linguistics of English;
  • 175-414 Advanced Topics in the Applied Linguistics of English;
  • 106-405 The Exeter Anthology of Old English Poetry;
  • 175-415 Advanced Syntax; and
• 175-410 English Language Honours Thesis or a thesis in the combining department (normally English or Linguistics and Applied Linguistics) (33.3 points), and;
• subjects in the combining department according to the requirements of that department (33.3 points).

 6. Opportunities for further study

A Bachelor of Arts which includes English Language can lead to graduate studies in English, Linguistics or Applied Linguistics.

 7. For more information

Please contact:

Subject descriptions

106-208 Beowulf
106-210 Medieval English Literature: Texts and Contexts
106-224 Introductory Old English Language and Literature
106-225 Creative Writing
106-226 Writing Fiction
106-227 Writing Scripts
106-228 Writing Poetry
175-200 First Language Acquisition
175-201 Second Language Learning and Teaching
175-202 Discourse and Pragmatics
175-203 First and Second Language Literacies
175-210 Phonetics and Phonology
175-212 Semantics
175-415 Advanced Syntax
175-219 Language in Society
175-225 Language and Culture
175-236 Grammar of English
175-237 Language and Gender
106-405 The Exeter Anthology of Old English Poetry
175-410 English Language Honours Thesis
175-413 Advanced Topics in the Linguistics of English
175-414 Advanced Topics in the Applied Linguistics of English

Status:                   Official 1998
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