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Faculty of Arts

English Language

1. Prerequisites
2. English language assistance
3. Requirements for a Major
4. English Language subjects
4.1. First year
4.2. Second/third year
5. Combined Honours entry
6. Honours requirements
7. Further study
8. For more information

Subject Lists
Subject descriptions
Fourth-year subjects

Convener: Dr Jean Mulder

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.

English Language is a Faculty of Arts interdepartmental program which is housed in the Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. It draws from 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 other areas of study. It is also a useful complement to studies in English, Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, a language, Australian Studies, American Studies, or Women's Studies.

1. Prerequisites

The program commences at first year and there are no prerequisites for entry at this level.

Prerequisites may exist for some of the program's second/third-year subjects. Students are advised to consult the relevant area of study entries in this handbook to make sure that they meet the prerequisites for their chosen subjects. Existing prerequisites may be waived for students undertaking an interdepartmental program. If you do not meet the existing prerequisites, please consult with the relevant subject coordinator for permission to enrol.

2. 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. The appropriate subjects offered at first year are:

First year ESL subjects:

145-007 Spoken Interaction 1

145-004 Advanced English as a Second Language 1 1 and 2

145-005 Advanced English as a Second Language 2 1 and 2

145-006 Advanced English as a Second Language 3: Language Approaches to Australian Literature 2

First year ESL subjects:

	145-007 Spoken Interaction	1
	145-004 Advanced English as a Second Language 1	1 and 2
	145-005 Advanced English as a Second Language 2	1 and 2
	145-006 Advanced English as a Second Language 3: Language Approaches to Australian Literature	2

Students should note that no more than two of these subjects may be credited towards a Major in English Language. However, only one may be counted toward the first year component of the Major which must include the completion of the compulsory subject 175-005 English: Its Structure and History. The second of these subjects may be counted as 12.5 points toward the second year component of the Major.

3. Requirements for a Major

A Major in English Language usually consists of nine 12.5 point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:

Two first-year subjects in English Language which must include 175-005 English: Its Structure and History, and;
Seven second/third-year subjects in English Language totalling 87.5 points. These must include:
- 175-021 Grammar of English, and;
- either 175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching or 175-011 Discourse and Pragmatics, and;
- Five subjects from the list of optional subjects below.

4. English Language subjects

4.1. First year

Students must take two of the following first-year subjects towards their Major in English Language.

First-year subjects

Compulsory subject Semester

175-005 English: Its Structure and History 1

Optional subjects

175-004 Introduction to the Study of Language 1 and 2

175-006 Communication Across Cultures 2

106-006 Contemporary Writing 1

First-year subjects

Compulsory subject	Semester
	175-005 English: Its Structure and History	1

Optional subjects
	175-004 Introduction to the Study of Language	1 and 2
	175-006 Communication Across Cultures	2
	106-006 Contemporary Writing	1

4.2. Second/third year

Students must take the following compulsory subjects and five optional subjects towards their English Language Major.

Compulsory subjects:

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Semester

175-021 Grammar of English 2

One of the following:

175-011 Discourse and Pragmatics 1

175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching 2

Compulsory subjects:

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics	Semester
	175-021 Grammar of English	2
	One of the following:
	175-011 Discourse and Pragmatics	1
	175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching	2

Optional subjects

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Semester

175-011 Discourse and Pragmatics 1

175-014 Phonetics 1

175-015 Syntax 1

175-016 Semantics 1

175-020 Language and Culture 1

175-023 Computational Linguistics 1

175-007 Phonology 2

175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching 2

175-012 First and Second Language Literacies 2

175-009 First Language Acquisition Not Offered

175-019 Language and Society Not Offered

175-022 Language and Gender Not Offered

175-038 Englishes in the World Not Offered

English

106-024 Introduction to Old English 1

106-025 Creative Writing 1

106-013 Beowulf 2

106-026 Writing Fiction 2

106-027 Writing Scripts 2

106-028 Writing Poetry 2

Optional subjects

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics	Semester
	175-011 Discourse and Pragmatics	1
	175-014 Phonetics	1
	175-015 Syntax	1
	175-016 Semantics	1
	175-020 Language and Culture	1
	175-023 Computational Linguistics	1
	175-007 Phonology	2
	175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching	2
	175-012 First and Second Language Literacies	2
	175-009 First Language Acquisition	Not Offered
	175-019 Language and Society	Not Offered
	175-022 Language and Gender	Not Offered
	175-038 Englishes in the World	Not Offered

English
	106-024 Introduction to Old English	1
	106-025 Creative Writing	1
	106-013 Beowulf	2
	106-026 Writing Fiction	2
	106-027 Writing Scripts	2
	106-028 Writing Poetry	2

Note that one writing unit only may be taken towards a Major in English Language. Writing subjects are quota subjects and special entry conditions apply. Students should consult the Department of English regarding these subjects.

5. Combined Honours entry

Currently there is no pure Honours program in English Language. This means that students must combine fourth year Honours in English Language with another area of study.

The prerequisites for entry to combined Honours in English Language are:

Completion of all the requirements for the BA, and;
Completion of a Major in English Language, and;
An average grade of H2A or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the Major, and;
Admission to Honours in another area of study within the Arts Faculty.

Entry to Honours must be approved by the convener of English Language and the Faculty of Arts Honours course adviser.

6. Honours requirements

Students undertaking combined Honours in English Language must complete:

175-001 English Language Honours Thesis (37.5 points), and;
Two Honours subjects in English Language from the list below (equivalent to 25 points), and;
Three Honours subjects in the combined area of study (equivalent to 37.5 points).

Honours thesis in the combined area of study (37.5 points), and;
Two Honours subjects in the combined area of study (equivalent to 25 points), and;
Three Honours subjects in English Language from the list below (equivalent to 37.5 points).

Honours subjects

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Points

175-002 Topics in English Linguistics 12.5

175-003 Topics in English Applied Linguistics 12.5

175-032 Advanced Syntax 12.5

175-037 Advanced Semantics 12.5

175-035 Advanced Phonetics 12.5

175-038 Englishes in the World 12.5

English

106-073 The Exeter Anthology of Old English Poetry 12.5

106-123 Latin Paleography and Codicology 12.5

106-075 Medieval Representations 12.5

106-081 Writing 12.5

Honours subjects

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics	Points
	175-002 Topics in English Linguistics	12.5
	175-003 Topics in English Applied Linguistics	12.5
	175-032 Advanced Syntax	12.5
	175-037 Advanced Semantics	12.5
	175-035 Advanced Phonetics	12.5
	175-038 Englishes in the World	12.5

English
	106-073 The Exeter Anthology of Old English Poetry	12.5
	106-123 Latin Paleography and Codicology	12.5
	106-075 Medieval Representations	12.5
	106-081 Writing	12.5

7. Further study

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

8. For more information

Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Level 2, Babel Building
The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3052
Tel. +61 3 9344 5488
Web: http://www.linguistics.unimelb.edu.au

Subject descriptions

Fourth-year subjects

175-001 English Language Honours Thesis
175-002 Topics in English Linguistics
175-003 Topics in English Applied Linguistics

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