Faculty of Arts
1. Prerequisites
2. Diploma in Arts (English Language)
3. English language assistance
4. Requirements for a major
5. English language subjects
5.1. First year
5.2. Second/third year
6. Combined honours entry
7. Honours requirements
8. Further study
9. For more information
Subject Lists
Subject descriptions
Fourth-year subjects
Convener: Dr Jean Mulder
The English language program 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 Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, the Department of English.
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.
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.
The Diploma in Arts (English Language) is only available to students who are currently enrolled in a degree course at the University of Melbourne. It consists of a three-year sequence of study, and adds one year to the duration of your degree.
Students must complete 25 points of first-year subjects including 175-106 The Linguistics of English and 75 points of second/third-year subjects, including two compulsory subjects, selected from the lists below.
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 ESL subjects. The appropriate subjects offered at first year are:
| First-year ESL subjects: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 175-120 Advanced ESL 1 | 1, repeat 2 | |
| 175-121 Advanced ESL 2 | 1, repeat 2 | |
| 175-122 Exploring Style and Meaning in Language | Not Offered | |
| 175-124 Spoken Interaction | 1, repeat 2 | |
| 175-125 Advanced ESL: Economics and Commerce | 1, repeat 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 175-106 The Linguistics of English. The second of these subjects may be counted as 12.5 points toward the second-year component of the major.
A major in English language usually consists of nine 12.5-point subjects, (112.5 points). It comprises:
two first-year subjects in English language which must include 175-106 The Linguistics of English; and
second/third-year subjects in English language (87.5 points). These must include:
either
and five subjects from the list of optional subjects below.
Students must take two of the following first-year subjects towards their major in English language:
| First-year subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory subject | Semester | |
| 175-106 The Linguistics of English | 1 | |
| Optional subjects | ||
| 175-105 Introduction to Language | 1 | |
| 175-108 Cross-Cultural Communication | 2 | |
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: | ||
| 175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching | 2 | |
| 175-011 Discourse & Pragmatics | Not Offered | |
| Optional subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Linguistics and applied linguistics | Semester | |
| 175-007 Phonology | Not Offered | |
| 175-008 Language & Media | 1 | |
| 175-009 First Language Acquisition | 2 | |
| 175-010 Second Language Learning and Teaching | 2 | |
| 175-011 Discourse & Pragmatics | Not Offered | |
| 175-012 First & Second Language Literacies | Not Offered | |
| 175-014 Phonetics | 2 | |
| 175-015 Syntax | 1 | |
| 175-016 Semantics | 2 | |
| 175-017 Historical Linguistics | Not Offered | |
| 175-019 Language & Society | 2 | |
| 175-020 Language & Culture | 1 | |
| Communication Skills | ||
| 175-126 Effective Communication for Engineering | 2 | |
| 175-134 Project Based Communication Skills | 1, repeat 2 | |
| 175-210 Business and Management Writing | 1 | |
| 175-211 Technical Writing | 2 | |
| English | ||
| 106-013 Beowulf | 2 | |
| 106-024 Introduction to Old English A | 1 | |
| 106-029 Introduction to Old English B | 2 | |
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 Faculty of Arts.
Entry to honours must be approved by the convener of English language and the Faculty of Arts honours course adviser.
Students undertaking combined honours in English language must complete:
175-518 English Language Thesis (37.5 points); and
two honours subjects in English language from the list below (25 points); and
three honours subjects in the combined area of study (37.5 points).
or
honours thesis in the combined area of study (37.5 points); and
two honours subjects in the combined area of study (25 points); and
three honours subjects in English language from the list below (37.5 points).
| Honours subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Linguistics and applied linguistics | Semester | |
| 175-408 Issues in Linguistic Research | 1 | |
| 175-413 Advanced Seminars in English Language | 2 | |
| 175-414 Directed Reading in English Language | 1, repeat 2 | |
| 175-415 Advanced Syntax | Not Offered | |
| 175-423 Advanced Phonetics | 2 | |
| 175-435 Advanced Studies in Meaning | Not Offered | |
| 175-443 Bilingualism | Not Offered | |
| 175-514 Australian Linguistics Institute | 2 | |
| 175-536 World Englishes | 2 | |
| English | ||
| 106-405 The Exeter Anthology | 2 | |
| 106-414 Medieval Representations | 1 | |
| 106-427 Writing: Before and Beyond the Image | Not Offered | |
A Bachelor of Arts which includes English language can lead to graduate studies in English, linguistics or applied linguistics.
Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Fifth Floor, Arts Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel. +61 3 8344 5488
Email: enquiries@linguistics.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.linguistics.unimelb.edu.au
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