Department -Department of English Language and Literature at KSU

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Facilities
Introduction
Programs
		B.A
		MA
		Ph.D
Admissions: Eligibility Criteria
		B.A
		MA
		Ph.D
Achievements

Facilities:

- The chairman’s office

- Secretarial offices

- The staff offices

- Council meeting room

- The library

Introduction :

The Department of English Language & Literature takes pride in its prestigious position at the very heart of King Saud University. It has been a vital component of the College of Arts ever since the College initiated the first university level studies in Saudi Arabia way back in 1957 (1377 H). Right from its inception, it has availed itself of a highly qualified and competent teaching and research faculty along with effective curricula subjected to continual refinement and modernisation. Affiliated to it is the English Department in Female Branch/ Center of the University which, employing an equally capable faculty, has been running programmes identical to those of the parent department at the College of Arts.

The Department of English Language & Literature serves the specific purpose of providing progressively sequenced instruction in both English language and literature to students enrolled with it. Its programmes are geared to provide virtual vocational and professional training to students expected to serve later as translators and linguists. It further undertakes to prepare exceptionally bright students for higher studies, locally as well as abroad, towards earning MA and Ph D degrees in the fields of English language and literature. The department offers multiple courses in composition, grammar, linguistics, translation, language, and English/American literature.

The 'imperatives' of higher education in the department are carefully attended to, as students are schooled to think independently, analyse texts as well as theoretical problems, and express themselves both in the spoken and written word efficiently and succinctly. Student activities, such as production of plays, publication of student magazines, and pursuit of study abroad, are intended to promote fellowship amongst them, deepen their cultural understanding, and round out the complete "English Major."

The curricula have been so fashioned as to lead the incoming students through a meticulously phased learning programme culminating in their enhanced language proficiency and academic sophistication.

Programmes

The Department of English Language & Literature runs three main programmes —— BA, MA, & PhD.

1- BA program:

In this programme, students (male/female) study in all 128 credit hours divided over 8 levels, including the compulsory courses in Arabic and Islamic studies (18 hrs).

In the BA programme, the Department of English seeks to equip its graduates with the ability to cope with the various demands; academic as well as professional. Graduates (male/female), with qualifications in English language/literature, are expected to meet the needs for English language not only in the fields of teaching/translation, but also in hospitals, ministries, banks, print/electronic media, public/private institutions and schools, and various other jobs requiring proficiency in English.

2- MA Program:

This programme caters to 2 different disciplines:

I. MA in English Language and Literature

II. MA in Applied Linguistics

Students (male/female) study preliminary courses (15 credit hours) over the first two semesters. To continue beyond this point in the programme, one has to obtain minimum grade B, following which they have to further study 27 credit hours divided over 3 semesters. The courses of the first 2 semesters are compulsory for all students (male/female). Thereafter, one is free to choose a stream in one's respective discipline.

Streams within a discipline:

In literature there are 5 streams: poetry, fiction, drama, American literature, and comparative literature.

In Applied Linguistics there are 3 streams: educational linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics.

Upon successful completion of the above, the student writes his/her original thesis in partial fulfilment of the programme.

The basic objective of the MA programme is to produce specialists in English language equipped with a higher level of competence and proficiency than BA so as to meet the needs of Saudi Arabia in this field. In addition, every student is required to contribute a new, genuine research product before his/her graduation. Not only do these researches serve as 'resource' for others in their endeavours of learning/teaching English in Saudi Arabia, but also enrich their professional knowledge in English and comparative literature and broaden their vision. Although one learns English literature as a separate branch of study, it nonetheless helps enrich the Arabic literature through comparative researches and studies.

Through MA programmes, students qualify to become professional faculty members in various universities and institutions around the country. This programme also prepares students to pursue Ph D degree in the Kingdom.

3- PhD Program:

This programme caters to 2 different disciplines:

I. Ph D in Literture

II. Ph D in Applied Linguistics

Students (male/female) who choose literature study 18 credit hours divided over 3 semesters.

Students (male/female) who choose Applied Linguistics study 20 credit hours divided over 3 semesters.

Upon successful completion of the above, the student writes his/her original dissertation.

The PhD programme confers highest degree of self-sufficiency in the chosen area and provides students with alternatives; cultural, academic and professional. It also undertakes to endow them with a most comprehensive and deep knowledge of English language and literature.

Admissions: Eligibility Criteria (Qualifications and pre-requisites)

BA Programme

1. Recent High School certificate from one of the Saudi schools or an equivalent certificate.

2. Grade average of 90 % of High School Certificate.

3. Qualifying the Entrance Examination held by the department at the beginning of every semester.

MA Programme

1. BA from King Saud University with a minimum B grade in the field of English language and literature or an equivalent degree.

(Note: A concession may be made to accept holders of BA with C grade upon the approval of the Departmental or College Council.)

2. Qualifying a written Entrance Exam held by the department.

3. Qualifying an interview.

Ph D Programme

1. An MA from King Saud University with a minimum B grade in the field of English language and literature/linguistics or an equivalent degree in the same fields. Additional terms may be required by the Departmental and College Councils and/or the School of Graduate Studies.

2. Qualifying a Comprehensive Examination.

3. Qualifying an Interview.

Achievements

- Supervising the students’ theses and dissertations in King Saud University and in other Saudi universities.

- Evaluating research papers and academic researches, sent to the Department from all different Saudi universities.

- Active participating in Saudi TV and Radio Programs both in English and Arabic.

- Participating in symposiums, conferences, meetings both in English and Arabic.

- Issuing the research papers in Saudi, Arabic, and international periodicals.

- Evaluating the textbook curricula for Saudi schools.

- Participating in Saudi media and press.

- Participating in Saudi, Arabic, and international cultural institutions.

Designed and Developed by Dr. Aouda Aljohani & Thamer Al-Ghamdi