English Literature BA (Hons)drafted

Program Overview

The English Literature BA (Hons) at the University of Worcester immerses students in diverse literature, fostering critical thinking and writing skills. It prepares graduates for careers in publishing, marketing, teaching, and postgraduate studies, with hands-on experience through internships and industry links. The program offers a range of optional modules, guest lectures from literary figures, and a supportive learning environment with personal academic tutoring.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

English Literature BA (Hons) at the University of Worcester

This program invites students to embark on a transformative journey of exploring diverse literature and authors. It fosters new and enriching encounters with texts, challenging students to think about how language impacts their lives, the lives of others, and the world around them.

Objectives:

• Develop critical reading and writing skills
• Strengthen expertise suited for various careers, from publishing to marketing
• Prepare students for postgraduate studies
• Offer hands-on experience through internships and work projects
• Establish strong industry links

Key features:

• Available as a Single or Joint Honours degree with various subjects like Creative Writing, English Language, Media & Film Studies, and History
• Guest lectures from literary figures like Owen Sheers, Carol Ann Duffy, and Patience Agbabi
• Develops expertise suited to a range of careers, from teaching to marketing
• Enhances employability through work projects and internship opportunities
• Excellent industry links with partnerships like Worcester Cathedral and Hay Festival

Additional Information:

• Ranked joint 10th for Graduate Prospects in the UK (The Complete University Guide 2024).
## Outline:

Year 1

Mandatory Modules:

• Literary Forms and Genres
• Exploring the Canon
• Ways of Reading, Ways of Writing
• Writing Worcester Past and Present

Optional Modules:

• Places and Spaces
• Bodies and Beings
• UGTU1001 Introduction to Tutoring
• Option modules from Centre for Academic English and Skills.

Year 2

Mandatory Modules:

• Exploding the Canon: Literary Theory and Practice
• Movement and Migration

Optional Modules:

• Politics, Sex and Identity in the Early Modern World
• Shakespeare: Stage, Page and Screen
• Gothic and Romantic Literature
• Spaces of Modernity
• Children's Literature
• Work Project
• UGTU1001 Introduction to Tutoring
• Option modules from Centre for Academic English and Skills.

Year 3

Mandatory Modules:

• Independent Research Project

Optional Modules:

• Justice and Revenge: from Tragedy to the Western
• Postcolonial Encounters
• Writing and the Environment
• War and Conflict
• Gendering Voices
• Partnerships and Rivalries
• Literatures and Cultures: International Explorations
• Queer Bodies, Queer Texts
• Literature and Culture – Local Heritage

Teaching and Learning:

• Year 1 forms a foundation, consolidating understanding of literary forms, critical reading and writing skills, and key themes.
• Year 2 deepens understanding of literary movements and contexts while applying literary theories to practice.
Opportunities to broaden experience through specialist modules or studying abroad are offered. A Work Project module is also available.
• By Year 3, you are prepared to undertake your individual research project with a specialist tutor, pursuing your interests in Literature through thematic, optional modules.
## Assessment:
• Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments contributing to the overall module grade.
• Some modules provide opportunities for testing understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments.
• Assessment methods include essays, exercises in critical reading, portfolios, and creative pieces of work.
• Feedback on coursework and formal assessment is provided within 20 working days.
## Teaching:
• Teaching is delivered through workshops, lectures, seminars, research trips to cultural locations in the region, film screenings, and interactive activities.
• Students have around 12 contact hours of teaching each week, depending on chosen optional modules and slightly less in the final year for independent study.
• Class contact hours are typically structured as:
• 4 hours of lectures
• 8 hours of seminars
• Independent self-directed study requires around 24 hours per week, involving primary reading, research and critical reading, group work, directed study tasks.
## Careers:
• Graduates often pursue a fourth-year postgraduate Certificate in Education before becoming teachers.
• Others pursue opportunities as English language teachers or enter careers requiring strong communication skills, like Public Relations.
• High-performing graduates may choose to progress to Masters or further research toward PhD, often leading to research or higher education careers.
## Other:
• Students are supported by a personal academic tutoring system, enabling reflection on progress and building a profile of skills, achievements, and experiences to facilitate success.
• Extensive learning facilities include the Hive, library resources, virtual learning environments, and electronic learning resources.
• Work-based learning opportunities like work projects offer valuable practical experience.