MA Literature in English
The Master of Arts in Literature-in-English is a Sandwich-mode graduate programme of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts. It produces graduates capable of ethically critiquing literary productions, teaching Literature-in-English effectively, and applying literary, cultural and theoretical insights to diverse professional and societal contexts.
Aim of the programme
To produce graduates capable of ethically critiquing literary productions, teaching Literature- in-English effectively, and applying literary, cultural and theoretical insights to diverse professional and societal contexts.
Objectives
- Enable students to analyse and interpret literary texts across genres, periods and cultural contexts using appropriate critical and theoretical frameworks.
- Enable students to evaluate major trends, movements and debates in English and postcolonial literatures.
- Enable students to apply critical thinking and interpretive skills to address cultural, social and ethical issues reflected in literary texts.
- Enable students to teach Literature-in-English effectively at secondary and tertiary levels using contemporary pedagogical approaches.
- Enable students to engage with interdisciplinary and emerging areas such as digital humanities, adaptation studies, and literature in relation to other media and knowledge domains.
The programme runs over two semesters and carries a minimum credit load of thirty (30) credits. Each semester combines three core courses with at least two electives. The first-semester core is Research Methods, The Novel in Africa, and Studies in Literature and Society; the second-semester core is Modern African Poetry, Data Analysis, and Teaching and Learning Literature. The electives range across literary stylistics, oral African literature, critical approaches to literature, studies in individual English writers, special author in African literature, literature and film, Caribbean literature, literary perspectives on autobiography, feminist theory, postcolonial studies, literature and globalisation, contemporary Ghanaian literature, humour and literature, literature and memory, drama and theatre in Africa, and artificial intelligence in English studies.
Courses are delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face lectures, seminars and practical sessions. This revision introduces Artificial Intelligence in English Studies as a new course.
Background
The Department of English traces its origins to the former Department of Arts, one of the three foundational departments of the then University College of Cape Coast. Over the years the Department has expanded and diversified its academic offerings, particularly at the postgraduate level, in response to evolving national priorities and global developments in English studies.
Historically the Department offered MA and MPhil (English) programmes during the regular academic semesters, each with two streams: English Language and Literature-in-English. In the 2011/2012 academic year this structure was reviewed and reconfigured, and the MA (English) programme was redesigned into two separate programmes: MA (English Language) and MA (Literature-in-English). Both MA programmes were subsequently aligned with the policy of the School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast, which stipulates that MA programmes be delivered in the Sandwich mode.
In addition, the School of Graduate Studies introduced a flexible Step-Up/Step-Down policy, allowing students enrolled in the MPhil programme to upgrade to PhD status or, where necessary, transition to the MA programme based on their academic performance in coursework. This policy has enhanced academic progression and provided multiple pathways for postgraduate training.
Within this evolving institutional framework the Department has trained a substantial number of graduates who contribute to diverse sectors of the economy, both within Ghana and internationally, including education, governance, law, security and business. The sustained demand for graduates, particularly in the education sector, underscores the programme's strong employability profile and continued relevance, and enrolment has correspondingly increased over the years. The revised MA Literature-in-English programme builds on this established tradition while responding to contemporary developments in the field, integrating emerging areas such as digital humanities and interdisciplinary approaches to literary studies.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the programme have been employed in the following sectors:
1. Secondary and higher education institutions. 2. The media industry. 3. The creative and cultural arts industry.
Course structure
The courses mounted for this programme, by year and semester.
Level 800
First Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG812 | Literary Stylistics | Elective | 3 |
| ENG813 | Oral Literature in Africa | Elective | 3 |
| ENG818 | Research Methods | Core | 3 |
| ENG824 | Critical Approaches to Literature | Elective | 3 |
| ENG831 | The Novel in Africa | Core | 3 |
| ENG855 | Studies in Individual English Writers | Elective | 3 |
| ENG856 | Special Authors in African Literature | Elective | 3 |
| ENG857 | Literature and Film | Elective | 3 |
| ENG858 | Caribean Literature | Elective | 3 |
| ENG861 | Studies in Literature and Society | Core | 3 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG821 | Feminist Theory | Core | 3 |
| ENG823S | Contemporary Ghanaian Literature | Elective | 3 |
| ENG860 | Literary Perspectives on Autobiography | Elective | 3 |
| ENG862 | Feminist Theory | Elective | 3 |
| ENG863 | Postcolonial Studies | Elective | 3 |
| ENG864 | Literature and Globalization | Elective | 3 |
| ENG865 | Contemporary Ghanaian Literature | Elective | 3 |
| ENG867 | Humour and Literature | Elective | 3 |
| ENG868 | Literature and Memory | Elective | 3 |
| ENG869 | Data Analysis | Core | 3 |
| ENG870 | Drama and Theatre in Africa | Elective | 3 |
| ENG871 | Teaching and Learning Literature | Core | 3 |
