MPhil Literature in English
The Master of Philosophy in Literature-in-English is a two-year regular-mode graduate programme of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts. It creates flexible learning opportunities that equip students with a broad knowledge base in Literary Studies while leaving room for specialisation and innovation, and it aligns the postgraduate levels (MA, MPhil, PhD) so that the School of Graduate Studies Step-Up, Step-Down policy can be applied in practice.
Aim of the programme
To produce highly motivated and globally competitive graduates with knowledge and skills to conduct useful research on literary productions and their socio-cultural, political, ideological and economic contexts, as well as to teach Literature-in-English in higher education for the benefit of the educational and social development of Ghana, the West African sub-region and the world.
Objectives
- Conduct research on literary productions using appropriate theoretical approaches to literary criticism.
- Examine the socio-cultural, linguistic, political, ideological and geo-economic contexts associated with literary productions, their dissemination and their consumption.
- Pursue higher academic and professional studies in Literary Studies.
- Demonstrate the skills of creative and critical thinking.
- Critically analyse literary productions in various contexts using appropriate tools in literary criticism.
- Conduct socially responsible research in Literature-in-English to add to knowledge and improve communicative practices across various sectors.
- Use their knowledge and skills in literary criticism to contribute to cultural policy and the creative industry.
The first year is taught and carries fifteen (15) credits a semester: three core courses plus at least two electives in each. 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, individual English writers, special authors 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, and drama and theatre in Africa.
The second year is the research year, made up of Graduate Research Seminar I and II and a twelve-credit Thesis carried in both semesters. Students who successfully complete the first year with at least a CGPA of 2.0 qualify for an MA and may apply for it; only students with a CGPA of 2.5 or better qualify to progress to the second year to write a thesis; and students who obtain a CGPA of 3.5 or better in the course work, with not more than one grade C+ and B+ or better in Research Methods, may apply to step up to the PhD programme.
Since 2020 the Department has combined online resources with face-to-face interaction in delivering content, and continues to integrate videoconferencing, learning management systems and social media into its modes of delivery.
Background
The current MPhil (Literature-in-English) programme was re-accredited in the 2011/2012 academic year and has been running in the Department of English since. The programme was introduced as part of the restructuring of the MPhil (English) programme previously run in the Department; the other programme introduced by that restructuring was the MPhil (English Language).
In 2017 the Department was given approval to also run a Top-Up MPhil programme for MA graduates who desired to enrol in the MPhil in Literature-in-English. Another development since 2011 is that the School of Graduate Studies introduced a Step-Up, Step-Down policy, under which students admitted into MPhil programmes could upgrade to the PhD level or be downgraded to the MA level depending on their performance in the course work.
The Department has produced many graduates for different sectors of the economy, both locally and internationally, including education, law and governance, security and the business professions, and these graduates have been in high demand in the education sector. One notable limitation of the earlier programme was that there was no proper linkage between the different postgraduate levels (MA, MPhil, PhD), which made the Step-Up, Step-Down policy impractical. This revised programme is designed to address that challenge.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the programme are expected to be employed in the following sectors:
1. As teachers of Literature-in-English in the Ghana Education Service. 2. As tutors in the Colleges of Education. 3. As teachers of Communicative Skills or Literature in universities and other higher education institutions. 4. As consultants in the media and creative 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 |
| ENG829S | Seminar in English Studies | Core | 3 |
| ENG831 | The Novel in Africa | Core | 3 |
| ENG848S | Advanced Research Methods | 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 |
| ENG899S | Thesis | Research Component | 6 |
| SGS801S | Academic Writing for Graduate Students | Core | 3 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG821 | Feminist Theory | Core | 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 |
| ENG899S | Thesis | Research Component | 12 |
Level 900
First Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG811 | Studies in Literature and Society | Research Component | 3 |
| ENG899 | Thesis | Research Component | 12 |
Second Semester
| Code | Course | Type | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG820 | Graduate Research Seminar II | Research Component | 3 |
| ENG899 | Thesis | Research Component | 12 |
