MA English Literatures

MA English Literatures The four-semester Master's programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of English literatures and cultures and a methodological approach to literary studies. Curricular modules are designed to enhance critical understanding by exploring texts in their historical and cultural contexts, in their interaction with other literatures, and from a variety of relevant perspectives, including historical scholarship and aesthetics, close textual analysis, and contemporary literary and cultural theories and poetics. Literary texts are studied as works of art and as configurations of historical and media-specific fields of transformation. Literature is seen as a productive agent in the formation of the cultural knowledge of a society and of the individual self-conceptions of its members. The MA English Literatures is a taught Master's programme, yet at the same time, it places a strong emphasis on self-conducted research and project work. In general, classroom instruction is conducted in English, but some classes are conducted in German. Additionally, the programme includes special English language modules. The programme is designed to prepare and qualify students for employment in the cultural professions and the media. Students who successfully complete the programme will also be qualified for academic positions as well as for a broad range of jobs requiring sophisticated competences in the writing of texts, in organisation, and in communication. The degree is granted upon acceptance of a Master's thesis. There are interdisciplinary links to the MA programmes of European Literatures and Gender Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Modules in the programme: Writing Skills: Essay Composition/Text Production (2 UE) Writing Skills: Textual Competence (2 UE) Authors, Periods, Genres (SE, LSE) Texts, Contexts, Cultures: Media and Cultural Communication (SE, LSE) Texts, Contexts, Cultures: Literature and Systems of Knowledge (SE, LSE) Literary Interactions (SE, LSE) Texts and Theories (SE, LSE) Research Colloquium (KO, ST) Master's thesis SE = seminar, UE = exercise, LSE = reading seminar, ST = self study, KO = colloquium Most courses are conducted in seminar format, with a strong emphasis on academic discussion. Module exams consist of take-home exams, term papers, and oral exams.