English and Literary Studies (B.A.)

College of Humanities

Course Overview

The B.A. English and Literary Studies programme is designed to cultivate graduates with strong proficiency in the English language, critical and analytical thinking skills, and a deep appreciation of literature and its role in shaping culture and society. The programme blends rigorous linguistic training with in-depth literary analysis, enabling students to explore the richness of the English language and its various forms of expression. Students will develop communication skills, creative insight, and cultural literacy necessary for careers in education, media, writing, and beyond.

This programme provides a balanced curriculum in language and literature, exposing students to a broad spectrum of English usage in diverse professional settings. It emphasizes the study of oral and written literature, linguistic structures, stylistics, and cultural representation. With a strong emphasis on critical thinking and scholarly research, students are trained to apply their knowledge in both academic and real-world contexts. The course content also introduces students to Nigerian, African, American, and diasporic literary traditions while exploring language in societal, historical, and creative contexts.

Course detail

AWARD TITLE

B.A.

START DATE

September 2025

DURATION

4 years

STUDY MODE

Full-time

CAMPUS

Nigeria, Lokoja

Teaching and Learning

Learning Methods:

  • Classroom lectures and seminar discussions

  • Group tutorials and academic writing workshops

  • Oral literature performance and fieldwork research

  • Individual and group research projects

  • Literary readings and presentations

  • Supervised creative writing and linguistic analysis exercises

Assessment Structure:

  • Continuous assessments (essays, tests, and reports)

  • Oral and written examinations

  • Class presentations and group assignments

  • Fieldwork evaluation and translation analysis

  • Final year research project and defense

Modules

  1. Contrastive Linguistics: Focuses on comparing English with Nigerian indigenous languages to identify similarities and differences in structure, phonetics, syntax, and style, including tonal and intonational analysis.
  2. Venture Creation: Covers opportunity identification, entrepreneurial finance, business planning, marketing, negotiation, and digital business strategies using emerging technologies.
  3. Introduction to Nigerian Literature in English: Introduces students to the major genres of Nigerian literature and their historical, social, and political contexts, examining key authors and themes.
  4. Lexicology and Lexicography: Explores dictionary-making processes, lexical semantics, types of glossaries, phonemic transcription, and software tools for lexicography.
  5. Elements of English Usage: Enhances grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation skills, focusing on clarity, coherence, and effectiveness in English communication.
  6. Folklore in African Literature I: Examines oral traditions and their adaptation into written African literature, focusing on performance and storytelling.
  7. The English Language in Nigeria: Traces the history and development of English in Nigeria, its evolution into Nigerian English, and its interaction with local languages.
  8. Literature of Migration and Diaspora: Analyzes literary works dealing with themes of displacement, identity, post-coloniality, and the experiences of various diasporic communities.
  9. Nigerian Oral Literatures in English Translation: Engages students in fieldwork and translation of indigenous oral narratives, including analysis and genre classification.
  10. Survey of American Literature: Explores major American writers, movements, and themes from different historical periods.
  11. Stylistics: Teaches the analysis of linguistic style in literary and non-literary texts, focusing on how meaning is constructed through language use.
  12. African-American and Caribbean Literature: Examines literary expressions from African-American and Caribbean authors, addressing themes of identity, resistance, and cultural memory.

Career

Graduates of the English and Literary Studies programme are equipped for a wide range of career paths, including:

  • Teaching and Education

  • Journalism and Media

  • Editing and Publishing

  • Creative Writing and Screenwriting

  • Public Relations and Corporate Communications

  • Librarianship and Archival Management

  • Theatre, Acting, and Directing

  • Further academic research and postgraduate studies

Entry Requirements

  • Minimum of five (5) O’ Level credit passes in relevant subjects, obtained in not more than two sittings in WASSCE/NECO/GCE or equivalent.
  • Direct Entry applicants into 200 level must have relevant A-Level or diploma qualifications.

Candidates applying for admission into 100 level undergraduate programmes must possess a minimum of five (5) ‘O’ level credit passes at not more than two (2) sittings in WASC, GCE, NECO or its equivalent. Awaiting result is also accepted.

  1. JAMB UTME result print-out.
  2. SSCE/NECO Result (Awaiting Result Accepted).
  3. Two Passport Photographs.
  4. A Letter of Sponsorship, stating the commitment to pay the prescribed fees.
  5. National Identification Number (NIN)
  6. A Reference Letter from a spiritual mentor, vouching for your character

Candidates applying for Direct Entry into 200 level must possess the following

  1. Jamb direct entry form
  2. A/L, IJMB, OND or NCE in the relevant courses.
  3. SSCE/NECO Result (Awaiting Result Accepted)
  4. Two Passport Photographs.
  5. A Letter of Sponsorship, stating the commitment to pay the prescribed fees.
  6. National Identification Number (NIN)
  7. A Reference Letter from a spiritual mentor, vouching for your character.

Fees and Funding

The course fees you’ll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. Visit the links below to find the Undergraduate section.

 
More information

Find out about grants, bursaries, scholarships and living costs in our undergraduate taught fees and funding section.

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