The Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature program aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills in the fields of language, literature and culture by offering a comprehensive academic content and curriculum. The program usually lasts four years and consists of a variety of compulsory and elective courses.
In the early years, students are taught the basic building blocks of language and skills in literary analysis. Linguistics courses examine phonetic, morphological, syntactic and semantic aspects of the English language. Students learn the structure and use of language in depth, starting with phonology. In addition, academic writing skills courses develop students' ability to write research papers and critical essays.
Literary analysis and criticism courses teach students how to read and analyze literary texts. In these courses, various literary theories and methods of criticism are introduced. Students develop critical thinking skills by taking into account elements such as form, structure, theme and language when analyzing texts.
In the later years of the program, students take courses that examine the historical periods and literary genres of English literature. In the medieval English literature course, early works such as Beowulf and classical texts such as Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" are studied. Renaissance literature classes analyze works such as William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets. Romantic period classes focus on the works of poets such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and John Keats. Victorian literature courses analyze the novels of authors such as Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. Modern and contemporary English literature courses focus on writers such as Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and T.S. Eliot and their works.
Courses on literary genres include lessons that examine different genres such as poetry, novels, drama and short stories. In these courses, the specific characteristics, historical development and important representatives of each genre are discussed. For example, poetry courses focus on different forms of poetry, themes and techniques. Novel courses, on the other hand, analyze the novel's structure, character development and narrative techniques.
Elective courses offer students the opportunity to specialize according to their interests. These courses include American literature, world literature, postcolonial literature, women writers, children's literature, and popular culture. Through these courses, students explore different literary and cultural perspectives.
In the final years of the program, students usually do a capstone thesis or project work. This work allows students to conduct in-depth research on a topic of their interest and showcase their academic writing skills. The dissertation allows students to experience the process of conducting an academic research, using the knowledge and skills they have acquired in an applied way.
The Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature offers students a comprehensive language and literature education. The academic content of the program covers a wide range of subjects including linguistics, literary analysis and criticism, literary history and genres. Through this program, students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills and have the opportunity to pursue careers in a variety of fields.