The Department of English offers Postgraduate programmes leading to the Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with specialization in anyone of the following:
- Language
- Literature
To fulfill the requirement for the award of the degree of Master, a student must register for a minimum of 30 units which should include the relevant core courses and the research thesis.
COURSES
First Semester Units
Core Courses
ELS 700 Research Methodology and Bibliography 3
ELS 701 Advanced Studies on Literary Theory and Criticism 3
ELS 702 Literature of the Black Diaspora 3
ELS 703 Topics in Dramatic Literature 3
ELS 704 Advanced Studies in African Poetry 3
ELS 705 The Semantics of English 3
ELS 706 Advanced Syntax 3
ELS 707 Advanced Stylistics 3
ELS 708 Advanced Phonology 3
Second Semester
Core Courses Units
ELS 711 Advanced Studies in African Fiction 3
ELS 712 Topics in African Oral Literature 3
ELS 713 Third World Literature 3
ELS 714 Contrastive Analysis 3
ELS 716 Discourse Analysis 3
ELS 799 Dissertation 6
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ELS 700- Research Methodology and Bibliography (Core)
This course exposes students to the various approaches to research and
documentation.
ELS 701– Advanced Studies on Literary Theory and Criticisms (Core)
A study of the approaches to criticisms, literary history and theory.
ELS 702– Literature of the Black Diaspora (Core)
This course is based on an intensive study of the works of Black Authors from North America and the Caribbean.
ELS 703 Topics in Dramatic Literature (Core)
A critical study of the drama of selected period with emphasis on the works of major authors.
ELS 704– Advanced Studies in Poetry (Core)
This course emphasizes the landmarks in African Poetry. In focusing on the works of major African poets, it examines the relationship between orality and modern Poetry.
ELS 705- The Semantics of English (Core)
This is an advanced course in the study of meaning of language. The evolution of Semantics as a branch of Language study as well as its relationship with other disciplines, among other things, shall be treated in detail.
ELS 706- Advanced Syntax (Core)
This course provides an intensive study of the major trends in Advanced English Syntax with emphasis on Transformational Generative Grammar and Systemic Grammar. Of particular focus is either the Aspect model or x-bar syntax. An introductory remark may be made on the extended theory of government.
ELS 707– Advanced Stylistics (Core)
An advanced course in the principles and application of stylistics. Differentiation, mode, field and tenor in relation to the analysis and evaluation of varieties of English shall be studied in detail
ELS 708- Advanced Phonology (Core)
The course is an in-depth study of the sound system of language. It concentrates on Taxonomic Phonology, Generative Phonology with particular reference to the theories of Distinctive features and the basic tenets of Auto segmental Phonology. The course also examines some supra segmental features of Phonology, which are peculiar to African Languages.
ELS 711– Advanced Study in African Fiction (Core)
This course involves an intensive study of the major genres of African fiction with emphasis on representative examples and related criticism.
ELS 712- Topics in African Oral Literature (Core)
A study of selected forms in African Oral literature and an incisive critique of those forms.
ELS 713– Third World Literature (Core)
For the purpose of this course, Third World is defined rather in the literary sense than in the conventional geo-political sense. Africa is the focal point with cross references to other literatures that share related themes, styles, languages of expression and colonial experience.
This course will involve an intensive study of the characteristic themes and stylistic tendencies in Prose, Poetry and Drama of the areas of reference. Of special interest also will be a detailed study of the socio-economic and religious background of the areas whose literature is under focus. Differences and similarities will be related to their literary consequences.
ELS 714– Contrastive Analysis (Core)
This course is aimed at comparing any two languages to determine their similarities and differences. Specifically, it focuses on the comparison of English with any African Language at the various levels of linguistics.
ELS 7 16– Discourse Analysis (Core)
The course examines the theory of discourse analysis as a multi-disciplinary study. It provides an indepth study of sociolinguistics, relying on the view of Dell Hymes, Malcom, Coulthard, J.R. Firth, T.F. Mitchel, Teun Van Dyk, Robert de Beaugrande and others. It will be both theoretical and text-based in focus.
ELS 799 Dissertations (Core)
Students to research and submit thesis in areas of their choice.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D) PROGRAMME
The program shall be by comprehensive research and thesis. There shall be no additional course work.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
- A student shall, as a prerequisite for the registration of thesis title with the Graduate School, present and defend his/her proposal in the presence of his/her Supervisor(s), and at least two other senior academic and interested members of the Department. The approval of the proposal shall depend on the student’s successful defence of it.
- (ii) A student shall be required to present a well-researched paper per session relating to his/her area of specialization at the Department’s Postgraduate
- (iii) A student shall successfully defend the Ph.D thesis before a panel of examiners constituted in accordance with the regulations of the Postgraduate
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 50 hours
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 0
- Certificate No
- Assessments Yes
