B.A (Hons)

English

Our four-year undergraduate honours programme in English will not only give you a nuanced understanding of English language and literature, it will also develop skills that will give you an edge over others in the global environment. With growing demand for young professionals with an excellent command over the English language across various fields, give yourself the competitive edge with additional competency in regional languages with electives like Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Bengali. Or opt for complementary electives like History, Political Science and Education.

Why should I pursue a B.A English degree?

A B.A degree with honours in English will enable me to:

  • Acquire knowledge of the literary ages and historical developments which led to the formation of representative canons in English literature. 
  • Develop a sense of the cultural and aesthetic tendencies of the past and the present, and the confluence of traditions and ideas.
  • Learn to recognize and uphold the consequences of moral choices as an integral component of academic training in literature.
  • Associate the origin of literary genres and techniques with sociocultural developments and identifying the role of power structures in the formulation of canon.
  • Acquire the ability to trace cultural connect and bridges across nations through literary representations.
  • Interpret the politics of social equations and the power of literary texts to change the society or perpetuate stereotypes, over a range of cross-cutting issues like gender, class, caste, etc.
  • Imbibe textual perspectives which enable empathetic accommodation of social plurality.
  • Evaluate the literary merit of different forms of literature with reference to the structural components of literature and becoming familiar with poetic metres and literary devices used in rhetoric.
  • Apply vocabulary and comprehension skills to written as well as spoken tracts and become adept at communicating ideas and arguments with clarity.
  • Develop research-based ideas and projects through theoretical insights into the subject.

Scope of the B.A English degree

Upon completion of BA English, one is eligible for various competitive exams, further studies and professional courses. One is also eligible to apply for jobs.

Career prospects after B.A English

There are several career options after B.A English. 

Besides traditional roles as teachers and educators, graduates with English honours can pursue several other career options as journalists, bloggers, editors, creative writers, translators and interpreters.

Several NGOs and companies in the IT  Sector hire English honours graduates for PR management, HR, content writing and marketing.

Available courses for B.A English

After completing the B.A English course, one can opt for traditional courses such as B.Ed or M.A in English. One might also go for a switch in career by opting for MBA, Journalism and Mass Communication or Film Studies or pursuing short-term courses in Journalism and Mass Communication, IT, Digital Marketing or any other professional course. 

Corporate job options

Content writer, Digital marketing executive, PR Manager, HR Manager, Communications sector

Competitive exam options available

UPSC, Banking, Railways, SSC CGL, School Service Commission, CAT

Career switch options

Management, Administration, Journalism and Mass Communication, Film Studies, Translation Studies etc.

Conclusion

BA English offers the students exposure to a wide area of literary knowledge and analytical skills. Upon the completion of the course, one emerges as a competent graduate – free to choose from amongst a wide range of career options. The Department of English, BESC, also offers a PG programme in English.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Can I take up BA English if I score well in English in school?
    That is not really advisable. The syllabus for English at the school level is only about reading poems, short stories, plays and writing answers based on your reading of the text. B.A English is a more technical course and involves a tedious study of the entire History of English literature from the 10th century till date. Opt for BA English only if you think you would like to know about the history of literary genres and pieces.
  • Does the College offer useful combinations of GE subjects along with English honours?
    Yes, the college offers exciting combinations of GE subjects along with English honours, as per the norms of the University of Calcutta.
  •  Do the students get adequate exposure to new literary developments during the course?
    Yes, apart from the syllabus prescribed by the University of Calcutta, the Department of English organizes regular seminars and invited lectures by renowned scholars and academics in order to keep the students informed about new literary trends and developments.
  • Does the Department have any publications/ journals?
    Yes, the Department of English has a students’ magazine called ‘ThoughtSpell’ and an academic journal with ISSN called ‘Interlocutor’.  Interlocutor may be accessed at “www.interlocutor.co.in”
  • Is attendance mandatory for pursuing the course?
    Yes, a minimum 65 % of attendance is mandatory for pursuing the course without any disciplinary action.

Course Structure

Choice Based Credit System

Name of Course Semester Marks
History of literature and philology 1 100
European classical literature 1 100
Poetry and short story 1 100
Communicative english or mil 1 100
Indian writing in english 2 100
Environment study 2 100
Essay + drama and novel 2 100
British poetry and drama (14th – 17th century) 2 100
American literature 3 100
Popular literature 3 100
Translation studies or business communication 3 100
British poetry and drama (17th – 18th century) 3 100
British literature (18th century) 4 100
Academic writing 4 100
Women’s writing and women’s empowerment 3 100
British romantic literature 4 100
19th century british literature 4 100
Creative writing or academic writing and composition 4 100
Women’s writing 5 100
Early 20th century British literature 5 100
Modern Indian writing in english translation or literary theory and criticism 5 100
Literary types and rhetoric and prosody or contemporary India: women and empowerment 5 100
Modern European drama 6 100
Postcolonial literature 6 100
Partition literature or media and communication studies 6 100
Autobiography or text and performances 6 100

PO CO PSO

Program Outcome / Course Outcome / Program Specific Outcome →

2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021

Thought Spell

The Students Magazine

Volume I
Volume II
Volume III

Interlocutor

Course Eligibility

A candidate taking up an Honours Course in a subject must have obtained, at the previous qualifying examination, a minimum of:

55% marks in English

OR

45% marks in English + 50% marks in BO4

Note:

Please also read General Eligibility Criteria, Under Admissions.

Course Duration

4 Years

Course Hours

10:15 am to 4:30 pm (Day session, Co-ed)

Course Fees

₹ 25,090/- (First Semester)

Admission 2024-25 Enquiry Form