| The most important facts at a glance: | |
|---|---|
| Degree: | |
| Standard period of studies: | 6 semesters |
| Start: | Winter and summer semester |
| Applicants with foreign certificates: | Language of instruction: English Required language certificate: DSH-2. Proof of German language proficiency is not required, if the subject is combined with 'American Studies'.Required course for the Assessment Test (Feststellungsprüfung): S/G- or S-Course. To find out if you are required to take the Assessment Test, check your Certificate of Recognition. |
| Admission restrictions: | Open admission |
| Application: | You find information on the application procedure for international students here. |
| Deadlines: | Please keep in mind that you need a certification of recognition for all foreign certificates. The recognition process takes up to six weeks and the certificate must be included in your application. winter semester: June 1 - September 1 summer semester: December 1 - March 1 If you combine a Two-subject Bachelor whose admission is open with one whose is restricted, the deadlines are: winter semester: June 1 - July 15 summer semester: December 1 - January 15 |
| Master: | English Literature and Culture (M.A.) under certain conditions (depending on courses taken): |
| Homepage: | Department of English and Linguistics |
| Faculty: | Faculty 05: Philosophy and Philology |
| Accreditation: | The accreditation of study programmes for Bachelor and Master Degrees constitutes as a precondition for the granting of state approval. |
Subject Matter
General
As a major at JGU, English Literature and Culture allows students to complete a practical and qualifying degree in 6 semesters (plus time abroad). This degree is internationally accepted and recognized as the preceding qualification for a master’s degree. Through the practice of subject combination here in Mainz, students are able to design a program that suits their individual career goals. Here in the heart of the Rhine-Main area there are myriad opportunities to use the communication and text analysis skills gained during this degree in a media- and information-based market.
Content, Methods, Goals
The core of the program is the study of the literature and culture of Great Britain and Ireland. However, it does not stop at the limits of these traditional fields, but pays tribute to the new global perspectives by including the cultural and literary worlds of former Commonwealth countries—the so-called “New Literatures”. One of the fundamental goals of English Studies is to teach methods of interaction with texts, a skill that forms the basis of success in every field. These critical thinking skills include logical argument, problem-solving, informed interpretation, and independent thinking. Although students analyze texts using traditional context-based methods, the central focus remains on critical, philological and theoretical methods that dissect the interaction between text and reader. In order to provide the most comprehensive access to literature, students are taught multi-faceted approaches: narratology, literature and culture theory, even aspects of cognitive science and gender studies play an important role. This multidimensionality helps students attain analytical and critical skills that can be easily transferred to other contexts and fields, and which, furthermore, mark personal growth and academic maturity. Students gain an understanding of the plurality of methods and variety of approaches in literature and culture studies, whose individual forms are often considered disparate and irreconcilable when compared directly. This understanding is vital for the development of critical thought, and when applied to human interaction, it forms the basis of intercultural competence.
Classes
All classes are taught in English. Class topics encompass the entire range of the subject—from the Middle Ages to the present day. Additionally, the program offers a number of attractive focus areas based on the research and interests of the teachers. These include: Literature and Culture in the Early Modern Period, Modern Drama, The English-Language Novel from the 19th to the 21st Century, Modern Poetry in English, Culture and Literature Theory, and Scottish Studies. An interwoven system of seminars, lectures, and practical exercises guarantees that students are able to work with a large number of texts across a wide variety of genres. Students of English Literature and culture should take pleasure in intensive reading and be ready to analyze complex and challenging texts.
Course Structure
English Literature and Culture as a major (7 modules, 120 credits):
• Language and Communication
• Literature
• Cultural Studies
• Language, Culture, Media
• Language and Communication
• Language and Literature
• Literature and Culture
English Literature and Culture as a minor:
• a) Internal: 4 Modules (60 credits): Cultural Studies und Literature (2x each)
• b) External: 4 Modules (60 credits): Language and Communication, Literature, Cultural Studies, Literature and Culture
Studying Abroad
As part of the degree program, students are encouraged to spend at least three months studying in an English-speaking country.
Required Internships
As part of the major, students are to do a six-week (or longer) internship at a company or organization. If a student chooses to go abroad, this should generally be for a period of three months. Six weeks participating in a summer school or doing a teaching assistantship in an English-speaking country is also acceptable.
For more information on internships in Germany and abroad, please refer to our Career Service portal.
Foreign Language Skills
Excellent knowledge of English is required. Students must be able to complete written and oral exams in English. Additionally, students are required to have some knowledge of a second foreign language.
Practical Language Entrance Exam:
Before being accepted to the program, applicants must complete the “Practical Language Entrance Exam” (C1, according to the Common European Framework). The exam is given two weeks before classes begin, and the dates will be listed on the homepage of the Department of English and Linguistics in advance. Students may also provide proof of English ability by submitting equivalent certificates. More information is available on the Homepage of the Department of English and Linguistics.
Information
The International Office offers counselling for international students about the application process and general information.
The Student Counselling Office offers specific information on the subject (List available in German only).
The Student representatives give information from a student perspective (List available in German only).
Fields of Work
By virtue of diverse combination options in the fields of social, cultural, economic, and communication studies, the bachelor’s degree English Literature and Culture offers an excellent basis for a future career. Students receive solid language training along with a high level of cultural competence, which are essential in the current globalized job market, and additionally, they learn to analyze and organize information—key skills for a differentiated and tech-based information and media society.
The English Literature and Culture program offers graduates career perspectives in the following fields: private schools in Germany and abroad, colleges and universities, adult education, job training, media, publishing, libraries, museums, press and public relations, advertising, information and communications technology, editing, and public service, as well as economics, trade, and industry. These opportunities can be significantly improved through relevant subject combinations, the acquisition of additional qualifications like IT skills, German as a foreign language, and other foreign languages, by pursuing internships both in Germany and abroad, and of course through personal flexibility.