MA in English Syllabus & Subjects 2024

MA in English syllabus includes topics from the foundations of English literature. Students pursuing an MA in English study various kinds of subjects throughout their semesters, including Criticism Theory, Linguistics, American Literature, Drama, Fiction, Indian Literature, etc. The four semesters of the MA in English programme focus on core and elective courses that help candidates get necessary expertise in poetry, fiction, literature, plays, and other related subjects. Also, the advanced study of English literature's social, political, cultural, and historical periods is an integral part of the MA in English course.

An MA in English syllabus can include both core and elective subjects. Some common subjects in an MA in English syllabus include:

• Modern English usage and grammar
• English poetry from Chaucer to Milton
• Eighteenth-century English literature
• American literature
• Language and linguistics
• Works of Shakespeare
• Indian literature
• 19th and 20th century novels
• 20th century poetry and drama
• European comedy
• Foreign languages 

Other subjects that may be included are:

• Chaucer to Elizabethans
• Metaphysical to Milton
• Augustans and Neoclassical writers
• Pre Romantics and Romantics
• Phonetics and spoken English
• Literary criticism
• Victorian literature
• Literature and the visual arts in Europe
• Literature and the visual arts in American literature

There are many reasons to pursue a detailed MA in English syllabus and subjects, such as the fact that it greatly enhances one's chances of landing a job in journalism or education and offers a plethora of opportunities for those who want to work as writers or translators for international organisations. That being said, students with a BA in English are the ones who usually enrol in this course. Enrolling in this course is the finest way to learn about literature, language, and cultural practices. To be eligible for this, students must have completed any bachelor’s degree with at least 45%-55% aggregate marks from a recognised institution. Continue reading to know more about the MA in English syllabus and subjects that students will study during their programme.

The MA in English syllabus has been designed to provide students with all the resources they need to truly understand literature, including the most well-known books and literary works from history, ancient times and eras, to come up with their philosophical concepts and draft books, reports, articles, novels, and other literary works. The following is a discussion about the semester-wise MA in English syllabus that students can use for reference.

MA in English 1st Year Syllabus

The following table highlights the semester-wise MA in English syllabus for 1st year:

MA in English 2nd Year Syllabus

The following table highlights the semester-wise MA in English syllabus for 2nd year:

The 1st year subjects for MA in English include Dalit and Tagore literature, Shakespeare's writings, and literature from the early 14th to the late 20th centuries. On the other hand, the 2nd year subjects for MA in English cover literary criticism from the 16th to the 19th centuries as well as post-colonial literature critiques. Nearly every college or institution offers the following MA in English subjects:

• English Fiction I & II
• The Study of Modern English
• The Structure of Modern English
• English Language and Literature Training
• Literary Theory and Criticism
• Indian Literature in English I & II
• European Literature in Translation
• Literary Criticism I & II
• Drama

MA in English courses that have a combination of Indian Culture,  Language and Literature, Philosophy, Sociology, Linguistics, and History are called common subjects. These are known as the core subjects and are often offered in the curriculum of the most esteemed universities awarding this degree. The common subjects for the MA in English course for all semesters are listed below:

• Shakespeare
• Literary Criticism 1 & 2
• Language and Linguistics
• English Poetry from Chaucer to Milton.
• Eighteenth Century English Literature.
• British Literature III: Victorian Times to Modern Times
• British Literature II: Dryden to Romantic Age
• British Literature I: Chaucer to Milton
• 20th Century Poetry and Drama
• 19th & 20th Century Novel

Since students can choose optional subjects based on their leisure interests or professional career objectives, they are also known as elective subjects. Nonetheless, every institution may have a different optional course curriculum. A list of MA in English elective subjects is provided below:

• Visual Arts and Literature in Europe or American Literature
• Traditional English Drama
• Spy Fiction
• Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century Drama
• Research Methodology
• Modern English Drama
• Literature and Gender
• Indian Prose Works
• Foreign Languages
• European Comedy
• English Poetry
• Campus Novel
• Ancient Greek and Latin Literature

A wide number of topics are covered in the MA English course curriculum, including, the Process of Speech Production, John Milton's Paradise Lost, the Modern Translation of Geoffrey Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Descriptive and Generative Linguistics, and so on. The following table lists the major subjects in MA English along with the topics they cover:

During the two-year course duration, prospective students gain advanced English language proficiency via an MA in English distance programmes. It includes learning a variety of fundamental disciplines including translation studies, American literature, drama, Indian writing in English and translation, fiction, film studies, poetry, research methodology, and more. The following is a discussion about the syllabus for MA in English distance programmes.

MA in English Syllabus for 1st Year Distance Programs

The following table outlines the 1st year semester-wise syllabus for MA in English:

MA in English Syllabus for 2nd Year Distance Programs

The following table outlines the 2nd year semester-wise syllabus for MA in English:

Several colleges, including NMIMS Mumbai, Hindu College, and others, need applicants to take national or institutional admission tests to be admitted to the MA in English course. The following pointers list the MA in English entrance exam syllabus:

IPU CET Syllabus: The Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test or IPU CET syllabus includes topics such as Analytical and Logical Reasoning, Applied Mechanics, BSc Level Mathematics, Computer Awareness and Chemistry/ Physics Related Knowledge, English (Class 12 level), Scientific Aptitude, and so on.

CUET PG Syllabus: The Common University Entrance Test or CUET PG syllabus includes topics such as Social Work, Urban and Rural Community Development, Psychology, Applied Psychology, Health Psychology, Plastic Arts, Philosophy, Painting, Fine Arts (Art History and Visual Studies, Sculpture, Printmaking, Painting, Mural, etc.), Dev and Labour Studies, Art and Aesthetics, Applied Arts, and more.

NPAT Syllabus: The National Test for Programs After Twelfth or NMIMS NPAT includes topics such as Verbal- Logical Reasoning, Trigonometry, Spatial Reasoning, Sets and Functions, Numerical Reasoning, Number Systems, Elementary Statistics and Probability, Data Sufficiency, Data Interpretation, Critical Thinking, Arithmetic, Algebra, and more.

For admission to MA English programmes at prestigious universities, students must take entrance exams. Below is a list of the MA English entrance exams syllabus:

• 17th-Century Poetry
• Early Modern Poetry
• 19th-Century Poetry, Drama and Novel
• Medieval Poetry
• Modern and Postmodern Critical Theories
• Early 20th-Century Fiction and Drama
• Neo-classical Criticism and Theory
• 18th-Century Poetry, Drama and Fiction
• Early 20th-Century Poetry (up to WWII)
• American Literature
• Classical Theory
• Contemporary Writings
• Romantic Criticism
• Indian Literature
• Indian Writing in English
• Dalit Literature
• Language and Comprehension
• Research Methodology

Books are the essential part for the students to ensure that they complete their college with good marks. Reference books can help in enhancing their subject knowledge. Listed below are the list of MA in English important books along with their author's name.

The course structure for MA in English constitutes a mix of core and elective subjects that imparts knowledge related to different forms of literature. MA in English syllabus is divided across four semesters dealing with numerous literature aspects in most of the universities in the modern scenario. However, many traditional colleges and universities still follow a yearly pattern of examination and the syllabus is designed accordingly. MA in English subjects are designed in such that the students can also do internships during summer vacations and they also need to submit projects and dissertations before the completion of the final year. Given below is the MA in English course structure:

• Project Submission
• Practical Workshops
• IV Semesters
• Internships
• Elective Subjects
• Core Subjects