Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the AUK major in English, the student will be able to:

• Recognize a wide range of literary forms and movements with a focus on English and American literature, in addition to other world cultures, sub-cultures, and minority groups.
• Compare and contrast texts produced in different periods and genres.
• Identify and discuss representative authors, works, and movements.
• Use appropriate theory to deepen analysis of cultural and literary texts.
• Develop the research skills necessary for engaging in academic discourse.
• Develop and communicate ideas clearly in writing.
• Understand and analyze cultural and literary texts within socio-political, historical, and economic context.

English majors begin their coursework with an introduction to literary studies, move on to surveys of Western and world literatures in English, and then advance to courses that focus on particular motifs, genres, critical approaches, time periods, authors, or countries.

Admission To The Program

Students must formally choose and declare a major no later than the completion of 60 credit hours, by completing the Degree Program, Major, and/or Minor Declaration Request form, and submitting it to the Academic Advising Center.

University Degree Requirements (120 credit hours)

To receive a Bachelor of Arts in English, students must complete at least 120 credit hours. In addition, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of upper-level courses (300-level and above) at AUK, of which at least 18 credit hours need to be taken in the major.

• General Education Requirements (42-46)
• Major Requirements composed of (60):  

• • Core Courses (18)
  • English Electives (42)

• Free Electives (18)

Minor in English (18 credit hours)

Students wishing to minor in English are required to take six courses (18 credit hours). Students must take the following three core courses (9 credit hours):

Students must also take three additional courses (9 credit hours) from any 300 or 400-level English courses, ENGL 207, or any one TRAN 200-300-level course.

The internship program provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity for leadership, teamwork, and business activity in the context of work experience. Internships are completed in the junior or senior year and while in residency at AUK.
 
The student is limited to a maximum of 6 credit hours of internship. A maximum of 3 credit hours (taken in increments of 1, 2, or 3 credit hours) may be applied toward any one major. If a student takes an additional 1-3 credit hours of internship, those credits may be counted towards a student’s second major, minor, or as free electives. For the duration of the semester, students are responsible for working 40 hours per semester for each credit hour. Students are to refer to the various programs’ internship handbook for further details of the internship process, requirements, and method of assessment.

Mission

In keeping with the American University of Kuwait's liberal arts tradition, the English department provides its majors with knowledges and abilities to develop an appreciation for the aesthetic, cultural, and critical aspects found in works of literature, with a focus on British and American literature and their relation to world literature, while also enriching their learning with topics in the related fields of linguistics, theory, and cultural studies. Further, the Department provides all students with a solid foundation in academic reading, writing, and research through our writing courses.

Values

The following five core values are imperative to the success and well-being of the department:

Honesty

In an academic sense, honesty means representing original work and being transparent and accountable.

Freedom 

Freedom means being allowed to make choices appropriate to the University’s objectives as well as offering a supportive environment for expressing views.

Quality 

We value quality as a measurement of the effectiveness of any task, be it curricular or extra-curricular.

Integrity 

We support a code of conduct that affirms the individual’s right (faculty, staff, or student) to express her or himself morally, intelligently, and respectfully.

Diversity 

The cornerstone to any serious educational undertaking is a healthy and respectful appreciation for the different and new.

Vision

The English Department at the American University of Kuwait aspires to be a leading English department locally and regionally, recognized for its academic excellence and the accomplishments of its graduates.