Program Overview
The Department of English Language & Literature at Kyung Hee University offers a focused major in British and American Language and Literature. The program blends rigorous textual analysis with cultural, historical, and linguistic perspectives, preparing students for careers in academia, publishing, media, translation, and international relations.
Why Study British & American Literature?
- Global Influence: Works by Shakespeare, Dickens, Woolf, Hemingway, and Toni Morrison have shaped world culture.
- Critical Skills: Close reading, argument construction, and research methodologies are emphasized.
- Interdisciplinary Reach: Literature intersects with philosophy, politics, gender studies, and digital media.
Curriculum Highlights
The curriculum is organized into core courses, electives, and a capstone experience. Below is a representative pathway.
Core Courses
- Introduction to British Literature (Medieval to 18th Century)
- American Literary Traditions (Colonial to Contemporary)
- Literary Theory and Criticism
- Advanced Academic Writing in English
Elective Tracks
Students may specialize in one or more of the following themes:
- Victorian Novel and Social Reform
- Modernist Poetry and Drama
- African American Literature and Identity
- Postcolonial Voices in the Anglophone World
- Digital Humanities and Textual Analysis
Capstone & Research
In the final year, students undertake a Senior Thesis or a Research Project under faculty supervision. Options include a traditional monograph, an edited collection, or a digital project (e.g., a corpus analysis website).
Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Conduct close readings of texts from the British Isles and the United States across periods.
- Apply major critical frameworks such as Marxist, feminist, postcolonial, and ecocritical approaches.
- Write clear, persuasive academic arguments in English.
- Present research findings in oral and digital formats.
- Engage with Korean and international scholarly communities through conferences and publications.
Faculty & Research Strengths
Our department boasts a diverse faculty whose expertise includes:
- Shakespearean drama and early modern performance studies
- American transcendentalism and environmental literature
- Gender and sexuality in 20thcentury fiction
- Comparative postcolonial narratives
- Corpus linguistics and digital text editing
Faculty regularly publish in top journals, host international conferences, and collaborate with partner institutions overseas.
Career Pathways
Alumni of the major have pursued a broad spectrum of professions:
- Graduate studies in English, Comparative Literature, or Cultural Studies
- Editorial and publishing roles (both print and digital)
- Content creation, copywriting, and corporate communications
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) worldwide
- Translation and interpretation for literary and media projects
- Research positions in cultural institutions, museums, and NGOs
Admission & Application
Prospective students must meet Kyung Hee Universitys general admission criteria and demonstrate proficiency in English. International applicants are encouraged to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. The department also offers a scholarship for outstanding applicants with a demonstrated passion for literary studies.
Student Life & Resources
Beyond the classroom, the English Literature Club hosts weekly reading circles, author talks, and film screenings. The university library provides extensive collections of British and American texts, rare manuscripts, and access to databases such as JSTOR and Project MUSE.
Contact Information
For more details, please visit the Department of English Language & Literature website or contact the program coordinator at english@khu.ac.kr.
