Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Culture

General The English Literature and Culture programme at JGU allows students to complete a practical and qualifying degree in six semesters (plus time abroad). This degree is internationally accepted and recognised as the preceding qualification for a Master’s degree. Through the practice of subject combination here in Mainz, students are able to design a programme 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 programme 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 rather, it 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 analyse 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 multifaceted approaches: narratology, literature, culture theory, and 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 programme 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 analyse complex and challenging texts.