English

English is the medium of communication, business and entertainment for millions of people around the world.

From witty plays and elegant films to pungent protest songs and complex novels, it allows people to formulate and convey their particular vision of the world and their often urgent desire to celebrate or improve it. Students will examine examples of English at work in different circumstances, ranging from poetry to television and the Internet. The English Major is for students who intend to become secondary English teachers or for students who want to work at the intersection of English literature, film, and television.

Video: UQ student Ava Cross, currently Majoring in English.

Study Options

Learning Pathways through the English major

About the Major

BA/ B Ed students also need to include the Shakespeare course, ENGL2060 and the Australian literature course, ENGL3100. BA/B Ed students also need to have completed their English Major before they can move onto their professional year.

Here’s how the Major works and how you should organise your study.

Level One Courses:

The compulsory Gateway course is ENGL1500 Contemporary Literature: Reading and Writing. It’s important you complete this in your first year of study as it’s the prerequisite course for advanced level English literature courses (ENGL coded).

You also need to complete one other first year course, again, as soon as possible in your degree. This can be either:

ENGL1800 Literary Classics: Texts and Traditions which introduces students to key critical concepts and skills for literary studies. You will study texts from four distinct periods of literature, ranging from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries, to gain a foundational understanding of literary history and the characteristics of three major genres: drama, poetry, and prose fiction., OR

MSTU1001 Introduction to Film and Television Studies is a prerequisite for the advanced level Film and Television courses included in the English Major.

Level Two Courses:

There is another compulsory course: the Cornerstone course, WRIT2250 Writing: Grammar, Syntax, and Style. This will help you become proficient writers.

You then have a choice of courses from the two lists found on the UQ Courses and Program website: one list is oriented towards English literature courses, and the other contains Film and Television courses, one creative writing course, and an Australian Studies course. You choose one or two courses from each list, for a total of three level two course electives. This allows you to follow your particular interests: you might be more into literature or you might prefer film and television.

Level Three Courses:

The final compulsory course is the capstone course: ENGL3030 Adaptation: Studies in Transmission Between Cultures and Forms. You also need to take one other third level course to complete your major. Again, you have a choice: either ENGL3100 Australian Literature or ENGL3500 Gender and Textuality.

So with 16 units (i.e. 8 courses), including three compulsory courses, and electives at each level (one at level one, three at level two, and one at level three) you will have completed your English Major.

Testimonials

“It is rewarding to share my passion for canonical literary works alongside many like-minded peers. Apart from inspiring my creative endeavours in storytelling, I love unravelling the different layers of literature. Nothing entices me more than appreciating elegantly written prose and experiencing narratives that are endearing, timeless, and universal.”

Derek Yang Bachelors of Arts/Education (Secondary)

"Studying the English major for my Bachelor of Arts has been a thoroughly enriching experience. Through the degree I have had the opportunity to study an variety of different texts that have served to deepen my interest in literature as well as broaden my literary horizons. Whether it be texts by Shakespeare and his contemporaries or the history of the novel and realism, UQ's English major is perfect for anyone wanting to develop a critical understanding of literature."

Phillip Ho, Bachelors of Arts/Education (Secondary)

"My experience with the English Major at UQ has been profoundly illuminating so far. I have learnt so much not only about the artistry of literature, but the courses I have taken have also challenged me to think about language and texts in new and abstract ways. I am beginning to appreciate how the English language, in its many forms, can be employed to record and communicate varying experiences of the human condition."

Caitlin Edwards, Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary)

The Student Experience

The UQ English and Literature Society

English and English Literature Majors are strongly encouraged to join to meet like-minded students! UQEELS is formally affiliated with the UQ Student Union, and they run fun events, student support workshops, and work closely with academic staff develop new ideas and to pass on feedback about the major. They have a Facebook page and their email is uqeels@gmail.com and are very keen to welcome new members.