BA English Syllabus: Core & Elective Subjects in Govt and Private Colleges

• Updated on  Jul 18, 2025, by Epil Gagrai

BA English is an undergraduate program that aims to equip students with a thorough knowledge of English literature, language, and critical analysis. The curriculum is designed to foster literary appreciation, cultural awareness, and communication skills through the learning of classical and contemporary works, linguistic theories, and applied English.

 

Over a period of six semesters, the course provides an integrated curriculum in poetry, prose, drama, literary criticism, linguistics, and optional papers that deal with different genres, periods, and themes. The syllabus also includes skill improvement courses, project work, and internships to prepare students for teaching and professional careers in education, media, publishing, content writing, etc.

 

Table of Contents

  1. BA English Syllabus in Government Colleges
  2. BA English Syllabus Core & Elective Subjects
  3. BA English Syllabus in Private Colleges
  4. BA English Exam Scheme
  5. BA English Vs BA English Hons
  6. BA English Syllabus FAQs

 

BA English Syllabus in Government Colleges

Here is the BA English syllabus offered by Mother Teresa Women’s University. It is expected that the syllabus for the BA in English in other government colleges will be the same.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Language-1 – Tamil

Language-1 – Tamil

Language-2 – English

Language-2 – English

Core-1: Theory

Core-3: Theory

Core-2: Theory/Practical (Depending on Discipline)

Core-4: Theory/Practical (Depending on Discipline)

Elective-1 (Departmental Elective)

Elective-2 (Departmental Elective)

Skill Enhancement Course SEC-1 (Subject-Based)

Skill Enhancement Course SEC-2 (Soft Skills)

Foundation Course (Subject-Based)

Skill Enhancement Course SEC-3 (Subject-Based)

Semester 3

Semester 4

Language – Tamil

Language – Tamil

English

English

Core Courses & Elective Courses

Core Courses & Elective Courses

Skill Enhancement Course - SEC-4 (Entrepreneurial Based)

Skill Enhancement Course - SEC-6 (Discipline/Subject Specific)

Skill Enhancement Course - SEC-5 (Discipline/Subject Specific)

Skill Enhancement Course - SEC-7 (Discipline/Subject Specific)

E.V.S

E.V.S

Semester 5

Semester 6

Core Courses including Project / Elective Based

Core Courses including Project / Elective Based

Value Education

Extension Activity

Internship / Industrial Visit / Field Visit

Professional Competency Skill

 

BA English Syllabus Core & Elective Subjects

Here is the list of core and elective subjects that are covered in the Bachelor of Arts in English course offered by Mother Teresa Women’s University.

1st Year Core Subjects

2nd Year Core Subjects

C1: Introduction to Literature (5 credits)

C5: British Literature-II (5 credits)

C2: Indian Writing in English (5 credits)

C6: Children’s Literature (5 credits)

C3: British Literature I (5 credits)

C7: World Literature in Translation (4 credits)

C4: American Literature I (5 credits)

C8: Language and Linguistics (4 credits)

3rd Year Core Subjects

C9. Women’s Writing (4 credits)

C13. Literary Criticism (5 credits)

C10. Introduction to Folk Literature (4 credits)

C14. New Literatures in English (5 credits)

C11. Indian Writing in Translation (4 credits)

C15. Shakespeare (4 credits)

C12. Project / Myth and Literature (4 credits)

 

Mandatory Electives

Non-Mandatory Electives

Social History of England I

Literature and Environment

Social History of England II

English Language Teaching

History of English Literature I

Journalism and Mass Communication

History of English Literature II

Film Studies

Literary Forms

 

 

BA English Syllabus in Private Colleges

Here is the syllabus of BA English program offered OP Jindal Global University. It is expected that the syllabus for other private colleges will be similar to this:

Semester 1

Semester 2

Contextualizing ‘English’ Literature

All the World’s a Stage: The Evolution of English Drama

Foundations of Western Literature: Classical and Christian Tradition

The Rise of the Novel

Effective Written Communication

Poetry and Poetics

Semester 3

Semester 4

Foundations of Aesthetics, Criticism, and Literary Theory

Why Does Prose Matter?

Modern Indian Poetry in English and its Renewals

Pre-Modern Literary Cultures of India

Semester 5

Semester 6

Modernism and Modernities

A Survey of American Literature: 17th to 20th Centuries

Introduction to Linguistics

Global Anglophone Literature

 

BA English Exam Scheme

The exam scheme for the Bachelor of Arts in English is same for all the semesters. The table below shows how the total score is divided.

Subject Category

Internal

External

Total

Core Subjects

25

27

100

Elective Subjects

25

27

100

Skill Enhancement Courses

25

27

100

Also, check other BA Courses

 

BA English Vs BA English Hons

Here is the comparison between BA English and BA English Hons. The table below highlights the comparison between the both:

Parameters

BA English

BA English (Hons)

Eligibility

Passed 10+2 from a recognized board with minimum 45-50% marks.

Passed 10+2 with English as a core subject and minimum 50-60% marks.

Entrance Exam

Usually merit-based, but some universities may conduct entrance exams.

Some top colleges require entrance exams like CUET, DUET, etc.

Top Colleges

Loyola College (Chennai), Christ University (Bengaluru), Presidency College (Kolkata)

St. Stephen’s College (Delhi), Lady Shri Ram College (Delhi), Presidency University (Kolkata)

Course Fees

INR 10,000 – INR 1.5 Lakh (varies by institution)

INR 15,000 – INR 2 Lakh (varies by institution)

Average Salary

INR 2 – INR 4 LPA

INR 3 – INR 6 LPA

Top Companies

The Times Group, NDTV, Hindustan Times, Wipro, Amazon

Penguin Random House, TCS, Accenture, Infosys, McKinsey

 

BA English Syllabus FAQs

What are the main subjects in the BA English program?

The important subjects taught in the BA in English program are British Literature, American Literature, Indian Writing in English, Literary Criticism, and Linguistics.

Does the BA in English program have any practical component incorporated in it?

Yes, there are project work, internships, field visits, and presentations as part of the BA in English program. These are added to develop research, communication, and critical thinking skills.

Are there any language-based papers in the syllabus?

Yes, universities include papers on English language studies, grammar, phonetics, and communication. The institutes also include some regional langugage like Tamil, Bengali, Hindi, etc.

Is the syllabus for Bachelor of Arts in English the same for every university?

No, the syllabus differs slightly from one university or institution to another. However, the focus on literature and language is common everywhere.

What are the elective subjects in BA English?

Elective subjects covered in the Bachelor of Arts in Engish syllabus are Creative Writing, Women's Writing, Postcolonial Literature, Film Studies, and Translation Studies. The students are provided with an option to select the elective subject of their choice.

Does the BA English syllabus cover the contemporary literature?

Yes, apart from classical literature, contemporary and modern works are also studied. This acquaints students with evolving literary trends and contemporary issues.

Do skill development courses form a part of the syllabus?

Yes. Skill-based papers like soft skills, professional communication, and digital literacy are included in the BA English syllabus so that the students are made job-ready and effective in the work place.

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