English Language&Literature

I Introduction to the program and its research fields

Taking full advantage of NWU’s position as a leading university, this program chiefly conducts research on British and American novels, poetry, and dramas, with a focus on comparative research and translation studies, especially of the literary works depicting the western part of China and Modern British and American literature. The program also touches on research in the fields of translation theories and practice, comparative linguistics, culture and translation.
(This program typically falls into the following 2 fields)
   This program includes 2 research fields:

1. British and American Literature

2. Translation Studies

II Program Objective

Students in this program should have a good command of the basic theories of Marxism, adhere to the four cardinal principles, have a sincere love for our country, and must obey the decrees and laws of our country.
  The program is designed to arm students with high moral quality, rigorous scientific approach, and good academic discipline; to strengthen the knowledge and skills, and research competence of the students in the fields of English language & literature, comparative studies of literature, and translation studies, thus allowing students to tailor their education to their own unique interests or career goals.

III. Curriculum (See the Appendix)
  This program offers a range of graduate courses.
  Students should get 32 credits to graduate in this program. (21-23 credits for required degree courses; 9-11credits for non-degree courses; 2 credits for teaching practice)

IV Requirements for practical competence:

1. Students should have the competence to do research in the fields of English language and culture; and culture studies; they should also be able to propose original ideas and projects, and to do relevant research independently.

2. Students should have the competence to teach English and research the English Language pedagogy in institutions of higher learning, and take on at least 40-class hours of classroom teaching.

V Requirements for Academic Dissertations:

1. Research questions (topics) should meet the requirements of this program in the research fields, which should bear specific theoretical value and pragmatic significance.
　 2. The dissertation should have a clear and definite argument and thesis statement, a logical structure, solid theoretical foundation and should adopt scientific research methods;
　 3. The dissertation should be written in English, and of 15,000 to 20,000 words, with precise and smooth expression, and format as is prescribed in “The Standards of MA Dissertation by NWU for English Language & Literature Program”(1999 edition);
　 4. The academic quality of the dissertation should be equal to that widely acknowledged in the field of English Language & Culture studies at home and abroad.

VI Requirements for academic research:
　 1. Students should be able to get access to the historical and current research findings of relevant research fields as well as any latest developments in other related fields.
   2. Students should be able to propose original and creative research questions(topics).
  3. Students should be able to write systematic literature reviews and analytic reports on relevant research projects.
  4. Students should publish 3 first-author academic or research papers in important periodicals or journals before the fulfillment of the program.

VII Requirements for literature reading, attending academic lectures, and their assessments:

Students should read at least 60 research papers or other relevant literature, including at least 30 in English.
Assessment: presenting a literature review of present research findings of relevant research fields.

Students should attend the academic meeting or conference of the relevant research fields once, and at least 6 professor lectures on the relevant research fields．

Assessment: regular seminars and irregular checking of learning journals.