About the Department of English

The Department of English was established at the very commencement of the university in 2003. Since then, the department has flourished into one of the most engaged and dynamic departments of Presidency University. The Department of English offers a wide range of courses on English language, literature, linguistics and language teaching under two programs: BA (Honours) in English and MA in English Language Teaching (ELT).

The Department of English started offering Bachelor of Arts in English in 2003. Since then, the program has been updated several times. To meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the program has been further upgraded by incorporating principles and guidelines from the ISCO-08, ISCED, BAC, and BNQF. Courses from the BA (Honours) program feature literary works from English, American, Latin American, Caribbean and South Asian authors while also integrating concepts, theories and ideologies from the arts and humanities, psychology, sociology and cultural studies. The program also offers courses on English grammar, language and linguistics through which students become capable of advanced reading and comprehension in English language. On the other hand, the Master of Arts in English Language Teaching (ELT) was designed to meet the challenges of transforming inexperienced, unskilled, and semiskilled student teachers and junior language teaching professionals into highly knowledgeable and skilled teachers of English as a second or foreign language. With this end in view, it adopts a multidisciplinary approach by integrating the latest ideas from education, psychology, communication, educational technology, and general and applied linguistics and offers courses on second language acquisition, syllabus design and material development, language testing and evaluation, etc. to develop student teachers‟ knowledge, skills, attitudes, awareness, and competencies required in English language teaching.

Furthermore, it is the aim of the Department of English to create individuals with cultural appreciation and sensitivity. To achieve that goal, the Department of English is actively engaged and plays an indispensable role in several clubs, such as: Cultural Club, Debating Club, English Language Club, Literature and Film Club and Photography Club at Presidency University.

The Department has also been arranging workshops, seminars, academic conferences since 2003 and has worked closely with Bangladesh English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) to arrange workshops for language teachers of schools and colleges. Students and faculties from the department have been conducting research activities in fields of language and literature as well and students from the department participate in national and international conferences regularly to gain practical experience and enhance their research skills.

The English Department has a strong global alumni network who are working in fields such as academia, publishing, media, corporate communication, and education across Bangladesh and abroad. This alumni network offers career guidance, internship referrals, and collaborative opportunities, helping to bridge the gap between academic study and global career placement.

Finally, the Department of English boasts a strong faculty roster and most of whom are top graduates from Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University. The faculties are closely engaged with the students, offering them counselling and guidance in academic and career matters. It is the expectation of the Department that English graduates will grow as critical thinkers who can apply their analytical skills and become articulate communicators who can express themselves efficiently and lucidly in English language.

Programs Offering

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English – 130 Credits

The Department of English has been offering the Bachelor of Arts program since 2003. Over the years, the program has undergone several revisions to align the program with contemporary career opportunities. This is a four-year program and students have to complete 130 credits to receive a BA in English degree. Keeping a multidisciplinary approach in mind, the program has been designed to incorporate concepts, theories and ideologies from the arts and humanities, psychology, sociology and cultural studies. The BA (Honours) program offers courses in literary works from English, American, Latin American, Caribbean and South Asian authors while also offering courses on English grammar, language and linguistics. This leads to a well rounded development for English graduates leading to their literary and cultural growth while also enhancing their communication and comprehension skills in English language.

Admission Requirements for BA in English program

An applicant seeking admission into the BA in English program must have completed 12 years of education. Candidates with the following qualifications are eligible for admission:

1. SSC and HSC with a minimum GPA 2.5 or second division in each;
2. O-level with five subjects completed and A Level with two subjects completed with GPA 2.0 in each.

Master of Arts (MA) in English Language Teaching (ELT)

The MA in ELT program consists of 22 courses from four different categories: general education, core, elective, and internship/dissertation. The general education courses are designed to develop student teachers‟ academic writing and critical reading skills and add to their knowledge of the relationship between language, society, culture, power, and identity in a multicultural context. The core courses aim to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to select proper instructional strategies, develop suitable ELT materials, and design appropriate assessment tools by incorporating theories of first and second language acquisition and creating new models from the research-informed knowledge of current professional practices. The elective courses help student teachers specialise in any one of the following fields: use of technology, use of literature, policymaking, research in ELT in Bangladesh, and 5 organisational management in English language teaching. The internship courses are designed to give them hands-on experience with teaching English at a primary, secondary, higher secondary or university-level language teaching institution. Finally, the dissertation course is geared towards the specific needs of student teachers and junior teaching professionals who aspire to create new knowledge and add value to the current literature in the field of language education.

The Department of English offers MA in ELT in under three different arrangements –

• 36 credits for one year program
• 48 credits for one and a half year program
• 60 credits for two years program

Admission Requirements for MA in ELT Program

An applicant seeking admission into the MA in ELT Programme must have completed a bachelor‟s degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 or second division. Candidates with the following qualifications are eligible for admission:

1. Four-year BA (Honours) in English;
2. Four-year honours degree in any discipline other than English with or without active teaching experience and proven skills; and
3. Three-year bachelor‟s (honours or pass) degree in any discipline with or without active teaching experience and proven skills.

However, extra credit requirements apply to all students in categories 2 and 3, as recommended by the Admission Committee according to the needs of the individual students.

Total Minimum Credits Required to Complete the Program

Students will be required to complete at least 36 credits to get an MA in ELT degree. However, credit requirements will vary according to their undergraduate backgrounds and professional experience

Career Prospects of English Graduates from the Department of English at Presidency University

1. Academic and Educational Careers

Graduates of both the BA in English and the MA in English Language Teaching (ELT) are particularly well-suited for careers in Secondary and Higher Education (as English language and literature instructors), Curriculum Design and Material Development, Language Teaching Institutions and ELT Centers. The MA in ELT program specifically prepares students for roles as teacher educators, curriculum specialists, and educational researchers.

2. Publishing, Editing, and Media

The department’s rigorous training in linguistic and literary analysis, along with strong written communication skills, enables graduates to thrive in publishing houses and editorial departments, print and digital journalism, proofreading and copyediting, content writing and scriptwriting, advertising, media and communication agencies.

3. Corporate and International Communication

The program’s emphasis on bilingual fluency (English and Bangla), professional communication, and ICT literacy makes graduates suitable for roles in corporate communication and public relations, human resource management, international NGOs and development agencies, and client relations. Graduates are trained to engage confidently in global and multicultural workplaces, with skills in negotiation, presentation, and cross-cultural understanding.

4. Research, Cultural Analysis, and Policy Work

Students with a strong interest in humanities research may pursue careers in academic research, cultural policy and advocacy, translation and comparative literature.
With competencies in critical theory, discourse analysis, and cultural studies, they contribute to interdisciplinary research and policy formulation.

5. Entrepreneurial, Freelance and Civil Service Opportunities

The department encourages innovation and self-direction, enabling graduates to explore freelance writing and consulting, educational entrepreneurship, online language instruction and E-Learning platforms, independent publishing ventures. With strong analytical, communicative, and ethical competencies, English graduates are well-prepared for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) as well.

For detailed information, please visit our departmental website.