Bachelor of Arts

English is the official language of 53 countries and is used as a lingua franca (a mutually known language) by people from all around the world. The Department of English at School of Social Work envisions imparting educational prowess in students to be able to understand the historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts in which texts are produced. Selected texts are chosen that respect the vision suggested by authors whose gender, race, ethnicity, class, and culture may be markedly different from the reader's. Overall, the department seeks to expand students' awareness of cultures beyond the Western and actively promote intercultural awareness. It also seeks to foster an aesthetic sensitivity, to help students arrive at a consideration of literary value. A language laboratory is a dedicated space for first generation learners as well as those students who come from vernacular medium to access audio-visual materials.

General Proficiency and Communicative Language (English) is a compulsory paper offered to undergraduate students and it is tailor-made for both the BA and BSW programmes. It covers functional English, essays, poetry, one act plays, novels, and grammar. Additional English is offered as a language only for those students who have not studied any of the Indian languages. Letter writing, dialogue writing, and creative writing are fostered.

English Optional is one of the subjects offered along with Criminology and Psychology in the (Triple Major) undergraduate BA degree programme. The syllabus of English Optional (literature) promotes a liberal mindset and provides opportunities to enhance language skills and knowledge of creative writing. Some courses offered are feminist and LGBTQ writing, Children‘s and Dalit writings, Linguistics and English Language Teaching. It covers select literary works from the Anglo Saxon period to the modern era encapsulating the highest graded works of literature, most prominent writers, poets, and authors of these ages. The syllabus for English Optional is tailored to meet the needs of students seeking literary training and to sensitize the students to the finer nuances of literature. The students graduate with effective communication skills, appreciate literary works of all genres besides keeping an open mindset to criticize a work purely without bias.

Year of establishment of the Department of English 1973