Bachelor of Letters (English) - prior to 31 December 2020

The Bachelor of Letters (English) is a 108 unit program that must be studied concurrently with another Bachelor degree at an approved Australian higher education institution, for which 72 units of block credit will be awarded on completion of the requirements of the other degree. The Bachelor of Letters (English) is normally studied part-time over three years concurrently with the other Bachelor degree, thus adding one extra year to the overall study program. It is offered by the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

The stream undertaken by the student will be identified on the student’s transcript of academic record and on the parchment presented to the student on completion of the course.

Students who complete 36 units of Flinders topics according to the program of study below but who do not complete the requirements of their other Bachelor degree may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Letters (English).

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

To gain entry into the Bachelor of Letters an applicant must be enrolled in a Bachelor degree (AQF level 7) at an approved Australian higher education institution.

Course aims

The course aims to:

• equip students with a thorough grounding in the major content and concerns of literature and writing practice throughout the epochs
• furnish students with the skills required to apply their learning in educational and professional settings
• produce graduates who are able to communicate effectively in a range of mediums, and who are able to analyse critically different texts in a range of situations and contexts
• encourage learning and transferable skills in both independent and collaborative contexts
• encourage students to connect across boundaries and value ethical behaviour through the study of quality literature and the praxis of creative writing

The course also aims to provide students with:

• a sound basis of knowledge in their chosen area of study
• the ability to apply the knowledge they have acquired
• the ability to communicate effectively in a range of ways
• the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• the skills to connect across geographical, disciplinary, social and cultural boundaries
• an understanding of the value of ethical behaviour

Learning outcomes 

On the completion of the Bachelor of Letters (English), students are expected to be able to:

• apply their transferable skills across a range of professions
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• have developed their understanding of literature and creative writing throughout the epochs
• have an understanding of how the cultural and literary merit of literature and other creative works are, and have been, defined
• communicate an understanding of the interpretation of literary texts

Students will also be expected to be able to demonstrate:

• a broad and coherent body of knowledge with depth in the underlying principles of their chosen discipline, and as a pathway to lifelong learning
• initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and scholarship, and ability to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts
• skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and present a clear exposition of knowledge and ideas
• critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence
• application of knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability and in collaboration with others.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Letters (English), a student must complete the requirements for his/her other bachelor degree, and 36 units at Flinders University, according to the program of study set out below, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic.

No topic may be counted towards both the Bachelor of Letters and the student’s other bachelor degree, if that degree is studied at Flinders University. Students who have previously completed core topics below will be required to undertake additional option topics from the list below, or other topics agreed on with the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences to complete 36-units of study.

Students are not normally permitted to undertake cross-institutional study or exchange study within the Bachelor of Letters (English).

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Stream - English

Year 1 topics

ENGL1101 Approaches to Literature (4.5 units)
ENGL1102 Literary Interpretations (4.5 units)

Year 2 topics

ENGL2140 Epochs of English (4.5 units)

Year 3 topics

ENGL3110 Canon to Contemporary (4.5 units)
ENGL3111 Epic Literature: Medieval to Early Modern (4.5 units)

plus an additional 13.5 units from the topics listed below:

ENGL2120 Shakespeare (4.5 units)
ENGL2121 Adaptations: Literature on Screen (4.5 units)
ENGL2130 Crime Fiction and Film: From Poe to the Postmodern (4.5 units)
ENGL2131 Twenty-First Century Literature: Texts and Contexts (4.5 units)
ENGL2133 Vikings and Anglo Saxon Literature (4.5 units)
ENGL2141 Life Writing (4.5 units)
ENGL2146 The Gothic Tradition (4.5 units)
ENGL2147 Medieval Myths: the Origins of Modern Fantasy (4.5 units)
PHIL2609 Philosophy and Literature (4.5 units)