Welcome To Our Department
The meanings of the word Literature have grown over the course of time, beginning in verse and drama, expanding to various kinds of prose and now stands, transcending traditional boundaries of how it was understood. Today, literature aims to analyze all dimensions of what could be called a ‘text.’
The Department of English, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous) aims to provide students with a holistic learning environment, cutting through the historic, cultural and multidimensional perspectives of literature. The Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses are smooth transitions, which will enable learners to delve into the deeper, more complex spaces of literary study.
With competent faculty, state-of-the-art library resources and stimulating learning processes, the Department of English offers three years of a strong base for Under Graduate students two years of wider perspectives for Post Graduate students respectively.
Vision
To envision the Department as a centre for academic excellence, professional expertise, and contextual research in English Studies and balance the needs of general education – communication, diversity, global perspectives, interdisciplinary studies – with those of the major.
Mission
To enable students, from diverse educational backgrounds, to develop an in-depth knowledge of language, literature and culture so as to achieve their academic and professional goals and also introduce students to the tools of research and broaden their critical sensibilities.
Milestones
- The Department of English was established in 1946
- The Under Graduate Course started in
- Rev. Fr. Bonaventure and Prof Velayudhan Nair, popularly known as ‘Shakespeare Velayudhan’ were members of the English faculty of St. Albert’s College in its infancy
- The Post Graduate Course started in 2006
Programmes Offered
- B. A. English Language and Literature
- M. A. English (Self Financing)
Department at a glance
‘Historians’ of St. Albert’s College such as Prof Premus Perinchery, Former Head, Department of Oriental Languages, tells us that the College started in the twin Gothic style buildings of St. Albert’s School on 16 July 1946, a year before Indian independence. It is not clear if an English Department existed in those hazy days. However, the College was shifted to the present campus in 1951, even though the work of the new building was incomplete as yet. The Department of English has always been blessed with resourceful faculty members right from its inception to the present.
The Department offers Undergraduate and Post-graduate Programmes in English Language and Literature. The curriculum is designed in such a manner that it provides an incisive insight into various literatures, literary theory and linguistics. The students are also supposed to submit a project at the end of the course that initiates them into academic research. The Programmes end with a viva of the project which is held by a panel of external experts. The Department also offers Common Course English which is common to all the degree students during the first and second years of under graduation. The syllabus covers an in-depth study of grammar and various literatures.
The English Association, innovatively called TEA @albert’s, is an initiative of the students of the English Department. Although such a frame work for student activities existed in the past, it was felt that there was a need to streamline its functioning. The result was TEA @albert’s which came into being on 3rd February, 2015. All literary and related activities of the Department are co-ordinated by the office-bearers of TEA. MELA is the student magazine brought out annually under the auspices of TEA.
Message from Head of the Department
Greetings and Welcome to the Department of English…
In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Literature always anticipates life. It does not copy it, but moulds it to its purpose.” We, at the Department of English, take great joy in this anticipation and in initiating our students to the same. As stated in our Mission, it has always been our effort to enable and equip our students from diverse backgrounds to develop into better human beings. This holistic development is possible through an in-depth knowledge of language, literature and culture.
More than ever before, the world needs people who are sensitive and sensible. We need critical thinkers, original thinkers and change-agents. The stake is quite high and we consider both the students and the teachers of literature spokespersons with great social responsibility.
The Department is an extension of the institution’s commitment towards “Knowledge for All in Society” and commit ourselves to igniting the flame of truth and knowledge.
Best Wishes
Dr. Mary Sapna Peter Miranda
Head of the Department