English University of Peradeniya

Overview

Discover the Department of English by applying to the English BA programme at University of Peradeniya

• The aim of the Department of English is to impart a broad understanding to students of English language and literature as these developed over the centuries, and of the socio-cultural and political factors that determined this development. Special emphasis is placed on tracing the historical development of English, as it spatially expanded from being a regional dialect in the early medieval period to possessing the status of a colonial and imperial language of power and mediation. English as a language producing resistance and counter cultural expressions is also a particular focus of the department. The Department conducts both undergraduate (BA General and Special Degree) and postgraduate (Diploma/ Masters Preliminary/ MA/MPhil/PhD) programmes.
• For a considerable period of its existence the Department of English concentrated mainly on the teaching of British Literature but subsequently American Literature, European Literatures (in translation), Commonwealth (Postcolonial) Literature and Sri Lankan Literature in English were introduced into the curriculum. This emphasis on Literature is still reflected in the composition of the Department’s staff—five of the nine cadre positions are held by those whose doctoral research was on Literature. In keeping with changes in national realities and needs, however, the Department now teaches a substantial number of Language and Linguistic courses as well. Furthermore, after the introduction of the Course Unit system, the curriculum was so adjusted that approximately a third each of the syllabus is devoted to Literature, Cultural Studies and Language.