Englisches Seminar

Frequently Asked Questions - M.A. ELC

Where can I get help?

For questions about the M.A. English Literatures and Cultures please contact the programme coordinators Dr. Ellen Dengel-Janic or Prof. Dr. Christoph Reinfandt.

What courses should I choose in the core curriculum?

You can find the seminars and lecture courses relevant for the core curriculum in Alma under English Literatures and Cultures Master. Listed seminars and lecture courses are can be freely combined for modules ELC-MA 02 and 04. The sequence of modules should be adhered to (with the exception of module ELC-MA 01, which can only be attended in winter term and thus will move after modules ELC-MA 02 and (parts of) ELC-MA 03 if students begin their studies in summer term.

Which Modules in the Core Curriculum end with a term paper?

Modules ELC-MA 01, 03 and 05 end with term papers of increasing length (5 pages, 10 pages, and 15-20 pages, respectively) to prepare you for the writing of the final thesis (70-80 pages).

Which modules in the core curriculum end with an oral exam?

Modules ELC-MA 02 and 04 will end with a 30-minute oral exam covering both the seminar and the lecture you've chosen for the modules. The instructor of the seminar normally conducts the oral exam.

How does the final oral exam work?

The final oral exam is worth 10 ECTS points and lasts 1 hour. Normally, the supervisor of your M.A. thesis will conduct the oral exam. The oral exam will cover three broad areas, themes or periods that you and your supervisor will select. Topics can be drawn from seminars or lecture courses you attended, but they don’t have to be.

What do I have to do for the Practice and Application Module (ELC-MA08)?

The module is subdivided into two major parts:

  • Project: Applied English Literatures and Cultures (3 ECTS):

Students complete a project in applied English Literatures and Cultures evolving from a seminar they attend in one of the core modules (3 ECTS): they apply the content of a seminar in exhibitions, festivals, schools, and other forms of outreach (e.g. Webpage, Wikipedia article, podcast, public posters, guiding a tour, art catalogue, interview)

  • Practice  (9 ECTS):

Students choose a focus on professional practice inside or outside the university. Accordingly, they take “Practice I” or “Practice II”:

Practice I (Professional): Internship (9 ECTS):

For a focus on practice outside the university, students do an Internship of at least nine weeks (full-time) with a company or institution and hand in a report on it of c. 1.500 words (9 ECTS). Students are free to follow their own professional interests; they find the opportunity for an internship by themselves.

Practice II (Academic) (9 ECTS):

For a focus on practice inside the university, students may perform tasks in academic life:

  • They can teach a tutorial (6) or work in the Research & Writing Center for one semester if they are found suitable by the faculty and attend a class in teaching skills (6 - 9 ECTS).
  • They can organize & advertise small conferences or workshops either by themselves or in assisting events of the department. (3 - 6 ECTS)
  • They can attend to tasks in the appearance of the Dept. in social media. (3 - 6 ECTS)
  • They can work as a mentor in a peer-learning group, such as Annotating Literature, for one semester if they are found suitable by the faculty (6 – 9 ECTS).
  • They can work as an editorial assistant for one semester on a journal or book edited by faculty if found suitable (6 ETS).
  • They can do classes offered by the career center or the Foreign Language Center for additional skills needed in their programme. The course ‘Written Communication 2’ at the English Department is also accepted here (3 ETCS)

What are Independent Studies (Module ELC-MA05)?

Independent Studies (3 ECTS)

  • As Independent Studies students, under the supervision of the instructor, explore additional dimensions of the topic of the class in further detail or they participate in peer-learning projects on offer in the department.
  • Independent Studies are completed with an obligatory report of 2500 words and samples from the work such as (optional) a presentation, a website, an exhibition, a map, or an annotated bibliography.

What is the Colloquium ‘Topics for Candidates’ (ELC-MA07)?

In the third semester of your studies you will attend the M.A. colloquium with the prospective supervisor of your thesis. In the colloquium, M.A. candidates will present their thesis projects to the members of the colloquium in order to get feedback.