English Studies: Literature and Culture Programme code: W1-S1EL25.2025

The concept for the English Studies: Literature and Culture programme is based on respect for the tradition of academic education in the history of English-language literatures and knowledge of the cultures of the English-speaking world, combined with the use of modern and as individualized as possible forms of teaching. The modules are designed to ensure flexibility in education, responding to the diverse needs of students. The curriculum includes a group of Programme modules, a group of Field modules, a group of Programme co-related modules, and a group of Open Access modules (open university modules, foreign language courses, physical education). No student internships are planned. Planned curriculum structure: 1. Programme modules: - Language Practice: Modules focused on intensive development of language skills through cultural and social content. The programme places significant emphasis on academic writing skills in English and offers an innovative approach to developing communication and comprehension skills through discussion-based modules focused on current cultural and political events. - Modules in cultural theory - Modules in literary theory - Modules in critical thinking and media literacy (counteracting disinformation) - Modules in English-language cultures - Tutoring modules - Bachelor’s thesis and academic writing methodology a. Electives within the group of Programme modules These modules allow students to deepen their knowledge and skills in selected areas such as the history of English-language literature, cultural theory, and cultural practices. They offer opportunities for individualized educational pathways. Many of these modules will be offered as monographic elective modules, similar in format and scope to those included in the programmes of other related fields, allowing for the creation of interdisciplinary student groups. 2. Field modules: These modules cover topics in literary studies, the history of literature, and the culture and history of English-speaking countries, and are available to students from different fields of study, both within and outside the English Studies group. They are delivered with a unified number of hours and ECTS points across several study programmes: English Studies: Culture – Media – Translation, English Studies: Interactive Entertainment Design and Game Studies (SPRINT-WRITE), and English Studies: Literature and Culture. This enables efficient planning of teaching loads. - History of the English-Language Literatures: British Literature - History of the English-Language Literatures: American Literature - History of the English-Speaking Countries: History of the United Kingdom - History of the English-Speaking Countries: History of the United States - Culture of the English-Speaking Countries: British Culture - Culture of the English-Speaking Countries: American Culture 3. Group of Programme Co-related Modules: The curriculum includes area modules supporting the major field of study, comprising 120 hours, including a module on Legal Fundamentals and Entrepreneurship, as well as two modules without predefined areas, selected individually for each study cycle. 4. Open Access Modules - Physical education - Foreign language course: Spanish or French, preferably run in English - Open University Module (OMU): 30 hours, preferably run in English Graduate profile Graduates of the English Studies: Literature and Culture programme will possess advanced critical thinking and analytical skills, deep knowledge of English-language cultures and literatures, and the ability to address social challenges in historical and contemporary contexts. They will be prepared for employment in academic, cultural, publishing, and international institutions and – perhaps most importantly – to continue their education at the second-cycle level. Language competence Graduates: - demonstrate English language proficiency at least at the C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and can communicate fluently in English, both orally and in writing, across various registers - have strong academic writing skills in English Knowledge of the literature and cultures of the English-speaking world Graduates: - possess extensive knowledge of the culture of English-speaking countries, including their literature, history, and social phenomena shaping them, in both historical and contemporary contexts - can analyze and interpret cultural phenomena in global and local contexts Academic competence Graduates: - possess critical thinking competences that enable the conscious and effective search for reliable information and the formulation and expression of independent viewpoints - can use knowledge of research methodologies in literary studies and cultural and religious studies and critical thinking skills to assess and analyze contemporary cultural phenomena and challenges - have mastered the techniques of academic writing, particularly in respecting the work of other authors and academic tradition - can consciously use academic sources at a level preparing them for independent research and second-cycle studies Practical skills Graduates: - can create texts of various types in English, including academic texts - are prepared to pursue second-cycle studies, particularly in English Studies programmes Career prospects Thanks to the skills they acquire, graduates of the English Studies: Literature and Culture programme will be able to find employment in academic, cultural, publishing, international institutions, and other sectors of public life.

The condition for admission to the diploma examination is to achieve the learning outcomes provided for in the study program, to obtain a certificate of an appropriate level of language proficiency in a foreign language and to obtain positive grades for the diploma dissertation. The condition for graduation is to pass the diploma examination with at least a satisfactory result. A graduate receives a higher education diploma confirming obtaining the qualifications of the appropriate degree. Detailed rules of the diploma process and the requirements for the diploma thesis are set out in the Rules and Regulations of Studies at the University of Silesia and the diploma regulations.

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The establishment of the *English Studies: Literature and Culture* programme implements the objectives of the Development Strategy of the University of Silesia for the years 2020–2025. The curriculum emphasizes the development of critical thinking, historical awareness, and cultural analysis skills, reflecting the University’s strategic aim of offering innovative, globally oriented education. The close integration of teaching with ongoing research activities at the University, as well as the activation of research through didactics that support the academic development of staff, also fulfill the strategic goals of the institution (especially in relation to Priority Research Area 4: Humanities for the Future – Interdisciplinary Research into Culture and Civilization). As stated in the University of Silesia Strategy, “[t]he special mission of the University of Silesia in the post-industrial region is the promotion of knowledge in the humanities and social sciences” (p. 7). The priority objective behind launching a programme conducted entirely in English is to foster humanistic sensitivity in conditions optimal for the internationalization of education, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking skills and academic development of both students and faculty. Development of Academic Staff The programme supports the development of academic staff by introducing modern teaching methods such as tutoring, project-based learning, and monographic elective courses, enabling individualized education pathways. Academics will benefit from opportunities to teach and research across disciplines, integrating literary studies with cultural and social issues while addressing contemporary challenges and engaging with recent historical developments. This programme design aligns harmoniously with key traditions in English Studies, especially area studies, which for decades have been based on interdisciplinary and complementary research into the literature and cultures of English-speaking countries. The programme will also offer specialized courses linked to current research areas, promoting dynamic interaction between teaching and research. This approach will foster the research activity of academic staff and create new opportunities for professional development. A clear strategic objective of creating the English Studies: Literature and Culture programme is to maximize the chances of educating graduates ready not only to pursue second-cycle studies but also third-cycle (doctoral) programmes. The individualized approach to education and the focus on traditional values of literary and cultural philological teaching will help to identify among students future doctoral candidates, thus mitigating the risk of generational gaps among researchers at the University. Scholarly Value The planned curriculum fits within Priority Research Area 4 (Humanities for the Future – Interdisciplinary Research into Culture and Civilization). It promotes research-based education through a programme focused on the literature and cultures of English-speaking countries, particularly through the delivery of monographic and elective modules. Modern Education Modern teaching methods, including individualized education (tutoring, multiple elective modules) and project-based learning, are key elements of the programme. Students will develop critical and analytical skills through active engagement with historical and cultural materials. The curriculum also includes group projects and seminars aimed at fostering independent thinking and communication skills. Cooperation between the University and its environment Conducting the programme entirely in English facilitates the building of international contacts and strengthens existing University partnerships (e.g., Transform4Europe alliance) and exchange programmes (e.g., Erasmus+), aiming to enhance the internationalization of education. Visibility One of the objectives of establishing this programme is to increase the visibility of student and faculty achievements in the international academic space. The historical promotion (also at the University of Silesia) of student and faculty engagement as active “intellectual-activists” has often been facilitated by connections to English-speaking philosophical and cultural thought. Conducting the course entirely in English and focusing on literature and culture creates an excellent platform for building the international reputation of the University. Social and Economic Needs In the last decade, approximately 80% of OECD countries reported a decline in enrollments in humanities programmes. In 2022, research conducted at Harvard University showed that only seven percent of first-year students intended to major in the humanities, compared to twenty percent in 2012 and nearly thirty percent in the 1970s. Over approximately fifteen years, the number of English Studies majors at Harvard fell by about three-quarters – in 2020, there were fewer than sixty English majors at a university with more than seven thousand undergraduates. (see: Nathan Heller, "The End of the English Major", The New Yorker 27, 2023). Similarly alarming reports about the declining popularity of English literature-focused philological studies have appeared in public discourse in other countries as well. These reports highlight the challenges faced by universities worldwide: shrinking student numbers and, consequently, challenges to generational continuity among researchers in fields crucial to Poland’s and the region’s civilizational development. The creation of the *English Studies: Literature and Culture* programme, conducted entirely in English, is part of a strategy to mitigate this risk. By increasing the chances of internationalization, the programme aims to attract a larger number of candidates, including international students, and identify among them future academics. Internationalization will also facilitate smoother cooperation with foreign institutions. At the same time, numerous studies point to the attractiveness of humanities graduates — including those specialized in English Studies — on the labor market. Debates over many years have highlighted the value of employing humanities graduates in sectors traditionally not associated with literary or cultural expertise. The rationale behind this lies in two key values that traditional philological studies in literature and culture offer their students: **respect for cultural heritage and empathy**. Both stem from disciplined work with texts (whether literary or cultural) and systematic, methodical exposure to them. Combined with linguistic proficiency and critical thinking skills, these values equip graduates to successfully contribute to civilizational change, the exchange of ideas, and the shaping of a more self-aware society. In an era of conflict, disinformation, and a destabilized status of truth, the social role of individuals prepared to counteract populism is invaluable. These values underpin the core competences of graduates of the proposed programme, offering them broad career opportunities. They will be individuals aware of contemporary challenges in their historical contexts, open-minded, and prepared for active participation in public discourse. Their strong soft skills and fluency in English will enable them to seek employment in media, education (including higher education), marketing, advertising, and beyond. The primary societal expectation towards these graduates is their contribution to building a society based on humanistic values.