Tagline
The Department offers high quality training in the following areas:
- Literature
- English and Linguistics
- Foreign Languages(French, German, Japanese, Korean)
Summary
The Department of literature, linguistics and foreign languages is a community of lecturers, scholars, and researchers who are committed to the generation, advancement and dissemination of knowledge in literature, languages and related areas as well as to the training of highly qualified professionals with impeccable language and literature skills..
Fact Sheet
The Department boasts of members of staff whose expertise is sought after both at the international, national and regional levels in the areas of language and literature research and consultancy, curriculum development, translation and interpretation, language testing, integrated literature and language teaching curriculum, multilingual issues, editing and proofreading, Drama and theatre arts among others.
Staff and Specialization
We have a committed team of 60 full time academic staff members who have various areas of specialization and interests. These include:
- African literature
- Children’s literature
- Drama and theatre arts
- Caribbean literature
- Oral literature
- Theoretical linguistics
- Applied linguistics
- Language education
- Sociolinguistics
- Translation and interpretation
- Language planning, policy and education
- Language pathology
- English grammar
- Multilingual matters
- French as a foreign language
- French linguistics
- Teaching French as a foreign language
- German as a foreign language
- German linguistics
- Teaching German as a foreign language
- Japanese language and culture
- Korean language and culture
Specialty and Branding
The Department offers the following courses:
Beginner course in French, German, Japanese and Korean Languages
Certificate courses in English, French, German, Japanese
Bachelor of Arts ( Literature, English&Linguistics, French, German)
Bachelor of Education( Literature, English&Linguistics, French, German)
Master of Arts( Literature, English and Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, French)
Master of Teaching French as a Foreign Language
Ph.D( Literature, English& Lingusitics, Applied Linguistics, French)
Course Structure
Students studying for the B.A degree may register for two (2) other subjects in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Those taking B.ed degree are strongly advised to combine their chosen subjects as per university guidelines for subject combination
Postgraduate Students
There are currently over 300 M.A. students enrolled across the Regular Programme and CEP in the various specializations in the department. There are about 20 Ph.D students across the areas of specialization.We have both local and international postgraduate students.
Study Mode and Duration
The Department offers, full time, continuing education programme(CEP) and digital school of virtual and open learning (DSVOL) modes of study.
The certificate courses take a minimum of six months, the bachelors programmes shall take a minimum of four years. The M.A. degrees shall extend for a minimum period of 2 academic years and are offered according to the following patterns:
- Coursework, examination and project
- Course work, Examination and Thesis.
The Ph.D in Literature is by coursework, examination and thesis
PhD in English and Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, French are offered through thesis only.
The PhD programmes shall take a minimum of three years.
Resources
In addition to well trained human resource the department boasts of resource rooms for Literature, English and Linguistics, French, German, Japanese and Korean Languages. The resource rooms have valuable reference books, dissertations, journals and audio visual facilities. Our German Language resource centre is the largest in East Africa and we are the largest trainers of German language experts in the region.
The department also boasts of language labs with a capacity of up to 100 students per sitting with equipment for language practice. In addition, we have the Digital Centre which hosts the only French language teachers’ in service training center in East Africa where experts in French as a foreign language continually retool teachers of French from the region in collaboration with the French Embassy and the Association of Francophone Universities(AUF). The Centre also has video conferencing equipment to enable communication with member universities.
Students’ Destination
Our programmes are market driven and our graduates fit into various professional fields: teaching, the media, speech therapy, publishing, curriculum development, language testing, public relations, education consultancy, language consultancy, theatre and performing arts, and the N.G.O world in general.
Research activity
The department has a wide range of research areas across the specializations. Among these are African literature, children’s literature, African linguistics, language education, translation and interpretation, teaching French as a foreign language. The research is both by staff and postgraduate students.
Non Degree
- English Support Unit
- Certificate in Intensive English
- Certificate in Intensive English
- Certificate in Community Interpreting
- Certificate in English Enhancement
- Bridging in English
Undergraduate
- Bachelors Degree Programme (English and Lingustic)
- B.Ed in English and Linguistics
Graduate
- Master of English and Lingustics level 700
- Master of English and Lingustics level 800
- Postgraduate Diploma in Translation Studies
- MA in Applied Linguistics
- Ph.D in English and Linguistics
Course Structure
Students studying for a B.A degree may register for English and linguistics and two (2) other subjects in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Those taking B.Ed are strongly advised to combine it with literature.
Study Mode and Duration
The Department offers its programmes in the regular, digital and institutional-based modes of study. Both our undergraduate programmes take 4 years, with students taking two (2) to four (4) units each semester while our certificate programmes take six months divided into two semesters. The Postgraduate Diploma in Translation Studies shall take a minimum of 18 months. The diploma is offered through course work, examination and research project. The M.A degree in English and Linguistics and M.A. in Applied Linguistics shall extend for a minimum period of two (2) academic years. The Degree is offered according to the following patterns:
- Course work, examination and project
- Course work, examination and thesis
The Ph.D in English and Linguistics is offered through thesis only and takes three (3) years.
Master of Arts
Entry Requirements
- The Common regulations for all Masters degrees in the University shall apply.
- The general requirements for all Masters degrees in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) shall apply.
- The following shall be eligible for registration for the Master of Arts of in the Department:
A holder of at least Upper Second Class honors Bachelors degree with English/or Linguistics.
Duration and Pattern of the Course
- The Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and the Master of Arts in English and Linguistics shall extend over a period of 18 months.
- Both courses will be taught according to the following patterns.
Either
- Option A: Coursework, examination and project
or - Option B: Coursework, Examination and Thesis.
- Option A: Coursework, examination and project
- In the first year all students will take 8 units (in addition to the School Unit), 4 of which will be core and 4 electives.
- In the second year, students taking option (A) will take four (4) units in the first semester two (2) of which will be core and two (2) electives. In the second semester, they will carry out research and write a project equivalent to 4 units.
- Students following option 'B' will carry out their research, write and submit a thesis.
Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics
Masters in English and Linguistics
Doctor of Philosophy( Phd) in Linguistics
Preamble
General studies in English language and linguistics are core in any university for they lead to careers in diverse fields. The market for grammarians and linguists has continued to broaden to areas such as teaching, lexicography, translation, media and language and speech therapy among others. There is a shift in the job market that includes shifts within the industrial, cultural and social paradigms that encourages consumers to look for information and skills that satisfy their linguistic goals.
The Department seeks to redefine the role of linguists in academics and language-related fields. It trains professionals in the English language and linguistics better suited to meet the challenges that linguistic diversity poses for the Kenyan academia and the society at large, today and in the future.
Rationale
The Department of English and Linguistics, one of the oldest and well-established departments in the country, believes that there is a dire need to train people who are well-grounded in English grammar and all areas of linguistics. English grammar is the foundation upon which all the language skills are anchored. It is important to master English grammar now that it is the medium of instruction right from mid -primary to the tertiary level. In linguistics, special attention is given to African languages because many of the theories in this area are designed with Western languages in mind and thus they do account for a lot of the linguistic phenomena evident in African languages. It is, therefore, imperative that we investigate other languages, especially African ones, with a view to accumulating relevant data and subsequently developing relevant theories.
There is a paucity of well-trained grammarians and linguists in the market and our graduates would be employed as consultants in language matters, curriculum developers, material developers, policy makers, teachers, tutors, lecturers, researchers, lexicographers, translators and media personnel among others.
Objectives
- To train experts in grammar and all areas of linguistics
- To research on African languages and others
- To create a data bank of African linguistic phenomena in all components of language
Admission Requirements
- The common regulations for all doctorate degrees of Kenyatta University shall apply.
- The common regulations of the Department of English and Linguistics shall apply.
- Those eligible for registration for Doctor of Philosophy in English and Linguistics shall be holders of a Master's degree in English and /or linguistics or equivalent qualifications from any other University recognized by the senate of Kenyatta University.
Duration and Pattern of the Programme
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in linguistics should take a duration of three years. It shall take the form of Research and Thesis.
Certification
Upon fulfilling all the requirements, candidates shall be awarded a PhD in linguistics of Kenyatta University.
Certificate in Korean languages
Beginners Course in Portuguese
Beginners Course in Japanese Language and Cultural Studies
Beginners Course in Korean
Diploma In Japanese
PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Bachelor Of Arts/Bachelor Of Education – German
Bachelor Of Arts/(BED)– German
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in French
Bachelor of Education (B.ED) in French
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Japanese
FRENCH FOR BEGINNERS COURSE DESCRIPTION
Postgraduate programmes
PhD (French)
Masters In Teaching French As A Foreign Languages
Master in French Didactics
Credit hours
For Bachelors and Masters programmes – 35 credit hours
For Certificate programmes – 35 credit hours
Modes of study
- Full time
- IBP
- Open Learning
PROGRAMME D'ETUDES
- En plus des cours obligatoires offerts dans chaque année d'études, les étudiants du programme
- B. A. prennent deux cours au choix en troisième et en quatrièmes années.
EXIGENCES DES COURS
Tous les enseignements, les devoirs et les examens sont en français.
DURÉE DU PROGRAMME
Pour couvrir tout le programme de B. Ed/ B.A., quatre années règlementaires sont exigées.
EXAMENS
Tout étudiant inscrit au programme doit passer des examens dans toutes les unités enseignées. Des examens finaux comptent pour 70%, tandis que l'évaluation continue compte pour 30%. Le classement doit être en conformité avec le règlement commun de l'Université pour le Programme B. Ed, / BA
>>>>LITERATURE DEPARTMENT COURSE OUTLINES
- Prof. Oluoch Obura
- Prof. Chege John Githiora
- Dr. Kenneth Kamuri Ngure
- Dr. Kisa A.D. Amateshe
- Dr. Mbugua Wa Mungai
- Dr. Esther Katheu Mbithi
- Dr. Murimi Gaita
- Dr. Justus Kizitos Siboe Makokha
- Dr. Wasambo Were
- Dr. Muhia John Mugo
- Dr. Kimani Kaigai
- Dr. Mark Mutali Chetambe
- Dr. Yuvenalis Mukoya Mwairumba
- Dr. Oscar Macharia Maina
- Dr. Douglas Macharia Mwangi
- Dr. Anne Anyango Ajulu Okungu
- Dr. Kariuki N.Banda
- Dr. Stephen Mutie
- Dr. James M Njiri
- Dr. Eunice A.Nyamasyo
- Dr. Emily Ogutu
- Dr. Anna Miti Kula
- Dr. Florence Nyarenchi
- Dr. Joyce Wangia
- Dr. Phyllis W. Mwangi
- Dr. Hilda Kebeya
- Dr. Purity. M. Nthiga
- Dr. Kanana Fridah Erastus
- Dr. Mwangi Gachara
- Dr. Gerry Otieno Ayieko
- Dr Nancy Ikaria
- Dr.Jessica Khadi Gimode
- Dr Stephen Ochieng' Orago
- Dr. Joshua Mulinge Itumo
- Dr. Norah Bonareri Atambo
- Dr. Peter Maina Wakarindi
- Dr. Gatitu Kiguru
- Dr. Loise Wamaitha Mwai
- Dr. Milcah M. Chokah
- Dr. Vincent O. Were
- Dr. Dismas Nkezabera
- Dr. Lydia Wamuti
- Dr. Anne N. Hinga
- Dr Faith S. Wambui Kariuki
- Dr. Gloria Ajami Makokha
- Dr. Jeremiah Mutuku Muneeni
- Dr. P. M. Nzunga
- Dr Mulama Hillary Shitambasi
- Dr Lorna Okoko
- Mr. Maurice Simbili Mwichuli
- Mr. Antony Wanyonyi Wasena
- Mr. Gachanja Kiai
- Ms. Florence Akinyi Owili
- Mr. Charles Maina Gecaga
- Mr. Laurent Ngendahimana
- Mr. Richard Kiruri Gachie
Dr Buregeya