BA Hons English

Bachelor of Arts (Honours / Honours with Research)

English (Minor in Digital Humanities / Mass Communication / Journalism)


Overview

Recognised among the best BA English colleges in Bangalore, the BA English (Honours / Honours with Research) with Minor Specialisations in Journalism, Mass Communication, or Digital Humanities, offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), is an interdisciplinary and industry-responsive undergraduate programme designed to develop critical thinkers, skilled communicators, and future-ready professionals. The programme blends rigorous literary scholarship with applied media, communication, and digital competencies, enabling students to build both intellectual depth and practical expertise.

Positioning the University among the top BA English colleges in Bangalore, the curriculum is grounded in the study of British, American, Indian, Postcolonial, and World Literatures, while integrating contemporary critical theories, linguistic studies, and cultural analysis. Alongside this strong disciplinary foundation, students select a Minor specialisation in Journalism, Mass Communication, or Digital Humanities, allowing them to tailor their academic pathway to emerging industry demands and individual academic interests.

Designed to meet the academic expectations associated with the best colleges for BA English Honours in Bangalore, the programme places strong emphasis on experiential and project-based learning through workshops, internships, media labs, and Trans-disciplinary Project-Centric Learning (TD-PCL) modules that simulate real-world professional environments. Students develop fluency in academic writing, media production, digital research methodologies, storytelling frameworks, coding fundamentals (for the Digital Humanities), and professional communication—capabilities that significantly enhance employability across media, publishing, education, creative industries, and digital content.

On successful completion, graduates emerge with advanced communication skills, interdisciplinary perspectives, and strong analytical capabilities, reinforcing the programme’s standing as one of the best BA English Honours colleges in Bangalore and among the best colleges in Bangalore for BA English. Alumni are well prepared for dynamic roles in journalism, mass media, digital humanities, content strategy, creative writing, research, public engagement, and cultural organisations, as well as for postgraduate study in English, Communication, Media Studies, Digital Humanities, and allied fields.

Duration: 4 Years - 8 Semesters

Total Credits: 164 (as per UGC guidelines) 

Eligibility

A student who has passed Level 4 / Class 12 schooling (either through formal schooling or through the open school system) or its equivalent shall be eligible for admission to BA programmes. 

Note: However, students who have not studied requisite courses from the discipline related to the respective programmes will have to undertake the prescribed bridge course(s). 

This is in accordance with the UGC Regulations, 2025

Program code: 001A

Curriculum Structure

Major - English
  • Introduction to Literary Studies
  • British Literature: Medieval to Renaissance
  • Languages - I
  • English - I
  • Mind management and Human Values - I
  • Computer Applications
  • Trans-Disciplinary Project Centric Learning - I
Minor Specialisation
  • Introduction to Digital Humanities (Digital Humanities)
  • Basics of Journalism (Journalism)
  • Introduction to Communication Theories (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • British Literatures: 18th and 19th Centuries
  • British Literature: Modern and Contemporary
  • Languages - II
  • English - II
  • Mind Management & Human Values - II
  • Trans-Disciplinary Project Centric Learning - II
Minor Specialisation
  • Textual Analysis and Mind Mapping using Digital Tools (Digital Humanities)
  • News Making (Journalism)
  • Development of Mass Media (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • Indian Writing in English
  • American Literature
  • History of English Language
  • Group Electives
  • Constitutional Values
  • Internship
  • Trans-Disciplinary Project Centric Learning - III
Minor Specialisation
  • Digital Archives and Literary Curation (Digital Humanities)
  • Reporting and Editing for Print (Journalism)
  • Radio and Audio Production (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • Post Colonial Literature
  • European Classics in Translation
  • Linguistics
  • General Elective
  • Environmental Studies
  • Trans-Disciplinary Project Centric Learning - IV
Minor Specialisation
  • Geospatial Humanities and Literary Mapping (Digital Humanities)
  • Reporting and Editing for Broadcast Media (Journalism)
  • Television and Video Production (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • Shakespeare: Text And Performance
  • World Literatures In English: Translation
  • Phonetics and Phonology
  • General Elective
  • Internship
  • Trans-Disciplinary Project Centric Learning - V
Minor Specialisation
  • Data Visualisation For Literary Research (Digital Humanities)
  • Coding For Literary Enquiry (Digital Humanities)
  • Writing For Online Media (Journalism)
  • Videography For Journalism (Journalism)
  • Integrated Marketing Communication (Mass Communication)
  • Effective Public Relations (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • Literary Criticism: Classical to Modern
  • Sociolinguistics and Language Variations
  • Gender, Ecology and Cultural Studies
  • Syntax, Semantics and Semiotics
  • Trans-Disciplinary Project Centric Learning - VI
Minor Specialisation
  • Digital Storytelling And Interactive Narratives (Digital Humanities)
  • Digital Publishing & E-Literature (Digital Humanities)
  • Mobile Journalism (Journalism)
  • Understanding Cinema (Journalism)
  • Digital Storytelling (Mass Communication)
  • Communication Research Methods (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • Cultural Studies and Popular Culture
  • Applied Linguistics and Methods in Elt
  • Narratology: Theory, Form and Practice
  • Academic and Creative Writing (Honours)
  • Media and Communication Theories (Honours)
  • Research Project (Honours)
  • Research Methods in English Language and Literature: Tools, Methods and Applications (Honours Research)
  • Research Dissertation (Honours Research)
Minor Specialisation
  • Digital Pedagogy in Humanities (Digital Humanities)
  • Constructive Journalism (Journalism)
  • Media Management and Ethics (Mass Communication)

Major - English
  • Ecocriticism And Environmental Humanities
  • Translation Studies: Theory and Practice
  • Technical Writing
  • Graphic Narratives: Creation and Analysis (Honours)
  • Writing for Stage and Screen (Honours)
  • Research Project (Honours)
  • Advanced Research in English Language and Literature (Honours Research)
  • Research Project (Honours Research)
Minor Specialisation
  • Gamification and Literary Digital Design (Digital Humanities)
  • Digital Storytelling (Journalism)
  • Social Media and Influencer Marketing (Mass Communication)

Course Highlights

  • Foundational courses in English Literature and Language across genres and traditions.

  • Minor specialisation options:

    1. Journalism: reporting, editing, media ethics, newsroom simulations.

    2. Mass Communication: scriptwriting, PR, advertising, media planning.

    3. Digital Humanities: textual analysis, archiving, coding, visualisation, interactive storytelling.

  • Skill Enhancement Courses:  Computer Applications, Trans-disciplinary Project-centric learning-TD-PCL

  • Value-Added Courses: Mind Management and Human Values, Environmental Studies and Constitutional Studies

  • Research Project/Dissertation in the final year for the BA with Hons. And BA Hons. With the Research Track, respectively.

Career Enhancement Programs

  • Workshops on investigative journalism, digital reporting, and media ethics.

  • Training in coding, visualisation tools, and digital publishing.

  • Internship opportunities with media houses, PR firms, advertising agencies, ed-tech companies, and cultural archives.

  • Industry expert panels, guest lectures, and conclaves.

Career Outcomes

The BA in English programme equips you with the skills to report, communicate, analyse, and design with purpose, preparing you for careers in journalism, media, and digital humanities.

News and Investigative Journalism: You will learn to report responsibly and analyse issues deeply, preparing for roles in news reporting, investigative journalism, and political correspondence.

Editorial, Fact-Checking and Opinion Writing: You will strengthen credible media by supporting editorial workflows, verifying information, and contributing insightful opinion pieces.

Broadcast, Multimedia and Feature Storytelling: You will develop visual and narrative production skills suited for broadcast roles, newsroom content curation, and feature writing.

Media Planning, PR and Brand Communication: You will help brands engage audiences through media planning, public relations, copywriting, scriptwriting, and digital communication.

Presentation and On-Air Communication: You may also bring stories to life through voice-over work or media presentation.

Digital Archiving and Publishing: You will manage digital collections and coordinate publishing workflows within cultural and information-focused organisations.

Data-Driven Humanities and Visualisation: You will analyse literary and cultural data through roles in data visualisation, digital research, and AI-supported humanities work.

Interactive Storytelling, E-Learning and UX Content: You will design meaningful digital experiences as an interactive storyteller, e-learning creator, web developer, or UX content strategist.

FAQ's

What is the focus of the minor in Journalism?


The minor emphasises practical skills in reporting, editing, and media ethics alongside literary study. It prepares students for careers in print, broadcast, and digital journalism.

Are internships mandatory for Journalism?


Yes, internships are an integral part of the entire programme in the third and fifth semesters, irrespective of your minor specialisations. Internships provide hands-on newsroom experience and industry exposure.

What practical skills are emphasised in the Mass Communication minor?


Students gain training in scriptwriting, advertising, public relations, and media planning. These skills prepare them for diverse media careers.

Can graduates work in advertising agencies?


Certainly. The programme’s focus on copywriting, branding, and PR makes graduates well-suited for advertising roles.

How is this programme different from traditional English studies?


Unlike traditional programmes, it integrates computational methods, digital archiving, and interactive storytelling with literary study.