Department of Languages

The Department of Languages, Mountain Top University, was founded when the institution was established in 2015. As a degree-awarding department, it has earned accreditation on two consecutive occasions. The recent one was on the 13th of November, 2023.  It has the mandate of the National Universities Commission to run two programmes – English Studies and French Studies. While the French Studies programme is being prepared to commence, the English Studies programme has successfully graduated five sets of students. Known popularly as the flagship programme of the University, the department boasts a state-of-the-art Language Laboratory and sound scholars both as full-time and part-time staff.

The objectives of the B.A. degree programme in English are:

1. To train students to acquire adequate communicative competence in both spoken and written varieties of the English language;
2. To equip the students with adequate linguistic knowledge of the English language (including its varieties) through a detailed study of its sound system, lexicon, its syntax, semantics, and usage;
3. To train students to develop a critical appreciation of the norms of literature through the study of its various genres;
4. To provide a wide range of literary experience with the acquisition of an in-depth literary culture in Literature of English expression and exposure to the norms of critical idioms applicable not only to Literature-in-English but also, in varying degrees, to other kinds of literature;
5. To promote the acquisition of expertise in English studies and to encourage the development of literary creativity in the different genres of literature;
6. To instill the virtues of hard work, discipline, and respect for the laws of our nation;
7. To produce English Language graduates who are globally relevant through the use of Information and Communication Technology [ICT] and who would creatively produce communication materials through sound research techniques to meet societal needs;
8. To produce English Language graduates who would be partners in the search for solutions to the myriads of problems confronting our society; i. to produce God-fearing English Language graduates who would be role models and who are dedicated to improving and making the society a better place.

Graduates of the English language can work as teachers, university lecturers, advertising specialists, scriptwriters, journalists, editors, book publishers, mass communicators, novelists, poets, playwrights, marketing copywriters, human resource directors, public affairs specialists, theatre managers, fundraisers, technical writers, documentarians, translators or interpreters in media houses; newspaper houses, radio, television, publishing houses, advertising agencies, government organizations, events and corporate communications, industries, and many other sectors.

They also have career opportunities in research institutes and government agencies like the Ministry of External Affairs, embassies of foreign countries, etc.  

1. O’ Level Requirements: 5 credit passes in WASSC Examination or its equivalent at not more than 2 sittings including English Language,  Literature- in-English, and any other 2 Arts or Social Science subjects.
2. JAMB Requirements: Attainment of the national aggregate score and meeting the MTU baseline score in JAMB. UTME Subjects: Literature in English, One Arts subject, and another Arts or Social Science subject.
3. Direct Entry Requirements: 
• 1. ‘A-Level: Candidates will be admitted into 200 level of 4-year full-time or 5-year part-time degree programme if they possess two “A” level passes in relevant subjects including Literature-in-English at the point of entry.
  2. ND Certificate: Holders of a minimum of Lower Credit of National Diploma in relevant courses (Arts or Social Sciences) can apply for direct entry admission into 200 level 4-year full-time or 5-year part-time degree programme.
  3. NCE Certificate: Holders of NCE Merit in relevant courses (Arts and Social Sciences) can apply for admission into the 300 level of a 4-year full-time or 5-year part-time degree program.
4. Conversion Programme - HND Certificate: Holders of Lower Credit in relevant courses (Arts and Social Sciences) c. an application for admission into the 300 level of 4-year full-time or 400 level of a 5-year part-time degree programme.

The Department of Languages has:

1. Undergraduate Programme

• A four-year degree full-time programme in English and Literature 
• A five-year degree part-time programme in English and Literature
• French studies as general studies for all students in the university

The Department offers courses that lead to the award of Bachelor of Arts (B.A. English) to prospective candidates who have been empowered to excel academically, and morally, and can compete with their counterparts across the globe. At the inception of the programme, language courses were predominantly available, but over the years, the course imbalance has continually been reviewed to incorporate literature courses, so that our students upon graduation, will be able to compete favourably with their counterparts nationally and globally.  The expansion includes literature courses such as Introduction to Drama, Introduction to Poetry, Introduction to Prose Fiction, Literary Theory & Criticism, African American Literature, Shakespeare, etc.

2. Certificate Programme

The Department runs a 4-month certificate programme for professionals and other people who are interested in improving their spoken English.  

Admission into a certificate programme is through GCE or any lower certificate. 

 

3. Post-graduate Programme

• Master of Arts (M.A English) 
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) 
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

 

Post-graduate programmes started in the 2022/2023 session with PhD programme. The Department offers an M.A. in English for eighteen (18) months, an MPhil for two (2) years and a Ph.D. for three (3) years. PhD students offer courses in foreign languages and present seminars at the Department before they proceed to register their titles and obtain approval of supervisors at the School of Postgraduate Studies.  Having completed their work in the Department, candidates proceed to defend their works at the PG School. Candidates are awarded degrees at the completion of their programmes.

 

• Sociolinguistics
• Applied English Linguistics
• Phonology & Phonetics
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Pragmatics
• Discourse Analysis
• Text Linguistics
• Literary Theory
• African Literature
• Popular Culture
• Creative Writing
• Literary Criticism
• Stylistics