MA in English Studies for the Professions (MAESP)
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
HKD 5,460 / per credit **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* all applications need to be submitted online
** for non-local students | HK$4,150/credit for local students
Introduction
Department of English and Communication
Established in 1988, the Department of English is a leader in applied English language studies. Our internationally-recognised academic staff will help you acquire the high levels of English skills needed to succeed professionally, and provide a comprehensive and critical understanding of English communication in multicultural professional contexts. Our department was retitled to Department of English and Communication in September 2021 to reflect our status as an interdisciplinary department composed of linguistics and communication experts from around the world.
Our team of experts has a wide range of research interests in language and professional communication; media and communication; language teaching and learning; linguistics, English language and systemic functional linguistics; and intercultural communication. Our postgraduate students go on to work in a number of exciting and international contexts around the world.
Meeting the needs of professionals
The specialisms in English Language Arts (ELA), English Language Studies (ELS) and English Language Teaching (ELT) are mainly intended for serving English language teachers or graduates who intend to enter the teaching profession, either at the secondary or tertiary level. Preference will be given to applicants who have majored in English or a communication-related field. Each specialism is designed to meet particular professional needs and interests.
- English Language Arts – for those who wish to receive in-depth training in the teaching and use of language arts (e.g. plays, poems, advertisements).
- English Language Studies – for those who wish to develop their understanding of the systems and uses of English and how these relate to their work.
- English Language Teaching – for those who wish to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to design and deliver engaging and effective English-language courses for general and specific purposes.
The specialism in English for the Professions (EP) is intended for those with an undergraduate degree other than in English. It is intended for professionals of all disciplines who wish to upgrade their ability and qualifications in English. It is designed primarily for middle-level managerial staff in the public and private sectors who need to demonstrate a high level of communicative competence in English in situations relevant to their personal needs.
Professional recognition
New and serving English language teachers who do not hold a degree in English, but who have successfully completed the MAESP (ELA), MAESP (ELS) or MAESP (ELT) programme, are regarded by the Education Bureau (EDB) as having a degree with relevant language major. The MAESP (ELA), MAESP (ELS) and MAESP (ELT), but not MAESP (EP), meet the EDB’s Subject Knowledge Requirement (SKR). All four specialisms meet the Language Proficiency Requirement (LPR) provided that on graduation students meet the training requirement for language teachers.
Selection of specialism
- Applicants should indicate their chosen specialism when applying.
- Students admitted to the programme may switch to another specialism after completing the four core MAESP subjects.
Awards
- Postgraduate Diploma in English Studies for the Professions (18 credits): students should complete the four core subjects (12 credits) and two other subjects from the lists of specialism-related core subjects (6 credits).
- Master of Arts in English Studies for the Professions (English Language Studies / English Language Teaching / English for the Professions)* (30 credits): students should complete the four core subjects (12 credits); two specialism-related core subjects (6 credits); and either four specialism-specific electives (12 credits) or by taking the Research Project (6 credits) and associated research methods subject (3 credits) as well as one specialism-specific elective (3 credits).
- Master of Arts in English Studies for the Professions (English Language Arts)* (30 credits): students should complete the four core subjects (12 credits); three specialism-related core subjects (9 credits); and either three specialism-specific electives (9 credits) or by taking the Research Project (6 credits) and associated research methods subject (3 credits).
* The title of the relevant specialism will appear in brackets on the degree certificate, e.g. Master of Arts in English Studies for the Professions (English Language Teaching).
Duration
- Full-time mode: 1 year (2 semesters and 1 summer term)
- Part-time mode: 2 years (4 semesters and 1 summer term)
Admissions
Curriculum
Curriculum
The MAESP requires completing 30 credits of subjects. Alternatively, students may elect to complete an MA dissertation, which is worth 6 credits of the total 30.
Core subjects (12 credits)
- Introduction to the Sound System of English
- Discourse Analysis
- English Semantics and Lexis
- Analytical Perspectives in English Grammar
Specialism-related core subjects (9 credits for ELA, 6 credits for ELS, ELT and EP*)
- English Language Arts: Second Language Learning, Language Development and Use, English Literature and Language Arts
- English Language Studies: Language Development and Use, English Literature and Language Arts
- English Language Teaching: Second Language Learning, Second Language Teaching
- English for the Professions: Practical Communication Strategies I, Practical Communication Strategies II
Specialism-specific electives (9 credits for ELA, 12 credits for ELS, ELT and EP*)
- English Language Arts: Popular Culture and English, Oral Language Arts, Second Language Teaching, Drama for Language Learning, Critical Language and Cultural Studies, Research Design and Methods
- English Language Studies: Pragmatic Disorders, Communication, Multimodality and Semiotic Studies, Popular Culture and English, The Sociology of Language: Social and Economic Perspectives, Intercultural Communication in Business, Research Design and Methods
- English Language Teaching: Syllabus Planning and Materials Design, Testing and Assessment, Drama for Language Learning, Oral Language Arts, Critical Language and Cultural Studies, Popular Culture and English, Research Design and Methods
- English for the Professions: Pragmatic Disorders, Intercultural Communication in Business, Communication, Multimodality and Semiotic Studies, The Sociology of Language: Social and Economic Perspectives, Critical Language and Cultural Studies, Research Design and Methods
* Each core and elective subject is worth 3 credits, apart from the Research Project (6 credits), which involves conducting an independent piece of research and writing a 10,000-word dissertation.
Program Outcome
Programme aims
The MA in English Studies for the Professions (MAESP) programme aims to provide students with a comprehensive and critical understanding of the theory and practice of English in educational and professional contexts. The knowledge and skills students acquired in the programme enable them to become innovative and reflective professionals in a range of institutional settings.