It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Department of English and French, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Katsina. This segment of the Handbook offers information about the Department, which consists of two units, English and French. It therefore offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in French. Beginning from 2015/2016 academic session, the Department now offers Master of Arts (MA) in English.
The B.A. English degree has been designed to fit the demands of a modern University in a Savannah environment. The vision of the Department is to equip students with language and literary tools for academic analysis. At the end of each level, students should be able to utilize the skills acquired in class and through group work and their active participation in Departmental activities to analyse and interprete linguistic data and literary texts with a fair amount of precision and confidence. These acquired tools should also enable them to communicate and function effectively in the public and private sectors of the country and the world at large.
This programme aspect of the Student Handbook has been prepared to offer the necessary information that students may require in understanding the structure of the B.A. (Honours) English programme as well as the regulations and guidelines that need to be followed to undertake studies in the Department.
It is hoped that students will make judicious use of this Handbook at all times during their stay in the University. Staff of the Department are always there to offer the necessary guidance and support to ensure students’ smooth academic pursuit.
Head, Department of English and French
Brief History of the Department
The Department of English and French was established in January 2007, at the inception of the University during the 2006/07 academic session. Dr (now Professor) Aliyu Kamal, a specialist in Applied Linguistics on sabbatical from Bayero University, Kano was made the pioneer Head of Department and Dean of Faculty of Humanities in the same month. Mal (now Dr) Ibrahim Sani took over from Prof. Kamal as acting HOD until in January 2009 when Dr Emmanuel Quarcoo joined the Department from the University of Ghana. Dr. E. Quarcoo was succeeded by an array of HODs on sabbatical, starting with Dr Bosoma Sheriff, a specialist in Oral Literature from the University of Maiduguri (2011-12 session); Dr (now Professor) Sadiya Sani Daura, a specialist in Language from Bayero University, Kano (2012 session); Dr (now Professor) Bashir Sambo, a specialist in Linguistics with a bias in French from the Bayero University, Kano (2012-13 session). Dr Djibo Mamman (from the French Unit) eventually took over from Prof. Sambo from the 2013/14 academic session and is currently the Head of Department.
When the Department started, there were few students, but as at the 2010/11 academic session, it has a student population of two hundred and forty four (244) distributed as follows: 100 level (28); 200 level (62); 300 level (57); 400 level (97). The first set of students graduated in the 2010/11 academic session. Currently, there are three (3) former students of the Department as academic staff on training, Abdulhakim Saidu (Language), Dikko Muhammad (Literature) and Usman Ahmed (Language).
In addition to servicing students of the programme, the Department services B.A Ed, Law and other subsidiary students. Some of the courses mounted for B.A. English students are also offered by B.A. Ed students.
Philosophy
The philosophy behind the entire English programme (Language and Literature) is to enable learners to approximate native speakers’ control of the English language, especially through speaking, reading, and writing. Upon completion, graduates of the programme should be able to work in various fields and professions such as: journalism, English language and literature teaching, administration, research, speech therapy, translation and interpretation, public relation, and advertising, among others.
- To give students a sound and solid background towards the effective mastery of the English language and literature in their various applications with the resolve to achieve adequate self expression and self actualization in the language.
- To adequately groom and prepare students for higher degrees and other postgraduate studies in the English language, literature and linguistics.
- To augment manpower of the state through working in various fields and professions such as teaching, journalism, translation, speech therapy, and secretarial work.
- To promote qualitative English usage and teaching through training of effective and qualified graduates who will give instructional training in our various educational institutions.
- To produce English graduates that are well equipped to meet up challenges of working in strategically important professions such as public relations, advertising and public service.