Introduction & Rationale

The discipline of English linguistics is young but has great potential to promote interdisciplinary research and prepare graduates to meet the diverse needs of the job market.  It offers the subject knowledge that may help its graduates to suggest solutions to language-based problems. This program does not limit students to exploring forms and functions of English but also the prevailing linguistic diversity in our beautiful country and beyond. The program equips students with the latest pedagogical approaches and methods, which will make them successful English instructors who can cater to and promote linguistic/cultural diversity. The program empowers students with the knowledge and skills required to impact their socioeconomic life. Eventually, the program will drive economic and social development in our multicultural discourses.

Program Brief

MPhil English Linguistics program aims to provide students with an awareness of critical issues in language and language teaching and the latest research conducted worldwide. The program aspires to equip students with the skills required to make considerable professional contributions to the field. The program allows them to investigate the structure of language and acquaint themselves with the theories of language acquisition. As an English linguistics degree is a highly versatile qualification, plenty of top career options are available in the market for its graduates.

Program Mission Statement

Our mission is to produce English language and linguistic professionals with a focus on inculcating Islamic ethical values who can successfully work in various fields.

Program Objectives

• To integrate Riphah values with teaching and learning,
• To enable students to be genuinely intellectuals and English language experts,
• To enable students to reflect on the structure of language and theories of language acquisition and to make original contributions to them,
• To promote and respect prevailing linguistic and cultural diversity in Pakistan,
• To steer learners through a well-structured and most updated curriculum, academic activities, and innovative teaching approaches for improving their personality and unlock their potential to be successful in this ever-changing and highly competitive job market, and
• To foster entrepreneurial skills among students.

Learning Outcomes

After the completion of the Mphil Program, the students should be able to:

• Realize the principles of work ethics covering discipline, responsibility, self-esteem, self-confidence, and teamwork,
• Adopt attitudes reflecting inclusivism, objectivity, and non-discriminating practices,
• Acquire sufficient knowledge about the structure and theories of language and the nature of linguistic discourse, especially concerning current trends,
• Demonstrate the advanced knowledge of the core areas of linguistics and research methods,
• Promote the scope of linguistics by pursuing interdisciplinary research,
• Develop advanced research writing skills, and
• Make a significant contribution in the form of research and their linguistic solution for the problems we are currently facing.

 Program structure

MPhil Program students are required to study ten courses over three semesters. They will study core courses on Research Methods in Linguistics and Writing on Linguistic Issues to prepare them to conduct research and write a thesis. There are two compulsory university courses: Ethics in Practice I, and Ethics in Practice II, in the third semester. These courses are designed to inculcate Islamic ethical values with modern academic trends and to promote quality education with academic and moral ethics. The ten courses comprise 26 credit hours; each core course earns 3 credit hours individually, and each distribution course earns 1 credit hour. After accumulating 26 credit hours through coursework, the students are required to write a thesis of a minimum of 20,000 words, which needs to be original and relevant to their intellectual and social context. The thesis earns the scholars a total of 6 credit hours, a prerequisite for completing the MPhil degree. The research work is conducted under the supervision of an officially nominated supervisor.

1. Duration: The program’s minimum duration is two years, and the maximum duration is four years.
2. Semesters: 4 semesters
3. Nature: Weekend Program (Saturday and Sunday)

Career Prospects

MPhil graduates have a wide range of career prospects available to them. The graduates will acquire advanced English language, writing, and presenting skills which can help them secure a job or place for further education in reputable institutes. They can find a career in teaching, policymaking, forensic linguistics, corpus linguistics, computational linguistics, curriculum designing, and teacher training. Aside from academia, the graduates can assume content and script writers roles in corporate sectors such as public administration, information technology, and the entertainment industry, among others. They might, as well, want to venture into their enterprise. 

 Scheme of Studies  

Core Courses

1. LNG-735: Writing on Linguistic Issues
2. LNG-705: Research Methods in Linguistics

 Elective Courses

1. LNG-785: History of Islam and Linguistics
2. LNG-780: Quranic Perspectives of Language
3. LNG-815: Applied Lexicology
4. LNG-810: Philosophy of Language
5. LNG-770: Forensic Linguistics
6. LNG-765: Neurolinguistics
7. LNG-760: Language Endangerment
8. LNG-755: Corpus Linguistics
9. LNG-752: Contact Linguistics and Multilingualism
10. LNG-750: Computational Linguistics
11. LNG-745: Advanced Semantics and Pragmatics
12. LNG-740: Syntactic Theory
13. LNG-732: Linguistic Theories
14. LNG-730: Sociolinguistics
15. LNG-728: Critical Discourse Analysis
16. LNG-725: Adaptation Studies
17. LNG-720: Translation Studies
18. LNG-710: General Linguistics
19. LNG-640: Language Pedagogy
20. LNG-610: Advanced Phonetics and Phonology
21. LNG-600: Approaches to Language Acquisition

University Compulsory Courses

1. (UR-711) Ethics in Practice I
2. (UR-712) Ethics in Practice II

Thesis

• Thesis (minimum 20,000 words) 6 Credit Hours

Total credit Hours

• credit hours

For more information see HEC Graduate Policy 2023:

https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/faculty/Plagiarism/Documents/Graduate-Education-Policy.pdf