The Department of Languages and Linguistics, established at the inception of the University in September, 2007, is one of the two foundation Departments in the College of Humanities and Culture of Osun State University, The Department offers three degree programmes, namely,

• • B.A. Arabic Language
  • B.A. English 
  • B.A. French 
  • B.A. Islamic
  • B.A. Linguistics & Communication Studies
  • B.A. Philosophy
  • B.A. Theatre Arts
  • B.A. Tourism Studies
  • B.A. Yoruba

There is a functional Language Laboratory in the Department that serves the academic programmes of the Department. The Laboratory is well equipped to cope with teaching of students and for the use of academic staff for research purposes.

 

The three programmes of the Department operate academic curricula that are tailored along the stipulations contained in the National Universities Commission (NUC) Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards.   

 

The basic philosophy underlying the academic activities of the English sub-unit is the current trend in ELT emphasis on the actual use of language for communicative purposes in actual human inter-actional and transactional situations. The English sub-unit therefore strives to prepare its candidates for the efficient and effective use of the English language in the various situations in which it is used, particularly as regards its social and official functions in Nigeria and the modern world. To achieve these goals, the sub-unit provides a wide variety of practice and use oriented courses without compromising the basic theoretical basis of their knowledge. Applied English courses that are designed to empower candidates to function efficiently in various envisaged capacities with minimum fuss are therefore loaded into the programme. 

The specific Objectives of the English unit of the Department are:

1. To teach candidates functional English language and Literature in English as well as English Linguistics  

2. To empower candidates with the necessary competence in the oral and written medium in English

3. To equip candidates with the basic skills for the use of English for specific social, professional and scientific purposes

4. To initiate and pursue research in the analysis, the use, the function and the teaching of English with particular reference to the Nigerian nation.

 

The graduates of the English sub-unit of the Department of Languages and Linguistics are trained to be teachers of English Language and Literature at all of the pre-university levels of the Nigerian educational strata. Both the Nigerian Print and the Electronic mass media, being English medium, are ready employers of our graduates. In addition, our graduates have a ready market in the Nigerian Civil Service as well as the Foreign and Diplomatic Service. More generally, they can be employed in the personnel, public relations and marketing units of various corporate institutions, both local and international. They are also highly needed locally and internationally in the publishing industry. By virtue of their training, they are equally employable in the Nigerian young, but prosperous movie industry. Internationally, they can also ply their trade beyond the shores of the nation as actors, actresses, script writers, editors, among others. The Banking sub-sector of the economy is also known to value very highly the English communicative skills of graduates of English.

 

We are today living in a global village. The need to be at ease in languages other than English, in particular international languages of sciences and technology, international commerce, education and diplomacy, where French excels par excellence, has never been more pressing. In today`s world, language teaching and learning objectives will go from knowledge acquisition to equipping professionals with the skills they need to excel in multilingual environments. It is this mindset that has guided the crafting of our programmes.

The objectives of the Programme are:

1. To teach students quality French language, literature and linguistics as well as expose them to basic concepts in literary criticism;

2. To teach them African literature in French;

3. To enable students to acquire linguistic competence in oral and written communication in French;

4. To train students to acquire translation and interpretation skills with special reference to French and English;

5. To equip them with basic skills to use French for specific purposes;

6. To educate students in historical movements and issues of international or global importance to enable them acquire better knowledge of the world and thus promote World Peace,

7. To develop students’ ability to appreciate the historical forces that have shaped and continue to shape their immediate environment,

 

The graduates of the French and International Studies Programme are open to a wide range of careers, some of which are as follows: translation and interpretation, teaching, banking and finance, aviation (especially as airline desk officers and air hostesses/ attendants), the Civil Service, international business, the foreign and diplomatic service.

 

A knowledge of languages and linguistics is an ever more relevant and essential tool for the field of communication in the ‘global village’ within which we all operate. Hence, the B. A. Linguistics and Communication Studies Programme is designed as a result of a firm belief that our graduates are potential employees and employers of labour in the field of linguistics and the profession of communication. Our graduates should be able to establish themselves as language analysts who would use their knowledge of the structure of language to support the nation’s media communication professionals. 

1. to train knowledgeable linguists, vibrant and entrepreneurial communication professionals;

2. to train students to bring the insight of linguistics into communication as a whole, but particularly to such areas as print and broadcast media, publishing and advertising, marketing and public relations;

3. to produce graduates with adequate knowledge of linguistics, skills and developments in communication technology;

4. to initiate and pursue research in the analysis in linguistics and communication studies.

 

The programme is carefully packaged to provide the student with knowledge and skills useful to support any career or profession.  Studying language and examine how different styles of written and spoken language can serve different communication purposes will benefit the student who wish to pursue a career in such areas as personnel management, the media, publishing, social and development work. 

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL
For admission into any of the first degree programmes of the University, a candidate shall be required to possess the following minimum qualifications:
1. Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) or its equivalents with credit level passes in five (5) subjects at not more than two sittings. The candidate must also earn an acceptable score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
2. Candidates seeking admission by direct entry into the 200 level, must have at least five (5) O/L credits, two of which must be at Advanced Level or approved equivalents.

DEPARTMENTAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENT
U.M.E. Candidates
For admission into the first degree programme in History and International Studies, a candidate must have the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) or its equivalents with credit level passes in five (5) subjects: English Language, History or Government to form the core subjects, with credit in any other three arts/social sciences subjects at not more than two sittings. The candidate must also earn an acceptable score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Direct Entry Candidates
Candidates seeking admission by direct entry into the 200 level History and International Studies programme, must have Advanced Level passes in History or Government, in addition to credit level passes in five subjects at the SSCE or its equivalents. Candidates with ND and approved equivalents in relevant fields with at least a lower credit may be considered for direct entry into the programme. Candidate with acceptable pass in the UNIOSUN Foundation Programme are also eligible for admission into the 200 level, provided they possess the requisite qualification for entry into the 100 level of the programme.

Post UTME Screening
All Candidates seeking admission into the University irrespective of their UTME scores shall be required to pass the University post UTME Screening test before being admitted.

Registration Procedure
(a) Students shall normally complete registration at the beginning of the semester.
(b) Any addition or deletion from the courses for which a student is formally registered must be made with the consent of the course coordinator.
(c) A student may be allowed to withdraw from a course by the course administrator before a third of lectures have been given. Such a student who withdraws after this time or who fails to sit for examination without reasons acceptable to the appropriate Faculty/College Board shall be deemed to have failed the course. A Grade point of 0F shall be record for the student in the course.
(d) Late registration in the course may be allowed with penalty of up to 4 weeks after the commencement of registration.

Duration of Degree Programmes
The minimum number of years to be spent to be awarded a first degree in a programme of study in non-professional area in the university shall be four years (or three years minimum for direct entry candidates). Registration shall not exceed an additional 50% of the duration of the programme if the student fails to graduate within the minimum number of years.

Graduation Requirements
To qualify for the award of a degree of the Osun State University, a student is required to have:
(i) completed and passed the prescribed number of units including all compulsory courses specified by the University.
(ii) completed and met the standards for all required and optional courses.
(iii) obtained the prescribed minimum CGPA.

Yoruba Cultural Studies

Introduction
Yoruba is the largest ethnic language in Nigeria with over 25 million speakers. It is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and traces of it are found among communities in Brazil, Sierra Leone, northern Ghana and Cuba. Currently, no university in Nigeria offers undergraduate courses in Yoruba beyond its literature and language components. As a College of Humanities and Culture, the degree programme in Yoruba Studies is to position us as a centre of excellence in cultural studies.

Philosophy and Objectives of the Degree Programme
a. To give the students an in-depth mastery of the history, philosophy, language, literature, culture and life patterns of the Yoruba people

b. To preserve the linguistic, literary and cultural heritage of the people

c. To offer the students the tools for the scientific study of language – the subject matter and goals of descriptive, comparative, historical and socio-linguistics and a deeper understanding of the nature of human language

d. To equip the students with skills for the analysis of history, philosophy, language, literature and cultural issues for the purpose of applying such skills to relevant fields of human endeavour.

Admission and Graduation Requirements
In addition to general admission and Faculty graduation requirements, usually five Senior Secondary School level credits or its equivalent, including English Language (for the 4-year programme) or higher qualifications, or a Diploma in any Arts or Social Science disciplines, in addition to the required credits (for the 3-year programme) are required to be qualified to run the programme. In addition to the above, credits earned at the SSS Level or its equivalent should be discreetly chosen from amongst subjects in the Arts, the Social Sciences and the Sciences. A credit pass in Yoruba language will be an added advantage.

The Faculty graduation requirements apply here. The entire degree programme lasts four years (eight semesters) for UME or three years (six semesters) for the “A” Level or Diploma students.

Career Opportunities
Yoruba Studies graduates are expected go on to positions within major culture industries, economic development agencies, tourism development bodies and local authorities. The graduate will be equipped for many positions in the wider service sector and for moving on to postgraduate research.

Job Opportunities for Our Graduates
• Translation/interpreting
• Cultural Officers
• Literary Analysts and Artists
• Language consultancy
• Media and advertising
• Editorial services
• Film and cinema productions
• General research and documentation
• Telecommunication, etc.