Extension Curriculum and Alternative Extension
The BA English and American Studies offers students the opportunity to broaden and improve their skills in a different area apart from the field of English and American Studies. Students from other departments can find more information on the EC modules The World of English I-III, offered by our department.
Check our ECs and explore English Linguistics, Literature and Cultural Studies
What is the Extension Curriculum?
Extension curricula (“Erweiterungscurricula” / ECs) are ready-made “mini-curricula” that students can enroll for via U:SPACE. As part of the BA program students need to complete 45 ECTS as extension curriculum. At least 30 ECTS have to be completed within modules with fixed content (minor study programs / ECs).
Students of English and American Studies may choose any ECs they wish, except the ECs The World of English 1-3.
What is the Alternative Extension (Alternative Erweiterung)?
Alternative Extensions (AE) are an extension module of 15 ECTS that can be chosen freely. Students may choose any courses they want from any other department, except courses already used for their regular BA curriculum or EC and except courses from the ECs World of English.
There are no limitations to the type of courses that can count as AE, but they cannot exceed the sum of 15 ECTS.
If you have completed courses in a different degree programme or at a different university, you can apply for a recognition of these classes towards the AE-module. You can apply for a maximum of 15 ECTS.
How do I choose an Extension Curriculum?
Departments at the University of Vienna may offer a variety of different ECs; a complete list can be found in the EC overview. The contents of each EC are fixed and ECs can only be completed by taking the exact courses as defined in the EC-description.
Additionally, you can complete 15 ECTS for the alternative extension (AE) by taking courses from other departments/universities, which you can freely choose.
For questions regarding individual ECs, please always contact the department that offers the EC!
How do I combine the EC and the AE?
Option 1: You can complete three individual EC modules, each worth 15 ECTS to gather the needed 45 ECTS.
Example:
EC X (15 ECTS) Fixed content + EC Y (15 ECTS) Fixed content + EC Z (15 ECTS) Fixed content = 45 ECTS
Option 2: You can complete one bigger EC module (30 ECTS) and combine it with a smaller EC module (15 ECTS).
Example:
EC X (30 ECTS) Fixed content + EC Y (15 ECTS) Fixed content = 45 ECTS
Option 1: You can complete two individual EC modules, each worth 15 ECTS and an additional AE module to gather the needed 45 ECTS.
Example:
EC X (15 ECTS) Fixed content + EC Y (15 ECTS) Fixed content + AE (15 ECTS) Fixed content = 45 ECTS
Option 2: You can complete one bigger EC module (30 ECTS) and combine it with an AE module (15 ECTS).
Example:
EC X (30 ECTS) Fixed content + AE (15 ECTS) Fixed content = 45 ECTS
Good to know:
The STEOP must be completed in order to get started on your Extension Curriculum!
Problems with the EC?
-
You study BA English and American Studies and
- you have taken classes from a different department and want to use these towards your AE module.
- you wish to have classes, completed in a different programme or at a different university recognised towards the AE.
- you have completed an EC module in a previous BA programme at the University of Vienna and wish to have it recognised
OR
- have completed classes, which are now allocated in the Module of Interest or AE-Module but need to be accounted for a specific EC module
- wish to have classes from a different degree programme or another university recognised towards a specific EC module
-
You study a BA programme from another department and
- have completed courses for The World of English I-III, but these are not allocated correctly and have to be added to the correct EC.
- have taken relevant courses in the field of English and American Studies, which may be relevant for the EC The World of English I-III.
Extension Curricula The World of English I-III
The World of English I
The extension curriculum The World of English I provides students who major in another field with basic knowledge of English and American Studies. They get a general overview of the literatures, cultures and language of English-speaking countries and learn about the core terms and concepts of (English) linguistics, literary studies and cultural studies.
The World of English II and III
In The World of English II and III, students get to extend their knowledge of these disciplines by choosing among a total of 6 lectures from the BA English and American Studies. They can find out more about English morphology, syntax, semantics and psycholinguistics (Introduction to the Study of Language 2), historical linguistics (The History of English), the history of English literature (Literature Survey 1 & 2), theoretical models in the field of cultural studies (Introduction to Cultural Theories) and/or the cultural representation of certain aspects of English-speaking societies (Culture, Society & the Media).
Attention!
Students in the BA English and American Studies cannot choose the EC The World of English (I-III) for this study program.
If you are enrolled in the BA English and American Studies and another BA programme at the University of Vienna, which includes ECs in its curriculum, you can get the EC The World of English recognised. More information on the possible recognition.
Recognition towards the EC
The recognition is possible only from the BA/Diplom/BEd towards the EC and not the other way around!
Before submitting your application for recognition, please register for the EC on u:space (under “Courses”→”Extension Curricula”→“Register for new EC”).
Possible recognition (BA/Diplom)
|
Course completed in the BA/Diplom |
Course in the EC The World of English (I-III) |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to the Study of Language 1* |
Approaching English Linguistics |
|
Introduction to the Study of Literature |
Approaching Literatures in English |
|
Introduction to Anglophone Cultures and Societies |
Approaching Cultural Studies |
|
Introduction to the Study of Language 2 |
Introduction to the Study of Language 2 |
|
History of English |
History of English |
|
Literature Survey 1 |
Literature Survey 1 |
|
Literature Survey 2 |
Literature Survey 2 |
|
Culture, Society and the Media |
Culture, Society and the Media |
|
Introduction to Cultural Theories |
Introduction to Cultural Theories |
Possible recognition (BEd UF Englisch before 2026)
|
Course completed in the BEd UF Englisch |
Course in the EC The World of English I |
|---|---|
|
BEd STEOP + Language in a Social Context |
Approaching English Linguistics |
|
BEd STEOP + History of Literatures in English |
Approaching Literatures in English |
|
BEd STEOP + Cultural Theories and Popular Culture |
Approaching Cultural Studies |
Possible recognition (BEd UF Englisch after 2026)
|
Course completed in the BEd UF Englisch |
Course in the EC The World of English I |
|---|---|
|
BEd STEOP + Linguistic Structures and their Functions |
Approaching English Linguistics |
|
BEd STEOP + Anglophone Literatures and Cultures: Histories and Concepts |
Approaching Literatures in English |
|
BEd STEOP + Critical Media Analysis for English Teachers |
Approaching Cultural Studies |
Do you want to apply for a recognition of courses you have completed previously?