Programme:

Albanian Language and Literature (2026/2027)

Study Cycle:	Third Cycle (Doctoral)
Faculty:	Languages, Cultures and Communications

Programme Code:	N-PhDALBALL180C
Academic year:	2023 / 2024
Title:	Doctor of Philology - Field: Albanian Language / Albanian Literature
ECTS:	180 (3 years)
Decision:

The third-cycle (doctoral) program in Albanian Language and Literature is designed to provide students with the specialized knowledge necessary for professions closely related to the fields of linguistics, culture, literature, and education. Furthermore, the program equips students with the advanced skills and competencies required for employment at senior levels within both the public and private sectors.

The graduated students will be able to find jobs in different fields of social and professional life, such as:

Teaching: in language schools, in gymnasiums, in primary and secondary schools, in universities, etc.

Employment: linguists, journalists, lectors in different institutions, translators, interpreters in various different ministries and other governmental bodies, translators/interpreters in various different professional and vocational organizations and institutions, translators/interpreters in the public and private sector, translators/interpreters in international organizations, etc.

Knowledge and understanding

With this program, the candidate acquires general knowledge in many linguistic and literary fields, including both the disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields. This will help them become more creative and professional in resolving the linguistic and literary problems and issues.

Applying knowledge and understanding

The corpus of knowledge for the third cycle students enables them different job opportunities that encompass a large number of different sectors of the social and professional life. The knowledge can be implemented in the educational sector, working as a teacher in secondary schools as well as an assistant in respective faculties and institutes. They can also work as researchers in the field of linguistics and folklore in different Albanological institutes. They can work as journalists in the field of literature and art, editors and lectors, as well as linguistic critics for different electronic or printed media, whereupon they can contribute to the application of literary norms. They can work as translators and interpreters of Albanian language and literature in bilingual municipalities, ministries and other governmental institutions, in courts, professional organizations, in the private and public sector, in international organizations, etc.

Making judgement

The students will be able to compose and assess curricula and syllabi in the field of languages and literature for primary and secondary schools. They will also be able to evaluate and compare different translations in various languages, assess the proofreading of different literary, linguistic and journalistic texts, etc. They will also be able to assess creations in terms of composition and content, by identifying the cultural and artistic features of those creations. They can be appointed in some professional juries connected to literature, folklore, and literature; assess linguistic researches, or decide on the best item in a competition. They can also get involved in research teams, create lists of graded readers based on level of difficulty and age, etc.

Communication skills

The students will be able to hold grammar or literature classes within the framework of the curricula in primary and secondary schools according to the planes and academic programmes for primary and secondary school. They will also be able to hold language and literature courses for foreigners and also translate scientific texts and literary works from their mother tongue to another language and vice versa. They will be able to participate in scientific discussions, seminars, and conferences in order to further develop and strengthen their knowledge and skills in different sub-fields. They will also be able to write reviews for study programs, textbooks, and works of art, poetry and novels. They can also get involved in research teams; create lists of graded readers based on level of difficulty and age, as well as become spokespeople of political parties or any other public or private institution and/or organization.

Learning skills

The acquired skills will help students represent themselves as future leaders and initiate changes in schools and/or other institutions. They may be able to be leaders in certain projects, in the field of literature and linguistics and make changes in various institutions. In order to achieve the best results, they can introduce themselves with new skills and knowledge; train the others by offering them different professional development courses including spelling, proofreading, essay writing, translation, usage of new technologies and methods in teaching, project preparation, thesis writing, etc. They can propose innovations to meet the shortcomings of the relevant institution, such as: opening of different sections of literature and language, opening of the library, the promotion of a literary and linguistic etc. They can propose new methods for learning the Albanian by level, for foreigners. They can also suggest innovations in the schools they are going to work for, such as establishing different sections in terms of Albanian Language and Literature, library, book promotions, etc.

Semester 1

[DLCC0101] [10 ECTS] Research Methodology
The goal of this course is to explain the methodologies and techniques of scientific work, which mostly create many difficulties for students. Practical exercises are designed to help us in the way how we should utilize the library, how to write an essay, research papers and others. Within this course will be included the following topics: defining the topic, bibliography, citation rules, scientific codes, organizing work.
[DLCC0102] [10 ECTS] Core Issues in Teaching Language and Literature
Course objectives: 1. Development of theoretical knowledge on concepts, principles, and contemporary approaches in the teaching of language and literature. 2. Enabling students to critically analyse existing practices and methods in the language and literature teaching process. 3. Acquisition of effective didactic methods suitable for teaching linguistic and literary content at various educational levels. 4. Development of skills for lesson planning, lesson design, and selection of teaching materials according to students' needs. 5. Encouraging competencies for professional reflection to continuously improve one’s personal teaching approach. 6. Training in the integration of technology and modern tools in the language and literature teaching process.
[DLCC0103] [10 ECTS] Doctoral Dissertation Writing
This course is designed to enable students to carry out independent scientific research or writing a doctoral thesis. The course is intended to give to students the necessary knowledge, ability and confidence to successfully approach their research work. The course is therefore more collaborative than a strict lecture-based course; students are expected to discuss actively in the class.

Semester 2

[C2607] [10 ECTS] Doctoral Project Proposal
This activity involves the preparation of an independent research project under supervision, which forms the basis of the doctoral dissertation. The student begins the process of developing the dissertation research plan by systematically elaborating its key components. The activities include identifying and reviewing relevant literature, defining the theoretical framework and research hypotheses, selecting and specifying the research methodology, and developing an individual research plan. The process is completed with a first public presentation of the research project.
[10 ECTS] Elective course
- [EDALL0105] Albanian Language Grammar Studies
  Course Albanian language grammar studies, is extensive and expanded and covers on the concept of language, including: Phonetics, Lexicology, Syntax, Morphology. The basic concept of this matter, studies for the doctoral degree is something more specific, because covers topics that are more pressing, when speaking for grammar not only as a concept, but also as a science where are conceptualised principles of a language in its standard dialect. The aim of this matter is to obtain doctoral students, generally with standardized comparative cultural values.
- [EDALL0106] Albanian Literary Studies - Prose
  This course treats the contemporary Albanian literature with a qualitative overturn and literary production at current times. The cult of the beauty in arts and the beginning of a new era as well as the culmination of artistic literary values. The determination and nomination of stylistic concepts is also examined.
- [EDLCC0103] Sociolinguistics and Language Education
  This course aims to familiarise the student with the basic concepts and topics of Sociolinguistics: varieties of language, linguistic variation and change, speaker variables, social network and speech community, discourse analysis and the ethnography of communication as well as language and gender. It focuses on variation in linguistic systems and on the role of speakers in implementing and diffusing linguistic change. The implications of these ideas for such fields as language and education are discussed. The following applications of sociolinguistics will be considered: language policy and planning; the inter-relationships between language and society; language contact; current research, debates and ideas from different traditions within Sociolinguistics.
- [EDALL0108] Literary Criticism
  Introduction to the basics of studies in literature. How to read, understand and learn the modern Albanian literary criticism. The relationship between literature, history and politics as well as critical thinking as an important “Critical theory” is introduced through this course.
- [EDALL0109] Literary Theory
  This module aims to cover a significant range of critical and theoretical approaches to literary and film studies including work on authorship, texts and reading, ideology and power, gender, sexuality, race, place and postcolonialism. The course will follow the shift in theoretical discourse from liberal humanist perspectives in the early part of the twentieth-century to various forms of post-structuralism and postmodernism. Theories under discussion will include deconstruction, varieties of feminism, theories of ‘the other’ and postcolonial discourse, the death of the author and reader reception theories. The module encourages students to recognise dialogue and dissent within the field, and introduces the ground rules for scholarship in the discipline of literary studies.
- [EDALL0110] Folklore
  This material contains quite a rich and concentrated content of the Albanian and Balkan folklore, through which the high values of the spiritual culture, inherited from our national and regional geniuses, are emphasized. These values prove the beauty and geniality of the power of creative poetry of our anonymous creators who were able to present in a very clear and fluent way the rich history of our nation, as well as of the Balkan region.
- [EDLCC0101] Multiculturalism
  The purpose of this course will be multilingualism in multicultural societies as a social phenomenon. This phenomenon is massive in the world. During the lectures more precise terms will be considered such as: monoculturalism and multiculturalism. The term ‘linguistic nationalism,’ has at least two forms of this nationalism, which collide with each other: for the leaders of the most powerful countries nationalism means expansion, and for minorities it takes the form of defiance and struggle for the affirmation of identity, despite such pressure. The emphasis during the program will be multiculturalism in education. In schools curricula consists of contents from different cultures.
- [EDLCC0102] International Communication
  The course is focused on the development of those communication skills that are essential for effective functioning in the professional world. Students will study the process for analysis of different communication situations, and will accordingly comprehend them. Among the themes that will be covered are communication in organization, interpersonal and group communication, oral presentations, interviews for employment, professional business letters and interpersonal skills including group dynamics and team work.
[10 ECTS] Elective course
- [EDALL0105] Albanian Language Grammar Studies
  Course Albanian language grammar studies, is extensive and expanded and covers on the concept of language, including: Phonetics, Lexicology, Syntax, Morphology. The basic concept of this matter, studies for the doctoral degree is something more specific, because covers topics that are more pressing, when speaking for grammar not only as a concept, but also as a science where are conceptualised principles of a language in its standard dialect. The aim of this matter is to obtain doctoral students, generally with standardized comparative cultural values.
- [EDALL0106] Albanian Literary Studies - Prose
  This course treats the contemporary Albanian literature with a qualitative overturn and literary production at current times. The cult of the beauty in arts and the beginning of a new era as well as the culmination of artistic literary values. The determination and nomination of stylistic concepts is also examined.
- [EDLCC0103] Sociolinguistics and Language Education
  This course aims to familiarise the student with the basic concepts and topics of Sociolinguistics: varieties of language, linguistic variation and change, speaker variables, social network and speech community, discourse analysis and the ethnography of communication as well as language and gender. It focuses on variation in linguistic systems and on the role of speakers in implementing and diffusing linguistic change. The implications of these ideas for such fields as language and education are discussed. The following applications of sociolinguistics will be considered: language policy and planning; the inter-relationships between language and society; language contact; current research, debates and ideas from different traditions within Sociolinguistics.
- [EDALL0108] Literary Criticism
  Introduction to the basics of studies in literature. How to read, understand and learn the modern Albanian literary criticism. The relationship between literature, history and politics as well as critical thinking as an important “Critical theory” is introduced through this course.
- [EDALL0109] Literary Theory
  This module aims to cover a significant range of critical and theoretical approaches to literary and film studies including work on authorship, texts and reading, ideology and power, gender, sexuality, race, place and postcolonialism. The course will follow the shift in theoretical discourse from liberal humanist perspectives in the early part of the twentieth-century to various forms of post-structuralism and postmodernism. Theories under discussion will include deconstruction, varieties of feminism, theories of ‘the other’ and postcolonial discourse, the death of the author and reader reception theories. The module encourages students to recognise dialogue and dissent within the field, and introduces the ground rules for scholarship in the discipline of literary studies.
- [EDALL0110] Folklore
  This material contains quite a rich and concentrated content of the Albanian and Balkan folklore, through which the high values of the spiritual culture, inherited from our national and regional geniuses, are emphasized. These values prove the beauty and geniality of the power of creative poetry of our anonymous creators who were able to present in a very clear and fluent way the rich history of our nation, as well as of the Balkan region.
- [EDLCC0101] Multiculturalism
  The purpose of this course will be multilingualism in multicultural societies as a social phenomenon. This phenomenon is massive in the world. During the lectures more precise terms will be considered such as: monoculturalism and multiculturalism. The term ‘linguistic nationalism,’ has at least two forms of this nationalism, which collide with each other: for the leaders of the most powerful countries nationalism means expansion, and for minorities it takes the form of defiance and struggle for the affirmation of identity, despite such pressure. The emphasis during the program will be multiculturalism in education. In schools curricula consists of contents from different cultures.
- [EDLCC0102] International Communication
  The course is focused on the development of those communication skills that are essential for effective functioning in the professional world. Students will study the process for analysis of different communication situations, and will accordingly comprehend them. Among the themes that will be covered are communication in organization, interpersonal and group communication, oral presentations, interviews for employment, professional business letters and interpersonal skills including group dynamics and team work.

Semester 3

[C2662] [30 ECTS] Scientific Research Work
In the second year the candidate continues with research activity by approved individual plan. The mentor provides assessment on these activities in the form of a report to the Scientific-Teaching Council of the Faculty.

Semester 4

[C2663] [20 ECTS] Publications I
Publication of research activities under the table relevant to the media for publication. Publication activities and successes of the candidate checked before scientific audience by area and the relevance of the research.
[C2664] [10 ECTS] Student Mobility
During the fourth semester the student is obliged to visit and contribute to a relevant institution abroad for a period of at least one week. The aim of PhD students’ mobility is to request candidates to present, exchange and discuss their research work with their colleagues from other countries for improving the quality of their dissertation. For the realization of mobility, the student brings evidence to the mentor.

Semester 5

[DLCC0105] [20 ECTS] Presentation of Research Results
At the end of the 5th semester, after the research activities under the individual plan, overall results of this phase of the paper and the research will be presented publicly by the candidate.
[PHD-S5-01] [10 ECTS] Publications II
Publication of research activities under the table relevant to the media for publication. Publication activities and successes of the candidate checked before scientific audience by area and the relevance of the research.

Semester 6

[ALL-PhD-THESIS] [30 ECTS] Doctoral Dissertation
The Doctoral Dissertation is a core academic requirement involving original scientific research within a specific field of study. This process includes identifying a significant research problem, developing a robust methodology, collecting and analysing data, and interpreting results in a systematic and scientific manner. The objective is for the candidate to demonstrate the capacity for independent research and the generation of original knowledge or innovative approaches. The dissertation fosters skills in critical synthesis, advanced research methodologies, and the adherence to academic integrity. Furthermore, it prepares the student for professional contributions and active engagement within the international scientific community. Upon completion under a mentor’s guidance, the dissertation is submitted to the Teaching-Scientific Council of the relevant faculty. Following review and approval, the work is delivered to the examining committee to initiate the public defence procedure".