About Department of Amharic Language and Literature

Established in 2007 under the then name called School of Education and now Institute of Languages Study and Journalism, the department of Amharic Language and Literature started offering Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Teaching Amharic with the minor in either English or Afan Oromo. The aim is to produce skilled educators and researchers in Amharic studies, versatile communicators for media and public relations, and cultural ambassadors preserving Ethiopia’s linguistic heritage. It started the teaching and learning activities with 46 regular students, 48 summer students and four graduate assistant teachers. The department’s progress continued, and in 2015, it was expanded into postgraduate education with Master of Arts and Masters of Education (M.A and MEd) in Teaching Amharic in weekend and summer modalities. Up to the present (2025), the department has graduated 553 undergraduates (207 regular and 346 summer) and 243 postgraduates who contribute significantly to Ethiopia’s education system and linguistic research. The department has five full-time instructors. Four of them are Assistant Professors (PhD holders) who specialized in Applied Linguistics in Teaching Ethiopian Languages, Folklore and Psycholinguistics. One of the instructors is a PhD candidate. By aligning with the concept of universities of applied sciences of which Wollega University is one, the department is revising its curriculum to emphasize practical language teaching and applied researches.