English

Bachelor of Arts

(Faculty of Arts)

English is a broad and integrated field where reading and writing intersect, and issues in critical thinking come into play. As a student in our department you'll study texts and their contexts, and learn to read, think and write critically as they explore the world from a perspective that is exciting, inclusive, varied and fluctuating. You will unravel how English literature has evolved through time, examine historical contexts that shape contemporary literary, social, cultural and ethical dilemmas, and learn the techniques and terminology for investigating texts closely.

As a student in our Bachelor of Arts (BA) program, you’ll study literature from specific historical periods (e.g., from Modern and Restoration literature to the very beginning of written English), international literature, specific genres (e.g. sci-fi and detective fiction), and literature focusing on current and important social themes (e.g. gender and race).

If you’ve always enjoyed writing your own poetry, fiction and plays, you should consider concentrating in Creative Writing. You’ll develop skills in fiction, poetry and playwriting. The program offers opportunities for personal growth, creativity, and intellectual challenge through broad and intensive reading, through writing, and through discussion with both professors and fellow students. You'll have the opportunity to work closely on developing your portfolio with the U of C’s own published instructors including Aritha van Herk, Nicole Markotic, Suzette Mayr, Christian Bök, and Tom Wayman.

Would you like to pursue graduate studies in English? An Honours degree in English prepares students for the rigors of graduate studies. Discover your passions in the field of English as you complete an Honours thesis/research project in your final year, which is supervised by a department member. Students may also continue their studies in creative writing at the graduate level.

Co-op is also available for English students. Find out more.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission applicants are required to present appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.

Application/Document Deadlines

What will I study in my first year?

Tell me a story
Should you pursue an English degree you'll read and experience a wide variety of texts. Literary works from around the world and over the course of history, as well as theoretical and philosophical approaches to reading, are explored as you progress through the English program.

The three Rs
Reading, writing and reflection will constitute a large part of your time as an English student. You will engage with new ideas and possibilities, and be challenged creatively and intellectually, as you come across different cultural contexts and perspectives. This is a program for individuals who cannot be satisfied by textbook learning: it demands, develops and rewards intellectual curiosity, articulate speech and writing, self-discipline, flexibility, creativity, thoughtfulness, and a healthy skepticism.

Life’s lessons
The English program does not prepare students for a specific job, but equips students with the critical thinking and communication skills required to succeed in a competitive job market. The program teaches flexibility, develops creativity, and builds confidence so students can meet the challenges of a rapidly changing work environment.

What will I study in my first year?

All first-year English students take English 240, Literature in English from the Middle Ages to the Present. This course allows students to study and critically analyze a variety of literature in many forms (poetry, prose, plays, and more). Authors and texts studied in the past have included Chaucer, Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, Ezra Pound and E.M. Forester.

You are encouraged to explore a variety of option courses in your first year that will compliment your studies in English. Many English students take courses in second languages, and are encouraged to take courses from the faculties of Communication and Culture, Fine Arts, Science or Social Sciences. For example, some students take History courses in order to gain a better understanding of the historical context of the literature they are reading. You could also take a Computer Science course to gain computer skills that employers love seeing on student’s résumés

What will I study in later years?

Upper-year English students enjoy studying a variety of historical literary periods. All students are required to take a 400-level course that surveys a literary period prior to 1800, such as Old English Literature or Restoration and 18th Century Literature. Outside of this requirement, students can study from a variety of periods, such as Romantic Literature, American or British Literature from the 1900s, Canadian Literature, International Literature and more. All English majors also complete core courses in poetry and literary theory.

What can I do with this degree?

The great thing about studying a field in Humanities is that you’ll graduate with a number of marketable skills including:

• Advanced reading comprehension
• Articulate / creative / persuasive / concise writing
• Command of grammar and vocabular
• Concentration and critical thinking
• Editing and revising
• Interdisciplinary methodology
• Working under deadlines and pressure

Graduates from the English program have a number of career options available to them in a variety of industries. Here is what some U of C grads have done with their English degree:

• Advertising Copywriter
• Book Critic
• Columnist
• Corporate Communications Specialist
• Foreign Correspondent
• Freelance Writer / Consultant
• Humourist
• Legislative Aide
• Magazine / News / Newspaper Editor
• Market Research Analyst
• Media Planner
• Publisher
• Radio / Television Newscaster
• Researcher
• Writer

To see a full list of potential skills, careers and industries available to you, visit the Career Services Career Profiles website (look under English).

Who can I contact for more information?

Department of English