Bachelor of Arts, Major in English
Description
The Bachelor of Arts, Major in English program focuses on the power of stories to create and change the world around us. We are not only interested in exploring the diversity, complexity, depth, and meaning of human experience, but also in understanding the countless ways that artists have found to represent that experience in their works. We are excited by the opportunity to share our interpretations and ideas with others and to make meaning by engaging with writers and works across time, cultures, and disciplines. English Majors use strong written and oral communication skills to respond critically and creatively to a wide range of issues and challenges in our communities and world today. Our faculty’s expertise and commitment to teaching excellence within the small class sizes that characterize undergraduate study at KPU provide a supportive learning environment in which students develop their critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. A KPU English degree will ignite students’ passion for literary and cultural creations, foster a depth of understanding about the contexts that shape stories, and prepare graduates to tackle the challenges of today’s world.
Faculty's website: kpu.ca/arts
Department's website: kpu.ca/arts/english
Admission Requirements
Students pursuing a major in English must be admitted to the Faculty of Arts.
Declaration Requirements
Students intending to graduate with this Faculty of Arts Bachelor’s degree must declare the credential by the time they complete 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. At the time of declaration, the student must satisfy all of the following requirements:
- In good academic standing with the University
- Completion of a minimum of 18 credits of undergraduate coursework, including the following with a minimum grade of “C”:
- 3 credits of ENGL at the 1100 level or higher
- 6 credits at the 1100 level or higher in the Major area
Curricular Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English must complete all requirements in the Bachelor of Arts framework in addition to their major or minor program requirements.
English Major
Students must complete 6 credits of first-year ENGL, including ENGL 1100, as well as 3 credits chosen from one of two introductory literature courses, ENGL 1202 and ENGL 1204. The 1000 level of study in English provides a foundation for all Bachelor of Arts degree students by providing six to nine credits of critical reading and writing-intensive course work. Courses at the 1100 level focus primarily on the essay form; those at the 1200 level focus primarily on introductions to fiction, poetry and drama. Some instructors also teach film in these courses. In their second year, students will choose at least three courses from a variety of 2000-level options designed to provide them with the literary historical knowledge necessary for upper-level study of literature in English. In their third year, students undertake in-depth study in a range of specific literary-historical periods and may concentrate on the development of a specific literary genre, i.e. poetry, fiction, drama or film. Finally, in the fourth year, students examine more sharply focused topics or themes, which are considered from multiple perspectives. (The specific requirements at each level of study are outlined below.)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 Level | ||
| ENGL 1100 | Introduction to University Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 1202 | Reading and Writing About Selected Topics: An Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| or ENGL 1204 | Reading and Writing About Genre: An Introduction to Literature | |
| 2000 Level | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Canadian Literature in English | ||
| Literature of the United States of America | ||
| English Literature: 14th to 18th Centuries | ||
| English Literature: 18th to 20th Centuries | ||
| Select 6 additional credits from courses in ENGL at the 2000 level | 6 | |
| 3000 and 4000 Level | ||
| ENGL 3300 | Critical Theory | 3 |
| or ENGL 3305 | Film Theory | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Studies in Chaucer | ||
| Studies in Shakespeare | ||
| English Renaissance Drama, Excluding Shakespeare | ||
| Seventeenth-Century British Literature | ||
| Eighteenth-Century British Literature | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| 19th-Century Canadian Literature in English | ||
| Literature of the United States: Beginnings to 1865 | ||
| Romantic Poetry and Poetics | ||
| Victorian Poetry and Non-Fiction | ||
| The Victorian Novel, 1837-1900 | ||
| Select 21 additional credits from courses in ENGL at the 3000 or 4000 level, including at least 3 credits from courses at the 4000 level | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
Note:
- The grade for each ENGL course taken towards a Major in English must be a 'C' or better.
- Courses will be offered on a rotating basis (i.e. not all courses will be available in a given year).
Credential Awarded
Upon successful completion of the major program students are eligible to receive a Bachelor of Arts. Transcripts will indicate a Major in English.
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