English

The Department of English Language and Literatures offers programs of study that lead to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Arts. The Department offers honours and major programs in English with emphasis in literature, language or language and literature. The Department also collaborates with Canadian Studies, Children's Literature, Linguistics, Medieval Studies, Religion, Literature and the Arts, Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, and Science and Technology Studies.

Students considering a career in teaching English at the secondary school level should visit the Faculty of Education for prerequisites. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate English.

Major in English

Admission

Students may declare a Literature emphasis, a Language emphasis, or a Language and Literature emphasis. Students should consult the English Department website or speak with an advisor for more information about these options.

Major in English: Literature Emphasis

Lower-Level Requirements 

12 credits comprised of:

  • 6 credits of 100-level English; OR Arts One; OR 6 credits of ASTU_V 100; OR 3 credits of ASTU_V 100 or 101 and 3 credits of 100-level English; OR WRDS_V 150 or 350 and 3 credits of 100-level English
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 200
  • 3 credits selected from ENGL_V 220-249

Upper-Level Requirements

Literature Course Groups:

Group A. Medieval and Renaissance Literatures: ENGL_V 343 to ENGL_V 350
Group B. 18th- and 19th-Century Literatures: ENGL_V 351 to ENGL_V 364
Group C. Modern, Contemporary, Transnational, and Indigenous Literatures: ENGL_V 365 to ENGL_V 379
Group D. Media, Theory, Genre, and Special Topic: ENGL_V 332 to ENGL_V 339; ENGL_V 380 to ENGL_V 397

30 upper-level credits comprised of:

  • 12 credits comprising 3 credits selected from each of Group A, B, C, and D above
  • 3 additional credits from either Group A or Group B
  • 3 additional credits from either Group C or Group D
  • 3 credits of Canadian Literature selected from ENGL_V 2221, 360, 371, 372, 373, 394; or any other pre-approved course in which there is a large selection of Canadian Literature; please see a Majors Advisor
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 490
  • 6 additional credits of upper-level ENGL_V

1Note: ENGL_V 222 may be used to satisfy the Canadian Literature requirement, but does not count towards the required 30 credits of upper-level ENGL_V; please see a Majors Advisor.

For detailed information and descriptions on the courses offered by the Department of English Language and Literatures, please consult the department website.

Major in English: Language Emphasis

Lower-Level Requirements

12 credits comprised of:

  • ENGL_V 140 / LING_V 140 and 3 credits of 100-level English (this option is recommended); or 6 credits of 100-level English; or Arts One; or 6 credits of ASTU_V 100; or 3 credits of ASTU_V 100 or 101 and 3 credits of 100-level English; or WRDS_V 150 or 350 and 3 credits of 100-level English
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 229
  • 3 additional credits selected from ENGL_V 200-249

Upper-Level Requirements

Language Course Groups:

Group A: Structure of English (ENGL_V 330, 331, 321, 3261, 4891)
Group B: History of English (ENGL_V 318, 319, 3261, 342, 343, 344, 346, 4891)
Group C: Approaches to contemporary English (323, 324, 3261, 328, 4891)
Group D: Discourse and meaning (ENGL_V 312, 322, 3261, 327, 4891)
Group E: Rhetoric (ENGL_V 307-311, 4891)

1Note: topics in ENGL_V 326 and ENGL_V 489 vary. In any year, each course will be classed into a Group depending on the topic covered in that specific year; please see a Majors Advisor.

30 upper-level credits comprised of:

  • 12 credits of ENGL _V 318, 319, 330, 331;
  • 9 credits comprising one course from each of three of five Language Course Groups (A-E) above
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 489
  • 6 credits selected from:
    • Upper-level ENGL_V courses (excluding ENGL_V 301)
    • Selected relevant courses outside of the Department (e.g. Linguistics, Anthropology, Language and Literacy Education, Philosophy, Psychology): Approval of an English Department advisor required in advance of taking the course.**Upper-level ENGL courses (excluding ENGL_V 301) 

For detailed information and descriptions on the courses offered by the Department of English Language and Literatures, please consult the department website.

Major in English: Language and Literature Emphasis

Lower-Level Requirements

12 credits comprised of:

  • ENGL_V 140 / LING_V 140 and 3 credits of 100-level English (this option is recommended); or 6 credits of 100-level English; or Arts One; or 6 credits of ASTU_V 100; or 3 credits of ASTU_V 100 or 101 and 3 credits of 100-level English; or WRDS_V 150 or 350 and 3 credits of 100-level English 140 and 3 credits of 100-level English
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 200
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 229 

Upper-Level Requirements

Language Course Groups:

 Group A: Structure of English (ENGL_V 330, 331, 321, 3261, 4891)
Group B: History of English (ENGL_V 318, 319, 3261, 342, 343, 344, 346, 4891)
Group C: Approaches to contemporary English (323, 324, 3261, 328, 4891)
Group D: Discourse and meaning (ENGL_V 312, 322, 3261, 327, 4891)
Group E: Rhetoric (ENGL_V 307-311, 4891)

Literature Course Groups:

Group A. Medieval and Renaissance Literatures: ENGL_V 343 to ENGL_V 350
Group B. 18th- and 19th-Century Literatures: ENGL_V 351 to ENGL_V 364
Group C. Modern, Contemporary, Transnational, and Indigenous Literatures: ENGL_V 365 to ENGL_V 379
Group D. Media, Theory, Genre, and Special Topic: ENGL_V 332 to ENGL_V 339; ENGL_V 380 to ENGL_V 397 

30 upper-level credits comprised of:

  • 15 credits in Language:
    • 3 credits of either ENGL_V 330 or ENGL_V 331
    • 9 credits comprising one course from each of three of five Language Course Groups (A-E) above
    • 3 additional credits from Language Course Groups A-E
       
  • 12 credits in Literature
    • 3 credits selected from ENGL_V 343-364 (Literature Groups A or B) above
    • 3 credits selected from ENGL_V 365-379 (Literature Group C)
    • 6 additional credits selected from courses in Literature Groups A-D. A course in Canadian Literature is recommended.
       
  • 3 credits of majors Seminars:
    • either ENGL_V 489 (Language) or ENGL_V 490 (Literature) 

Honours in English

Students may be admitted to either a Literature emphasis or a Language and Literature emphasis.

Students may enter the Honours program in either their second or third year of study. Admission into either emphasis in second year requires an average of at least 76% in 3 credits of First-Year English literature and 3 credits of First-Year writing or in UBC's Arts One program. Admission into the Literature emphasis in third-year requires an average of at least 76% in ENGL_V 210 OR in ENGL_V 200 plus 3 credits from ENGL_V 220-249. Admission into the Language and Literature emphasis in third-year requires an average of at least 76% in either ENGL_V 210 or ENGL_V 200 and at least 76% in ENGL_V 229.

Honours in English: Literature Emphasis

Upper-Level Requirements

Literature Course Groups:

Group A. Medieval and Renaissance Literatures: ENGL_V 343 to ENGL_V 350
Group B. 18th- and 19th-Century Literatures: ENGL_V 351 to ENGL_V 364
Group C. Modern, Contemporary, Transnational, and Indigenous Literatures: ENGL_V 365 to ENGL_V 379
Group D. Media, Theory, Genre, and Special Topic: ENGL_V 332 to ENGL_V 339; ENGL_V 380 to ENGL_V 397

Language Course Groups:

Group A: Structure of English (ENGL_V 330, 331, 321, 3261, 4891)
Group B: History of English (ENGL_V 318, 319, 3261, 342, 343, 344, 346, 4891)
Group C: Approaches to contemporary English (323, 324, 3261, 328, 4891)
Group D: Discourse and meaning (ENGL_V 312, 322, 3261, 327, 4891)
Group E: Rhetoric (ENGL_V 307-311, 4891)

48 credits comprised of:

  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 300: Introduction to Critical Theory
  • 24 credits comprising 6 credits selected from each of Group A, B, C, and D above
  • 3 credits of Canadian Literature1 selected from ENGL_V 360, 371, 372, 373, 394 (selected course may also account toward Group B, C, or D as required)
  • 12 credits of ENGL_V 491: Honours Seminar
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 499: Honours Essay
  • 6 credits of additional ENGL_V courses numbered 304 and above. A Language course is recommended (see Language Course Groups A-E, above).

1 ENGL_V 222 is also applicable toward the Canadian Literature requirement. However, if this is the only Canadian Literature course completed, students must compete an additional three credits of ENGL_V courses numbered 304 and above in order to complete no less than 48 credits at the upper-level. Students intending to complete only ENGL_V 222 as their Canadian Literature requirement must see the Department of English Language and Literatures for advising.

Honours in English: Language and Literature Emphasis 

Upper-Level Requirements

Language Course Groups:

Group A: Structure of English (ENGL_V 330, 331, 321, 3261, 4891)
Group B: History of English (ENGL_V 318, 319, 3261, 342, 343, 344, 346, 4891)
Group C: Approaches to contemporary English (323, 324, 3261, 328, 4891)
Group D: Discourse and meaning (ENGL_V 312, 322, 3261, 327, 4891)
Group E: Rhetoric (ENGL_V 307-311, 4891)

Literature Course Groups:

Group A. Medieval and Renaissance Literatures: ENGL_V 343 to ENGL_V 350
Group B. 18th- and 19th-Century Literatures: ENGL_V 351 to ENGL_V 364
Group C. Modern, Contemporary, Transnational, and Indigenous Literatures: ENGL_V 365 to ENGL_V 379
Group D. Media, Theory, Genre, and Special Topic: ENGL_V 332 to ENGL_V 339; ENGL_V 380 to ENGL_V 397 

48 credits in ENGL_V courses numbered 304 or higher, comprising:

  • 3 credits of ENGL _V 300: Introduction to Critical Theory
  • 12 credits of literature comprising 3 credits selected from each of Literature Groups A, B, C, D (above)
  • 12 credits of language comprising:
    • 3 credits of ENGL_V 330 OR ENGL_V 331
    • Remaining 9 credits: 3 credits from three out of five Language Groups A, B, C, D, E (above)
  • 12 credits of seminars, of which:
    • 3 credits must be ENGL_V 489 and/or graduate seminar on language (with permission), and;
    • 3 credits must be ENGL_V 491: Honours Seminar, and;
    • 6 more credits from either 489 or 491
  • 3 credits of ENGL_V 499, Honours Essay
  • 6 credits of additional ENGL_V courses numbered 304 or higher

Note: topics in ENGL_V 326 and ENGL_V 489 vary. In any year, each course will be classed into a Group depending on the topic covered in that specific year; please see an Honours Advisor. 

Minor in English

Students may declare Literature, Language, or Teacher Education Preparation.

Minor in English: Literature Emphasis

Lower-Level Requirements

12 credits comprised of:

  • 6 credits of 100-level English; OR ARTS_V 001; OR 6 credits of ASTU_V 100; OR 3 credits of ASTU_V 100 or 101 and 3 credits of 100-level English; OR WRDS_V 150 or 350 and 3 credits of 100-level English; and,
  • 6 credits selected from ENGL_V 200-249; ENGL_V 200 is recommended. 

Upper-Level Requirements

18 upper-level credits comprised of:

  • 6 credits selected from Literature Course Groups A and/or B (see above for the list); and,
  • 12 additional credits selected from Literature Course Groups A through D.

Minor in English: Language Emphasis

Lower-Level Requirements

12 credits comprised of:

  • ENGL_V 140 / LING_V 140 and 3 credits of 100-level English (this option is recommended); or 6 credits of 100-level English; or Arts One; or 6 credits of ASTU _V 100; or 3 credits of ASTU_V 100 or 101 and 3 credits of 100-level English; or WRDS_V 150 or 350 and 3 credits of 100-level English
  • 6 credits selected from ENGL_V 200-249; ENGL_V 229 is recommended.

Upper-Level Requirements

18 upper-level credits comprised of:

  • 6 credits of ENGL_V 330 and ENGL_V 331
  • 9 credits comprising one course from each of three of five Language Course Groups (A-E) (see above for the list)
  • 3 additional credits from Language Course Groups A-E
     

Minor in English: Teacher Education Preparation

The Minor in English: Teacher Education Preparation combines courses in Literature and Language. Students who complete this Minor will have the English course requirements needed to apply to the UBC Teacher Education Program (Secondary) with a specialization in English.

Lower-Level Requirements

6 credits comprised of 100- or 200-level English:

  • 6 credits of 100-level or 200-level English; OR ARTS_V 001; OR 6 credits of ASTU_V 100; OR 3 credits of ASTU_V 100 or 101 and 3 credits of 100-level or 200-level English; OR WRDS_V 150 or 350 and 3 credits of 100-level or 200-level English. 3 credits of 200-level English recommended. 

Upper-Level Requirements

24 upper-level credits comprised of:

  • 6 credits selected from Literature Course Groups A and/or B (see above for the list);
  • 6 credits selected from Literature groups C and D; ENGL_V 372 and 373 are strongly recommended
  • 3 credits from Language Course Groups A-E (see above for list), ENGL_V 321 recommended.
  • 9 additional credits selected from ENGL_V 301-398. 3 additional credits from Language Course Groups A-E recommended.

Courses outside the English Language and Literatures Department may not be counted towards the Minor.

UBC Academic Calendar

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