Program Requirements

Students considering a degree program in English are invited to see the department secretaries, who will arrange consultation with departmental advisers about their choice of courses.

Every student should own a good dictionary; e.g., The Concise Oxford Dictionary, The American College Dictionary, Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Gage Canadian Dictionary, The Random House Dictionary of the English Language (College Edition).

Course Prerequisites

The prerequisite for all English courses numbered 200 and above is 3 units of English. This prerequisite is normally satisfied by two of: ENGL 115, 135, 146 and 147; or by 3 units of appropriate transfer credit in English. However, with permission of the department, some students may take 200-level courses in their first year. Second-year students may take courses numbered 300 and above, but will be required to meet the normal standards of senior courses.

Course Exclusions

Courses in Professional Writing may not be counted toward upper-level requirements in Honours, Major, General or Minor Literature Programs in English.

Suggested Electives

The department encourages its students to take elective courses that support their General, Major or Honours Program. In making their choice of electives, students may wish to give special consideration to relevant courses in:

• Anthropology (e.g., ANTH 200)
• Courses in the literature of other languages
• Greek and Roman Studies (e.g., GRS 100, 200)
• History (e.g., HIST 120, 130)
• History in Art (e.g., HA 120, 221)
• Linguistics
• Music (e.g., MUS 120A, 120B)
• Philosophy (e.g., PHIL 100, 238)
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Theatre (e.g., THEA 100)
• Writing

Directed Reading Courses

ENGL 490 and 491 (Directed Reading) are tutorials intended primarily for students in the Honours Program, and must be approved by the Honours Adviser and the Chair of the department.

Variable Content Courses

The English department offers a number of variable content courses, with topics advertised annually (ENGL 353, 360, 362, 372, 385, 388, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 400, 404, 406, 413, 415, 425, 426, 438, 439B, 448, 449, 462, 463, 470, 471, 473). Where content differs, such courses may be taken more than once for credit, to a maximum of 3 units.

Preparation for Graduate School

Major and Honours students planning graduate study are reminded that graduate schools generally require competence in at least one language other than English, and some schools require credits in Old English and/or History of the Language.