Reading in Tamagawa Garden

BA Major and Minor in English

  • Program Length
    4 Years
  • Credential
    Bachelor Degree
  • Options
    Honours, Major, Minor
  • Fully Available at
    Nanaimo
  • Partially Available at
    Cowichan, tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

Want a degree that will help you develop skills that are prized in the job market? Graduates of English Major programs leave university with some of the most employable skills in their tool kits, including critical thinking, research and analysis, teamwork and written communication skills.

Students in VIU’s Bachelor of Arts, English major or minor programs are exposed to a wide range of literary studies, traditions, approaches and theoretical issues with an emphasis on establishing a clear grasp of major concerns in culture and literature.

If you enjoy writing and studying literature, consider choosing an English major or English minor for your BA. VIU’s Bachelor of Arts in English program also offers an Honours option.

Program Overview

The study of literature is the study of culture itself: the stories and myths, values and ideals, struggles and conflicts that shape our understanding of ourselves as individuals and of our relationships in the world. Courses in the English Department are designed to increase students' literary, cultural, and critical awareness, and help them develop the skills necessary to express their ideas effectively both orally and in writing: in addition to literary studies, we offer courses in writing, rhetoric, and public speaking.

The department offers undergraduate course work at three levels: 100 (University Writing, Literature and Culture, and Literature and Criticism), 200 (University Writing II, Literature and Culture II, Literature and Criticism II, Literature and Traditions II, and Book Club), and 300 (Literature and Writing III, Literature and Culture III, Literature and Traditions III, and Word and Image).

There are also some 400-level courses that focus specifically on professional development, whether for the world of work or graduate school. Students may take them while taking 300-level courses.

All 100-level and most 200-level and 300-level English courses require that students write supervised examinations, demonstrating the ability to meet the department’s requirements.

Note: The English Department considers a minimum “C+” (2.33) average in first- and second-year courses to be a reasonable foundation for success in upper-level English courses.

Degree Outcomes

  • enhanced ability to appreciate the aesthetics and pleasures of diverse literary forms
  • recognition of literature as a product and producer of social, cultural, and individual identities
  • advanced analysis and interpretation of primary course material
  • advanced synthesis of relevant scholarly resources
  • ability to integrate critical thinking with secondary resources to produce independent scholarship related to course texts and material in writing and presentations
  • refinement of academic writing skills, including development of a voice and prose style appropriate to the discourse situation
  • understanding of the ethics involved with intellectual property and the practice of scholarship
  • ability to participate in a collaborative learning community

Requirements for a Major

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including courses listed below:

Year 1

Minimum six credits from Degree English Requirements

Note: Students who complete LBST 111 and LBST 112 to satisfy the Degree English Requirements, and attain a minimum grade of "C" in both, will be considered to have met the prerequisites for all second-year ENGL courses.

Note: The English department recommends that English majors take ENGL 125 and 135.

Year 2

Minimum twelve credits of 200-level English courses from the following categories:

Note: Students who have already completed ENGL 200, 201, and/or other additional credits of 200-level English literature can still use these courses to meet the English Major and Minor requirements.
 

1. University Writing II

Courses in this category add to the development of the critical thinking and reading, academic and professional writing and research skills introduced in first year. Clustered around specific topics for each course, readings introduce and engage significant contemporary issues and debates. In-class writing workshops provide an opportunity for discussing and practicing key aspects of good writing.
ENGL 203, ENGL 204, ENGL 208.

2. Literature and Culture II

Courses in this category examine the relationships between literature and its historical, political, and cultural contexts. They may consider questions of literary genre, period, movement, and dominant themes or explore the boundaries of literary convention and approaches to literature speaking either to specialized tastes or to alternative interpretive communities. The study of cultural differences enriches students' understanding of their own and other cultures. Courses emphasize reading, research, and writing. 
ENGL 220, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 230, ENGL 231, ENGL 232 and ENGL 233.

3. Literature and Criticism II

Courses in this category focus on practical applications of reading literature through the lens of critical theory. They explore how different theoretical premises shape our understanding of and writing about literature by introducing students to select contemporary critical theories. Courses may focus on different literary genres, periods, movements, and themes.
ENGL 240.

4. Literature and Traditions II

Courses in this category examine in its historical settings. They may relate current to past practices to understand the present in light of the past and/or to offset the foreignness of the past. They may study literary traditions for their own sake and interest, addressing compelling aspects of tradition. Topics may draw on different literary genres. Courses emphasize reading, research, and writing.
ENGL 273 and ENGL 274.

5. Book Club

This category provides an alternative experience of literature, with some student choice in the selection of readings and a non-genre, period, or theme-based approach. This course is about taking journeys of the mind and daring to be goaded, dismayed, delighted, inspired, and moved. Why do we read? For the love of it.
ENGL 280.

Years 3 and 4

Minimum thirty credits of English courses numbered 300 or above, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (“C”), including:

  • three credits from Literature and Culture III
    • ENGL 325 - (Topics in Environmental Literature)
    • ENGL 326 - (Topics in Globalization and Literature)
    • ENGL 327 - (Topics in World Literature)
    • ENGL 328 - (Gender and Sexuality in Literature)
    • ENGL 329 - (Topics in Children's and Young Adult Literature)
    • ENGL 330 - (Topics in Speculative Narrative)
    • ENGL 331 - (Topics in West Coast Literature)
    • ENGL 332 - (Topics in Indigenous Literatures)
    • ENGL 333 - (Topics in Post-Colonial Literatures)
    • ENGL 334 - (Topics in Canadian Literature)
    • ENGL 335 - (Survey of Canadian Literature)
  • three credits from Literature and Criticism III
  • twelve credits from Literature and Traditions III, as follows:
    • three credits from pre-1700
      • ENGL 300 - (Backgrounds to English Literature)
      • ENGL 340 - (Topics in Medieval Literature)
      • ENGL 342 - (Topics in Renaissance Literature)
      • ENGL 344 - (Topics in Shakespeare)
      • ENGL 346 - (Topics in 17th-Century Literature)
    • three credits from 1700-1900
      • ENGL 348 - (Topics in 18th-Century Literature)
      • ENGL 350 - (Topics in 19th-Century Literature)
    • six credits from any courses in Literature and Traditions III, including ENGL 352 – (Topics in 20th-Century Literature) or the courses listed above.
  • twelve additional credits from any category of English 300- or 400-level courses.

 

Note: The English Department recommends that students planning to take graduate studies complete ENGL 490 - (Capstone Project).

Note: All upper-level courses will meet departmental course outcomes, but section content may vary each year at the discretion of the instructor.  Consult the VIU English Department website for detailed course descriptions each year.

Note: Students who have already completed 300- and 400-level English courses before the degree changes implemented in September 2014 can still use these courses to meet the English Major and Minor requirements.

Requirements for a Minor

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including courses listed below:

Year 1

Minimum six credits from Degree English Requirements 

Note: Students who complete LBST 111 and LBST 112 to satisfy the Degree English Requirements, and attain a minimum grade of "C" in both, will be considered to have met the prerequisites for all second-year ENGL courses.

Year 2

Minimum twelve credits of 200-level English courses from the following categories:

Note: Students who have already completed ENGL 200, 201, and/or other additional credits of 200-level English literature can still use these courses to meet the English Major and Minor requirements.

1. University Writing II

Courses in this category add to the development of the critical thinking and reading, academic and professional writing and research skills introduced in first year. Clustered around specific topics for each course, readings introduce and engage significant contemporary issues and debates. In-class writing workshops provide an opportunity for discussing and practicing key aspects of good writing. 
ENGL 203, ENGL 204, ENGL 208.

2. Literature and Culture II

Courses in this category examine the relationships between literature and its historical, political, and cultural contexts. They may consider questions of literary genre, period, movement, and dominant themes or explore the boundaries of literary convention and approaches to literature speaking either to specialized tastes or to alternative interpretive communities. The study of cultural differences enriches students' understanding of their own and other cultures. Courses emphasize reading, research, and writing. 
ENGL 220, ENGL 221, ENGL 222, ENGL 230, ENGL 231, ENGL 232 and ENGL 233.

3. Literature and Criticism II

Courses in this category focus on practical applications of reading literature through the lens of critical theory. They explore how different theoretical premises shape our understanding of and writing about literature by introducing students to select contemporary critical theories. Courses may focus on different literary genres, periods, movements, and themes. 
ENGL 240.

4. Literature and Traditions II

Courses in this category examine literature in its historical settings. They may relate current to past practices to understand the present in light of the past and/or to offset the foreignness of the past. They may study literary traditions for their own sake and interest, addressing compelling aspects of tradition. Topics may draw on different literary genres. Courses emphasize reading, research, and writing. 
ENGL 273 and ENGL 274.

5. Book Club

This category provides an alternative experience of literature, with some student choice in the selection of readings and a non-genre, period, or theme-based approach. This course is about taking journeys of the mind and daring to be goaded, dismayed, delighted, inspired, and moved. Why do we read? For the love of it. 
ENGL 280.

Years 3 and 4:

Minimum eighteen credits of English courses numbered 300 or above, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 ("C"), including:

  • three credits from Literature and Culture III:
    • ENGL 325 - (Topics in Environmental Literature)
    • ENGL 326 - (Topics in Globalization and Literature)
    • ENGL 327 - (Topics in World Literature)
    • ENGL 328 - (Gender and Sexuality in Literature)
    • ENGL 329 - (Topics in Children's and Young Adult Literature)
    • ENGL 330 - (Topics in Speculative Narrative)
    • ENGL 331 - (Topics in West Coast Literature)
    • ENGL 332 - (Topics in Indigenous Literatures)
    • ENGL 333 - (Topics in Post-Colonial Literatures)
    • ENGL 334 - (Topics in Canadian Literature)
    • ENGL 335 - (Survey of Canadian Literature)
  • three credits from Literature and Criticism III:
  • six credits from Literature and Traditions III
    • ENGL 300 - (Backgrounds to English Literature)
    • ENGL 340 - (Topics in Medieval Literature)
    • ENGL 342 - (Topics in Renaissance Literature)
    • ENGL 344 - (Topics in Shakespeare)
    • ENGL 346 - (Topics in 17th-Century Literature)
    • ENGL 348 - (Topics in 18th-Century Literature)
    • ENGL 350 - (Topics in 19th-Century Literature)
    • ENGL 352 - (Topics in 20th Century Literature)
  • six additional credits from any category of English 300- or 400-level courses.

Note: All upper-level courses will meet departmental course outcomes, but section content may vary each year at the discretion of the instructor. Consult the VIU English Department website for detailed course descriptions each year.

Note: Students who have already completed 300- and 400-level English courses before the degree changes implemented in September 2014 can still use these courses to meet the English Major and Minor requirements.

 

Calendar Description of Courses

For generic descriptions of all English courses, please consult the Online Calendar.

Recommended Electives

Disciplines that complement English are Art History, Creative Writing, Film Studies, History, Liberal Studies, Linguistics, Media Studies, Philosophy, and Studies in Women and Gender. Students should consult with Advisors and the English department on appropriate electives.

English Major or Minor with the Bachelor of Education

For information on admission to the Bachelor of Education program, please contact the Education Advising Office at 250.740.6223.

Domestic Fees | International Fees

Domestic Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year* Amount
Tuition (30 credits x $166.40 per credit) 4,992.00
Student Activity fee (4% of tuition) 199.68
Student Services fee (30 credits x $7.35 per credit) 220.50
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) 220.80
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) 265.00
Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year 1,500.00
Total 7,397.98
Notes

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.


International Fees

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees

When applying to the program, applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee.

When applying to graduate, students will be charged a non-refundable graduation and alumni fee.

Some courses have additional fees to pay for extraordinary class–related expenses.

Fees for One Year* Amount
Tuition (2 semesters x $11996.55 per semester) 23,993.10
Ancillary Fee (2 semesters x $463.40 per semester) 926.80
VIU Students' Union fee (8 months x $27.60 per month) 220.80
Health and Dental Plan fee ($265.00 per year) 265.00
Approximate cost for books and supplies for one year 1,500.00
Total 26,905.70
Notes

The VIUSU Health and Dental Plan fee is assessed for all students enrolled in 6 credits or more per term, or in Trades/Vocational programs of 5 months or longer.  

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

Domestic (Canadian)

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Campus

International

Program Start Date Accepting Applications Campus