The Department provides courses in all major historical and national areas of literature in English. It also offers courses in creative writing and literary theory, along with general interest courses in literature and film, children’s literature, science fiction, and literature and the environment. Courses cover Canadian, American, British, Indigenous, and African and Asian diasporic literatures. The curriculum also covers the full range of historical periods and a wide variety of thematic approaches, such as environmental literatures, new media studies, decolonization and globalization studies.
Undergraduate studies
Besides providing an excellent base for professional development, a degree in English literature can offer you unmatched intellectual challenges.
Undergraduate programs in English
Benefits of an English degree
A degree in English will enable you to:
- Think critically and develop skills in persuasive, argumentative writing
- Hone your research, analysis, and information management skills
- Explore and assess the uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of knowledge
- Present information in creative, innovative, and professional ways
- Study in a collegial and collaborative learning environment with dedicated, friendly faculty members
Programs
English
Reading closely, thinking deeply, and writing well: a degree in English literature can offer you unmatched intellectual challenges and rewards while providing an excellent base for future studies and professional development.
Creative Writing
You will develop practical abilities in at least three creative writing genres (prose fiction, poetry, screen writing, graphic fiction and creative non-fiction), while acquiring a critical understanding of key concepts and a historical awareness of methodologies, techniques and approaches to literary expression.
Professional Writing
If you are considering making writing a career or you would like to include writing expertise on your résumé, then the Minor in Professional Writing is for you. Learn to create concise and impactful writing that will make you an asset in a wide range of workplaces.
Professional Editing
Housed within the Department of English, the professional writing minor provides students with knowledge and skills much in demand by employers in government, business, social service, and community organizations.
Typical degree combinations
English + Creative Writing
A combined degree in English and Creative Writing allows you to delve deeply into literary analysis while honing your own storytelling skills, preparing you for a dynamic career in writing, publishing, and beyond.
English + History
A combined degree in English and History offers a rich exploration of literary works and historical contexts, equipping you with a profound understanding of how narratives shape and are shaped by the past.
English + Philosophy
A combined degree in English and Philosophy fosters critical thinking and analytical skills by examining profound texts and ideas, allowing you to explore the intersections of literature, ethics, and human thought.
Contact us
Department of English
Hamelin Hall, room 338
70 Laurier Avenue E.
Ottawa ON Canada K1N 6N5
Map
Tel.: 613-562-5764
Fax: 613-562-5990
[email protected]
Office hours
Monday to Friday
From 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
From 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(June to August: closed at 4 p.m.)