DESCRIPTION
The Bachelor of Arts in English focuses on the diverse literatures of the English-speaking world, ranging from British literature from the medieval period to the present day to the literatures of Canada, the United States, Australia, Africa, and beyond. The degree will allow students to develop the knowledge, core competencies, and skills characteristic of a traditional BA program, while preparing them to respond critically and creatively to a wide range of issues and challenges in our community and in society in general. In addition to the critical reading, writing and thinking skills they will develop studying English at Kwantlen, students who complete a BA with a Major in English will be prepared for entry into the labour market through the incorporation of essential employability skills into all of our courses. They will also benefit from the expertise and the commitment to teaching excellence of our faculty, as well as from the small class sizes that characterize undergraduate study at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Arts degrees have high levels of student satisfaction, and the literacy and analytical skills developed in such programs will prepare students to become constructive members of society and to fit well into the workplace.
CAREER
Graduates with a BA in English from Kwantlen Polytechnic University will have acquired a combination of discipline-based knowledge, core competencies and transferable skills that are not confined to a single career path but rather will allow them to pursue a wide range of personal and professional goals, ranging from education, journalism and advertising to social work, creative writing and communications. In addition, they will be well prepared for post-graduate studies in English, Law, Library Science, Human Resources, and Public Relations, to name only a few of the fields that graduates of English programs have traditionally entered. In fact, employers often rank graduates of English Studies programs as among their most versatile and adaptable employees.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Students may be admitted into the BA program at any time that admission requirements are met and will receive priority registration. For admission into the B.A. English program, students must have a B or higher in English 12 (or equivalent) and a grade of C or higher in either Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12.
Students who do not qualify upon initial application at Kwantlen but possess at least a ‘C’ in English 12 (or higher) and a passing grade in Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent) or Applications of Math 12 will be able to apply for entry into the B.A. Qualifying Year. Students will be admitted to the B.A. program after they have successfully completed appropriate qualifying courses. Applicants are encouraged to meet an advisor for the appropriate qualifying courses that satisfy the application criteria.
For entry in third year students must have completed nine credits of English, including six credits of 1000-level English and a minimum of three credits of 2000-level English. In addition, students must also have completed at least 60 credits of coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.00, as well as a ‘C’ grade in all required courses including the 2 quantitative courses, 12 credits of breadth courses, the language requirement, Principles of Math 11 (or equivalent), and all first and second year course requirements for their declared major and/or minor program(s).
CONTENT
Students in the BA, English, program will begin their first year of study with English 1100, an introductory writing course that is required of all students at Kwantlen, followed by one of two introductory literature courses. In their second year, students will choose from a variety of 2000-level courses designed to provide them with the literary historical knowledge necessary for upper-level study of literature in English. (The specific requirements at this level are outlined below.) In their third year, students undertake in-depth study of specific literary-historical periods or 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 following core requirements are to be completed for all Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs:
- Complete a total of 120 credits with a minimum of 65 credits in Arts courses (Humanities and/or Social Sciences), and 45 credits with courses numbered 3000 or higher.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, with a minimum grade of "C" in all of the following required courses within the degree program (except where stated):
- 6-credit English writing requirement, which includes ENGL 1100 and one of either ENGL 1202 or 1204.
- Minimum 9-credit quantitative requirement that must include a minimum of 3 approved quantitative courses, one of which must be taken from the Faculty of Science and Horticulture.
- 24-credit breadth requirement consisting of a minimum of one course in at least four separate Social Science or Humanities disciplines outside of the major program area, one of which must be at the 3000-level or higher. CMNS 3100, LCOM 1100, and LCOM 4100 may also be credited towards the breadth requirement.
- Second language at the Grade 11 level (Beginner's or Introductory Language 11 courses are ineligible to meet this requirement), or 6-credits of post-secondary language courses (in the same language). Students need only achieve a passing grade to fulfill this requirement. Students who can demonstrate competency in a second language may request an assessment to have this requirement waived.
- Required courses for the major and/or minor program(s).
Students are normally expected to complete at least 60 credits at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for a B.A. Degree; however, they may apply for an exemption to this ruling on an individual basis. If such an exemption is granted, then residence may be limited to no fewer than 30 credits. In any case, at least 50% of the required upper level credits within the subject area must be completed at Kwantlen.
Major in English
All English courses are 3 credits.
1000 Level
The 1000 level of study in English provides a foundation for all Associate of Arts degree and B.A. degree students by providing six to nine credits of critical reading and writing-intensive course work focusing, first, primarily on the essay form, and second, primarily on introductions to fiction, poetry and drama.
All B.A. program students must complete:
- ENGL 1100 - Writing, Reading and Thinking: An Introduction
and one of
- ENGL 1202 - Reading and Writing about Selected Topics
- ENGL 1204 - Reading and Writing about Genre
2000 Level
English courses at the 2000 level are accessible to all students who have completed the six English course credits from above (or their equivalent).
Prospective B.A., Major in English, program students must complete:
Students may also take further second-year courses as electives:
- ENGL 2300 - Advanced Writing and Research Skills
- ENGL 2310 - Classical and Biblical Literature
- ENGL 2315 - The Comic Voice
- ENGL 2319 - The Novel in English: Its Development
- ENGL 2320 - Studies in Poetry
- ENGL 2330 - Studies in Drama
- ENGL 2340 - Studies in Fiction
- ENGL 2400 - Introduction to Cultural Studies
3000 and 4000 Level
English courses at the 3000 and 4000 level are accessible to students who meet the prerequisite(s) for the courses. In order to graduate with a B.A., Major in English however, students must be admitted to the B.A. and meet all of the B.A. degree requirements, including all program requirements for an English Major.
In order to satisfy the requirements of the B.A., Major in English program, students must also complete at least thirty course credits of study in English (with a minimum of three credits at the 4000 level) including
- At least three credits from each group prior to 1900
- At least three credits in each of the five areas after 1900
- ENGL 3300 Critical Theory (satisfies Area 5)
a) At least three credits from each group prior to 1900:
Group A:
- ENGL 3315 - Chaucer: Saints, Sinners, and Sex
- ENGL 3320 - Studies in Shakespeare
- ENGL 3323 - Seventeenth-Century British Literature
- ENGL 3325 - Eighteenth-Century British Literature
Group B:
- ENGL 3301 - Nineteenth-Century Canadian Literature in English
- ENGL 3306 - Literature of the United States: Beginnings to 1865
- ENGL 3328 - Romantic Poetry and Poetics
- ENGL 3332 - Victorian Poetry and Non-Fiction
- ENGL 3336 - The Victorian Novel (To be developed)
b) At least three credits in each of the five areas after 1900:
Area 1:
Area 2:
- ENGL 3301 - Nineteenth-Century Canadian Literature in English
- ENGL 3302 - Canadian Prose in English from 1900
- ENGL 3303 - Canadian Poetry in English from 1880 to the Present
- ENGL 4401 - Topics in Canadian Literature in English
Area 3:
- ENGL 3307 - Literature of the United States: 1865-1910
- ENGL 3308 - Literature of the United States: 1910-1945
- ENGL 3309 - Literature of the United States: 1945 to the Present (To be developed)
- ENGL 4409 - Topics in Literature of the United States
Area 4:
Area 5:
Please Note:
The grade for each English course taken towards a Major in English must be a 'C' or better.
In years 3 and 4, students may take up to 42 credits of senior English courses.
Courses will be offered on a rotating basis (i.e. not all courses will be available in a given year). Kwantlen will ensure, however, that each of the time periods (prior to 1900 and after 1900) is represented every year.
GRADUATION
Upon successful completion of a Major in English, students can qualify to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts - Major in English.