English Bachelor of Arts

Develop your thinking, reading, and writing skills — skills that are highly sought after by employers and applicable in a wide range of fields from marketing and business administration to education, journalism, and research with UFV's Bachelor of Arts in English.

UFV's English program provides you with the ability to articulate complex ideas and research findings and the skills to analyze various texts and interpret iconic written works throughout history.

English major

There are four concentrations on which to focus your English major: Literature, Creative Writing, Drama, and Writing and Rhetoric.

• Literature courses provide grounding in major authors, genres, and periods as well as a broad understanding of socio-cultural processes that shape Indigenous, national, and transnational literatures.

• Creative writing courses integrate literary study with writing workshops in which you discuss your work with your peers and instructors. Learn various creative processes and techniques for poetry, playwriting, and fiction.

• Drama courses enhance your understanding of how language functions in theatre. You explore a range of dramatic genres, consider how dramatic texts document and archive past performance practices, and contextualize the significance of theatre in historical and social movements.

• Writing and rhetoric courses teach you how writing and language are used as tools by examining issues of meaning and usage of the English language. Learn how language serves as a call to action and how language acts — in itself, on the user, and on the community.

In your first and second year, you study and critique a variety of literature from the cultures and time periods that interest you. You can choose to delve into the challenging craft of creative writing, explore the evolution of theatre and drama throughout history, or analyze the structure and usage of the English language.

In your third and fourth year, you sharpen your critical analysis, writing, and research skills. You are able to establish richer relationships with your professors and peers as you participate in classroom discussions and analyze each other's writing.

By the end of the program, you have developed an appreciation and in-depth understanding of the major genres, periods, movements, and authors throughout literary history. You have gained the transferrable skills — such as critical inquiry, evidence evaluation, and the ability to explore different perspectives and develop arguments — that make you qualified and confident to establish yourself in a variety of fields.

View course requirements in the Academic Calendar:

• Literature concentration
• Creative Writing concentration
• Drama concentration
• Writing and Rhetoric concentration

English minor and extended minor

Studying English develops your problem-solving and critical thinking skills by fostering your ability to draw novel connections between ideas. Develop skills that are valued in almost every profession such as writing, reading, and research. These transferrable skills are sought after by many employers in a variety of industries such as business, communications, human resources, and publishing.

In your first and second year, you have a breadth of English topics to choose from such as: British and Aboriginal literature, creative writing and playwriting, poetry, the structure of the English language, and more.

In your third and fourth year, you hone in on topics that are interesting to you and further develop your skills as a writer, researcher, and critical thinker of not just famous pieces but of your classmates' work as well. You learn how to give and receive constructive feedback and to view your work objectively.

With UFV's minor or extended minor in English, learn to effectively write, problem-solve, and think critically.

• View the English extended minor program outline in the Academic Calendar
• View the English minor program outline in the Academic Calendar

Additional opportunities

Take an English Honours course. Honours courses prepare you for graduate studies and show that you are a hard worker who possesses research skills. Boost your competitive edge for graduate school and delve deeper into your own research interests.

Join UFV's creative writing club, CreWri. CreWri isn't just for English or Fine Arts majors; as long as want to develop your creative writing skills and wish to join a group of people who are also writers, you are welcome to sign up. CreWri offers creative writing workshops, readings, and contests throughout the year. Visit CreWri on Facebook to find their latest news and upcoming events.

Get published in UFV's Louden Singletree Literary and Visual Arts Magazine. Created in 2008, the Louden Singletree is a student-based initiative, run each year, which aims to assemble the best literature and visual art from UFV, including submissions from students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

• B.C. high school graduation or equivalent;
• Or completion of a minimum of nine UFV or transferable post-secondary credits with a minimum 2.00 GPA (C average) based on all credits attempted;
• Or a minimum of 19 years of age by the start of the first class;
• Or, for admission into preparatory level programs only, a minimum of 17 years of age and out of high school for at least one year by the start of the semester.

According to Workopolis, writing and communication skills are the top two most sought-after skills in Canadian job postings. This is no surprise: employers can teach hard skills; but what they need are creative, articulate people who can tell the stories that drive a company's success.

In fact, people who are good with words are in demand: job-data firm Payscale highlights 14 types of jobs with income above $60,000 — all the way up to six-figure salaries — for which English majors are unusually likely to be hired. Some of these jobs are in traditional sectors such as editing, writing, and public relations. But the tech world is also hungry for creative talent. Tech firms are on the lookout for content strategists, web producers, and technical writers — all ideal jobs for English majors.

Ultimately, communication and critical thinking skills are relevant in every occupational field. UFV English program graduates have gone on to successful careers in education, publishing, broadcasting, law, politics, public service, business, and the arts in Canada and abroad.