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Department of English Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Home » English BA » Degree Options & Requirements

Degree Options & Requirements

Beyond choosing to study English, you’ve got the option to customize how you study. You can choose the length and depth of specialization within your degree — whether it’s a three-year bachelor’s or more intensive four-year honours bachelor’s program. If you’re weighing two subjects of interest but can’t make a decision, you’re able to declare a major, which would be your primary area of study, as well as a minor, or secondary subject. Or give them equal billing and go for a double major. Whatever path you envision, you’ll have choices to accommodate you along the way.

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The English Curriculum

The Logic:  What to Take and Why? Grounding and Choice

The curriculum and credit requirements are designed to provide solid grounding in skills, approaches, and content at the lower levels, which you then build upon at the upper levels. The type of degree determines the number of credits you must take. At the 2000 level, we specify type of course, by way of categories, but there is choice within the categories. Once the ground is established, then you can focus (3000 level) and specialize (4000 level) according to your interests.

Fundamentals of the Discipline

Two mandatory 3-credit courses:

  • 1001 3.0 Intro to Literary Study
  • 1002 3.0 Intertextualities

Students must earn a final course grade of D or better in 1001 3.0 and a final course grade of C or better in 1002 3.0 in order to continue with English as a Major.

OR

One six-credit course chosen from:

  • AP/EN 1101 6.0 Literature and Law
  • AP/EN 1102 6.0 Literature and Health
  • AP/EN 1103 6.0 Literature and Business

Students must achieve a minimum grade of C (60%) in AP/EN 1101, EN 1102 or EN 1103 to continue with English as a major

Introductions to…

  • Category A - Approaches, Theories & Methods
  • Category B - Genres & Modes
  • Category C - Literatures
    • 6 credits minimum required from this column.
  • Category D - Popular Genres
    • Major/Minor Students may use up to 6 credits from category D.

Focus in…

  • Category A - Approaches & Methods: Theory & Culture
  • Category B - Trans-historical/national: Styles & Movements
  • Category C - Literatures in and Across History

Course selection at this level should be made in light of the advising templates, the 2000-level courses they have taken, and the need to prepare for Specialization at the 4000 level.

Inquiry & Specialization (Honours Only)

  • Category A - Inter- and Multidisciplinary
  • Category B - Trans-National and/or Historical Genre/s
  • Category C - Literatures in and Across History

Restricted to EN Honours students who have completed at least 84 credits. Courses should be selected in light of the advising templates and previous courses taken.

Notes for the degree checklists:

  1. The fillable forms are most compatible with Adobe Reader or other Adobe software (excluding the Adobe Acrobat Chrome extension). The use of other software or browsers may result in an error. Students can access Adobe Acrobat Pro via AppsAnywhere with their PPY account.
  2. If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact the department (lapsengl@yorku.ca).

Important notes for all English programs:

  • For the English course categories and Time Period courses, please refer to the English Courses webpage.
  • Non-Literature courses: Students cannot use uncategorized EN courses toward major/minor requirements. These include, but are not limited to, courses offered in subjects - WRIT (few exceptions noted on the Academic Calendar), PRWR, CWR, and DLLL.

Bachelor's (BA)

Students must pass at least 90 credits, including:

  • 21 General Education credits
  • 30 English (AP/EN) credits, including:
    • 6 credits at the 1000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 2000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 3000 level
  • 18 credits outside of English
  • 21 credits in Free Choice courses (can include additional AP/EN courses)

Checklists:

English BA 90 Credits Degree Pathway

Honours BA

Students must pass at least 120 credits, including:

  • 21 General Education credits
  • 48 English (AP/EN) credits, including:
    • 6 credits at the 1000 level;
    • 18 credits at the 2000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 3000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 4000 level
  • 18 credits outside of English
  • 33 credits in Free Choice courses (can include additional AP/EN courses)

Checklists:

English BA Honours Degree Pathway

Specialized Honours BA

Students must pass at least 120 credits, including:

  • 21 General Education credits
  • 60 English (AP/EN) credits, including:
    • 6 credits at the 1000 level;
    • 18 credits at the 2000 level;
    • 18 credits at the 3000 level;
    • 18 credits at the 4000 level
  • 18 credits outside of English
  • 21 credits in Free Choice courses (can include additional AP/EN courses)

Checklists:

English BA Specialized Honours Degree Pathway

Honours Double Major BA

Students must pass at least 120 credits, including:

  • 21 General Education credits (LA&PS)
  • 48 English (AP/EN) credits, including:
    • 6 credits at the 1000 level;
    • 18 credits at the 2000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 3000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 4000 level
  • 51 credits satisfied by second major and Free Choice courses

Checklists:

English BA Honours Double Major Interdisciplinary Degree Pathway

Honours Major/Minor BA

Students must pass at least 120 credits, including:

  • 21 General Education credits (LA&PS)
  • 48 English (AP/EN) credits, including:
    • 6 credits at the 1000 level;
    • 18 credits at the 2000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 3000 level;
    • 12 credits at the 4000 level
  • 51 credits satisfied by minor and Free Choice courses.

Checklists:

English BA Honours Minor

Honours Minor BA

At least 30 credits in English (AP/EN), including:

  • 6 credits at the 1000 level;
  • 12 credits at the 2000 level;
  • 6 credits at the 3000 level;
  • 6 credits at the 4000 level

Checklists: