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English

The main aim of a degree in English is to provide students with a broadly based but detailed understanding of the history of English literature and the literatures of Canada, the United States, and other English-speaking countries around the world. Students are encouraged to examine literature in its social, historical, and cultural contexts, and to relate the literary works they read not only to the historical periods in which they were produced, but also to the world in which we live today. In addition to studying the traditional genres of poetry, fiction, drama, and representative writing from the Middles Ages to the present day, English students at KPU have the opportunity to study a wide range of innovative subjects, including classic and contemporary film, world literature, aboriginal and diasporic literature, and literature in translation.

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Student Profile

An English student stands out for being a creative, articulate, and critically-aware global citizen. Culturally sensitive, this individual is much more than just the resident grammarian or Shakespeare expert: he/she possesses broadly-based knowledge of literature, film, language and culture, and exceptional communication skills. Such a student knows how to think critically and to argue convincingly on a wide range of issues, whether the topic comes from literature, history, philosophy, or popular culture. Given this skill set, it is no surprise that many English students end up pursuing fulfilling careers as educators, writers, publishers, lawyers, editors, journalists, reporters, broadcasters, program directors, lobbyists, librarians, or actors.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in English from KPU 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.

Last Updated: 11-Jun-2015

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