BA
Honours Major Major Minor
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English Literature
Program Intro

What can Christians learn from reading works of fiction?

Reading literature—whether Christian or non-Christian works, whether from the past or from the present—provides an important perspective of the world we live in. Redeemer's English Literature program prepares students to find their place and calling in the world by equipping them to read analytically, speak clearly and write persuasively, while finding threads of common grace and redemption in all materials and asking how is God using language and literature to redeem our broken world.

English Literature is a Bachelor of Arts degree. It is offered as an honours major, as a major and as a minor.

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Right from the start, small seminar-style classes provide you with a broad overview of different literary genres. Class discussion is lead by professors who are actively contributing to their field and are excited to share their love of language and literature with students.

First-year courses dig into different ways of reading and ways of writing through close readings of text and by critically analyzing texts through writing. Honing these foundational skills prepares students for future survey courses that dig into a more in-depth study of specific genres, styles and time periods.

English Literature The Core

The Core Curriculum is a set of 10 courses that every student takes. The courses are woven through every major and get you to think deeply and broadly about what you’re studying. Think about it this way…

  • Writers are more persuasive when they understand the dominant philosophical concepts in culture.
  • Speakers can communicate with poignancy when they understand the psyche of their audience.
  • Editors can give a more substantive critique of writing when they are broadly educated.

See how the Core fits into your degree

Defining

Learning
Experiences

In the Classroom

In your classes, you'll be introduced to the literary greats from a variety of genres and eras in courses like The British Novel and The Fiction of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Reflect on the role of language in history, culture and faith through theoretical courses such as Shakespeare and Theory and History of Literary Criticism as you explore the human condition, brokenness and redemption through literature.

Beyond the Classroom

Upper year students can enrol in a Senior Writing Project course where they meet in a workshop format under the supervision of a writing specialist to practice different genres and styles.

Explore the benefits of Experiential Learning
After Redeemer

Alumni of Redeemer’s english literature program are making a positive impact in our society and in our communities.

Heidi Ellens de Vries '05

worked as an assistant city solicitor for the City of Brantford, helping find solutions to and advising on legal issues that affect the city and the public.

Natalie Frisk '07

is the curriculum pastor at The Meeting House where she helps create kids' and youth curricula that's used by churches worldwide. She has recently published a book on raising disciples and making faith matter to kids.

Career
Pathways
English
Find out where a degree in English Literature takes you!
Redeemer’s English Literature Program provides you with the knowledge and relevant skills to set you on the path to a fulfilling career.
Roles open to me
with this degree:
  • Author
  • Communications officer
  • Journalist
  • Managing editor
  • Narrator
  • Online content creator
  • Proofreader
  • Reporter
  • Researcher
  • Writer
With continuing
education I can be:
  • Biographer
  • Critic
  • Curator
  • Lawyer
  • Librarian
  • Professor
  • Public speaking consultant
  • Publicist
  • Speech writer
  • Teacher
Related jobs in other fields:
  • Actor
  • Alumni relations officer
  • Copywriter
  • Fundraiser
  • Human resource specialist
  • Market researcher
  • Public relations officer
  • Social media manager
  • Special events coordinator
Technical skills:
  • Analyzing written material to extract salient points
  • Editing and providing feedback
  • Identifying patterns in written material
  • Knowledge of genres, authors, periods and critical approaches
  • Knowledge of the structure and function of language
Transferable skills:
  • Comprehensive command of grammar and vocabulary
  • Conducting and explaining research results
  • Creative writing
  • Critical observation and decision making
  • Exposure to different cultural environments
  • Influencing and persuading
  • Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding
  • Presenting alternative viewpoints
  • Problem solving
  • Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking
Discover current trends, wages and job in Canada for the English field.
Explore your career ideas. Find out what Redeemer alumni have done with their degree.
Professional Organizations:
Connect with these organizations to learn more about your career.
  • Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English
  • Association of Canadian Publishers
  • Canadian Association of Journalists
  • Canadian Authors Association
  • Canadian Media Producers Association
  • Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF)
  • Editors’ Association of Canada (EAC)
  • The Writers’ Union of Canada
  • The Word Guild
Back to Program
Career
Pathways
English Literature
Redeemer’s English Literature Program provides you with the knowledge and relevant skills to set you on the path to a fulfilling career.
Alumni can go on
to careers as...
  • Book publicists
  • Communications coordinators
  • ESL teachers
  • Journalists
  • Editors
  • Media relations officers
  • Proofreaders
  • Publishers
  • Authors
  • Teachers
Alumni can do further
studies to earn...
  • Bachelor of Education (BEd)
  • MA in English Literature
  • MA in Journalism
  • MFA in Creative Writing
  • MFA in Script and Screenwriting
  • MLIS in Library Science
Want to know more about Redeemer’s English Literature program?
Get in Touch
Contact us using the form below and we’ll get back to you shortly.
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English Literature
Stories
Redeemer’s Wolters Centre and the Andrew Fuller Center have teamed up to organize a two-day conference on J.R.R. Tolkien and his work.
The Oxford Study Programme is an opportunity for Redeemer students to experience academic and spiritual growth in an enriching culture.
English writing students Michelle Wright and Ben Wright channeled their pandemic experiences into a riveting anthology of creative non-fiction.
Despite her time being cut short due to COVID-19, fourth-year student Anna Bailey still experienced tremendous personal, academic and spiritual...
From The Handmaid's Tale to Shakespeare's tragedies, Dr. Ben Faber considers the value of teaching literature.
Redeemer's Dr. Deborah Bowen explores in her public work and research how poetry can uniquely inspire us to care for the environment.
Doug Sikkema ‘06 and Dr. Deborah Bowen spearhead the Ross and Davis Mitchell Prize for Faith and Writing
Student Elise Arsenault and alumnus Brent van Staalduinen take part in the 2016 Short Works Prize

Visit Redeemer

Take that first step and experience Redeemer’s one-of-a-kind community like never before. Visiting campus — whether in-person or online — is the best way to figure out if Redeemer is the right fit for you.

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Related Programs

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History

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