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Undergraduate Program Requirements
Note: University regulations apply to all students at Laurier. If there is any discrepancy between the program or progression requirements outlined on this page and those in the university's academic calendars, the academic calendars are the official sources of information. The information below is from the latest calendar, and you may be following progression requirements from an earlier calendar. Students are responsible for checking the appropriate calendar. Contact your program coordinator should you notice any discrepancies.
Laurier's Department of English and Film Studies offers many different degrees, options and minors to suit student needs.
Effective Sept. 1, 2023, the structures for the Honours English degree and Combined Honours English degree will change. Honours English Majors will still need to complete 10.0 credits of English and Combined Honours English Majors will need to complete 7.0 credits of English, but we are replacing the old Category requirements (i.e., minimum 1.0 credit in Categories 1-4), in favour of something more streamlined.
Students already in the program have a choice: you may either follow the new, simplified requirements, or you may use the Calendar requirements for the year in which you entered the program (i.e., the requirements as listed on the old worksheets). We hope you will find that the new program structure is straightforward and easy to follow. The new worksheets are posted below so that you can map out your program ccording to the new requirements should you choose to do so.
Undergraduate English Programs
- You need a total of 20.0 credits overall, including a minimum of 10.0 (but no more than 14.0) credits in English.
- No more than 6.0 credits at the 100-level may be used toward the 20.0 credits required for the degree.
- Remember: single-term courses are worth .5 credits each, so two courses = 1.0 credit.
- Your course choices need to cover our four categories (see list below and the Honours BA in English worksheet).
- In order for you to progress through the honours program, you need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 (C) in English and 5.00 (C) overall. In order to graduate, you need a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) in English and 5.00 (C) overall.
Requirements
A minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 14.0 EN credits:
- 1.0 credit 100-level EN
- min. 0.5 credits Theory Courses (EN301 or EN240)
- min. 2.5 credits 300-level EN
- 1.0 credits 400-level EN (no more than 0.5 credit of which can be EN489)
- An additional 5.0 credits 200- or 300-level EN
Notes: Students are encouraged to take EN245: Brit. Lit. Tradition I and EN246: Brit. Lit. Tradition II as part of their program.
Students may choose a maximum of 1.0 credit from senior Film Studies and/or not-designated writing courses (EN206, EN304) toward the 10.0 required EN credits.
Note that these requirements are in effect as of Sept. 1, 2023. Students who have started the program earlier than this date may either use these new (and simpler) requirements, or use the requirements listed in the Academic Calendar for the year they started the program.
Resources
- Want to know more about your choices? See our Program Roadmaps page for suggestions and tips year-by-year.
- Download the Honours BA in English worksheet.
- You need a total of 20.0 credits, including a minimum of 7.00 credits in English.
- No more than 6.0 credits at the 100-level may be used toward the 20.0 credits required for the degree.
- Remember: single-term courses are worth .5 credits each, so two courses = 1.0 credit.
- Your courses choices need to cover our four categories (see list below and the combined Honours BA in English worksheet).
- In order for you to progress through the honours program, you need a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 (C) in English and 5.00 (C) overall. In order to graduate, you need a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 (B-) in English and 5.00 (C) overall.
Requirements
- 1.0 credit in 100-level EN
- min. 2.0 credits of 300-level EN
- 0.5 credits 400-level EN
- 3.5 additional credits from EN courses at the 200- or 300-level
Note that these requirements are in effect as of Sept. 1, 2023. Students who have started the program earlier than this date may either use these new (and simpler) requirements, or use the requirements listed in the Academic Calendar for the year they started the program.
Resources
- Want to know more about your choices? See our Program Roadmaps page for suggestions and tips year-by-year.
- Download the combined Honours BA in English worksheet.
To do a Minor in English, you need 3.0 credits:
- 1.0 credit from first-year courses (your choice of two of EN107, EN108, EN111, EN112, EN119, EN165, EN190).
- 2.0 credits from any 200- and 300-level EN courses.
- Students may include no more than 0.5 credit of the following as part of this minor: EN271, EN272, EN369, EN370, or EN371.
- Students may not declare both an English Minor and a Minor in Writing for Career and Community.
Resources
The English program offers non-English Majors the opportunity to work towards a Minor in Creative Writing. The Minor pursues two main goals: 1) to provide opportunities to think and practice beyond the usual forms of academic writing; and 2) to offer students real-world experience in using their creative, analytical, and editorial skills to develop writing for professional publication.
The requirements for the Minor consist of the following:
- 1.0 credit in 100-level English courses
- EN272: Introduction to Creative Writing (required)
- 1.5 credits from the following list of specialized genre courses:
- EN271: The Creative Process
- EN369: Creative Writing - Nonfiction
- EN370: Creative Writing - Poetry
- EN371: Creative Writing – Short Story
- FS374: Screenwriting and Directing
- EN480: Creative Writing: Advanced Workshop in Genre
- Students completing this Minor must declare themselves to be non-English Majors.
- English Majors may take the Creative Writing Concentration.
- EN369, EN370, and EN371 may not be double counted for both this minor and a minor in Writing for Career and Community.
Please note that not all of these courses are offered every year.
Resources
The English program offers English Majors the opportunity to work towards a Concentration in Creative Writing. The concentration pursues two main goals: 1) to provide opportunities to think and practice beyond the usual forms of academic writing; and 2) to offer students real-world experience in using their creative, analytical, and editorial skills to develop writing for professional publication.
The requirements for the Concentration consist of the following:
- 1.0 credit in 100-level English courses
- EN272: Introduction to Creative Writing (required)
- 1.5 credits from the following list of specialized genre courses:
- EN271: The Creative Process
- EN369: Creative Writing - Nonfiction
- EN370: Creative Writing - Poetry
- EN371: Creative Writing – Short Story
- EN480: Creative Writing: Advanced Workshop in Genre
- FS374: Screenwriting and Directing
Please note that not all of these courses are offered every year.
To do the Writing for Career and Community (WCC) minor, you need to take 3.0 credits in courses designated on the WCC list. Begin with our required EN190: Introduction to Academic Writing course. This will introduce you to the basics of effective writing across different genres, and also places emphasis on practical experience gained through in-class exercises and writing assignments.
After taking this required course, you can choose 2.5 credits from a suite of courses offered across disciplines in the Faculty of Arts, in English as well as in Communication Studies, Political Science, and History. These courses include:
- EN206: Writing for Business (0.5)
- EN240: Critical Reading and Writing (0.5)
- EN303: Advanced Academic Writing (0.5)
- EN369: Creative Writing: Non-Fiction (0.5)
- EN370: Creative Writing: Poetry (0.5)
- EN371: Creative Writing: Short Story (0.5)
- CS206: Public Communication (0.5)
- CS315: Print Communication and Culture (0.5)
- DH/HI200: Digital Storytelling (0.5)
- DH/HI300: Digital Editing and Publishing (0.5)
- PO209: Legal Writing (0.5)
- PO344: Writing for Politics and Policy (0.5)
- PO349: Political Communication (0.5)
Notes
- You may also take up to 1.0 credit from the Brantford campus’ Professional Writing minor, which will count toward the Writing for Career and Community minor.
- Open to students graduating with an honours degree only.
- EN369, EN370, and EN371 may not be double counted for both this minor and a minor in Creative Writing.
Resources
For a Minor in Youth and Children: Texts and Contexts (YCTC), you need to take 3.0 credits from these designated YCCT courses offered across disciplines in the Faculty of Arts, in English as well as in Archaeology, Film Studies, Sociology, Youth and Children, and Women’s Studies:
- 0.5 credit in 100-level English courses (excluding EN190)
- 0.5 credit in YC100: Studying Youth and Children: An Introduction (required)
- 2.0 credits in the following courses (of which at least 1.0 credit must be from EN courses):
- AR332: Children in the Ancient World
- EN201: Children's Literature
- EN213: The Child in African Literature and Popular Culture
- EN285: Tween Literature and Culture
- EN286: Young Adult Literature
- FS260: Youth Culture in Film
- SY303: Sociology of Youth
- SY412: Constructions of Parenthood and Children in Canada
- YC200: Youth and Children Through the Ages
- YC326: Children, Toys and Media
- WS203: Girls, Women and Popular Culture
Resources
Honours English Majors
Laurier students applying to the Vancouver Film School (VFS) must be registered at Laurier in the English program and have completed a minimum of 2.5 credits in English. Laurier students may start the VFS program after completing 10.0 overall credits at Laurier (normally Year 3) and then return to Laurier to complete Year 4 and their remaining degree requirements.
Students in this pathway must complete at least 10.0 credits of English courses, fulfilling specific requirements in consultation with the English Advisor. Students must use this worksheet in tandem with the English Honours worksheet to determine which courses fit each Category requirement.
Honours English and Film Studies Majors
Laurier students applying to the Vancouver Film School (VFS) must be registered at Laurier in the English and Film Studies programs and have completed a minimum of 2.0 credits in English. Laurier students may start the VFS programs after completing 10.0 overall credits at Laurier (normally Year 3) and then return to Laurier to complete Year 4 and their remaining degree requirements.
Students in this pathway must complete at least 7.0 credits in English and 7.0 credits in Film Studies, fulfilling specific requirements in consultation with their English and Film Advisors. The following requirements are for the English portion of the Combined Honours Degree. Students must use this worksheet in tandem with the Combined Honours English worksheet to determine which courses fit each Category requirement.
Resources
Undergraduate Film Studies Programs
The Honours BA in Film Studies consists of 10.0+ credits (of 20.0 credits) as follows:
Note: Single-term courses are worth .5 credits each, so two courses = 1.0 credit.
Required Courses
- 1.0 credit in introductory courses: FS101, FS102, FS103
- 1.0 credit in Film History courses: FS240, FS241
- 1.0 credit in Film Theory courses: FS341, FS342, FS345, FS346, FS348, FS349, or FS363
- 1.0 credit in National Cinema courses: FS238, FS239, FS244, FS246, FS250, FS301, FS330, FS333, FS355, FS360, FS365
- 1.0 credit in 400-level seminars: FS443, FS444, FS446, FS447, FS489
- 5.0 credits in other Film Studies (FS) courses (of which 1.0 credit may be senior English courses)
Degree Program Electives
An additional 10.0 credits toward the degree total of 20.0 credits (of which no more than 5.0 credits can be at the 100 level).
Specializations
Students in the Honours BA in Film Studies can graduate with a Specialization in Film Theory or Film Production as part of the degree.
- Specialization in Film Theory consists of 1.5 credits in Film Theory courses (from FS341, FS342, FS345, FS346, FS348, FS349). Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 9.00 (B+) in the major.
- The Specialization in Film Production consists of 1.0 credit in Studio courses (FS370 and FS371) and 0.5 credit in Industry courses (from FS275, FS280, FS374). Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 7.00 (B-) in the major.
Resources
- Want to know more about your choices? See our Program Roadmaps page for suggestions and tips year-by-year.
- Download the Honours BA in Film Studies worksheet.
The combined Honours BA in Film Studies consists of 7.0+ credits (of 20.0 total credits, of which 14.0 credits must be at the senior level) as follows:
Required Film Studies Courses
- 0.5 credit in introductory courses: FS101, FS102, FS103
- 1.0 credit in Film History courses: FS240, FS241
- 1.0 credit in Film Theory courses: FS341, FS342, FS345, FS346, FS348, FS349, or FS363
- 1.0 credit in National Cinema courses: FS238, FS239, FS244, FS246, FS250, FS301, FS330, FS333, FS355, FS360, FS365
- 0.5 credit in 400-level seminars: FS443, FS444, FS446, FS447, FS489
- 3.0 credits in other Film Studies (FS) courses (of which 2.5 credits must be senior courses)
Note: Single-term courses are worth .5 credits each, so two courses = 1.0 credit.
Degree Program Electives
An additional 13.0 credits toward the degree total of 20.0 credits, which includes the second BA major.
Resources
- Want to know more about your choices? See our Program Roadmaps page for suggestions and tips year-by-year.
- Download the combined Honours BA in Film Studies worksheet.
The Film Studies minor consists of 3.0 credits, 2.5 of which must be at the senior level.
Resources
The Film Production Option is designed for all non-Film Studies honours students who seek to combine a foundational knowledge of Film Studies with a practical understanding of the techniques of video and film production, from script to screen.
The Film Production Option consists of 4.0 credits (of 20.0 credits) as follows:
- 0.5 in introductory courses (FS101, FS102, FS103)
- 1.0 in Film History courses (FS240, FS241)
- 1.0 in Film Studio courses:
- FS370: Intro to Video Editing
- FS371: Advanced Video Editing
- 1.0 in Film Industry courses:
- FS275: The Business of Film
- FS280: Audiences and Film Fandom
- FS374: Screenwriting and Directing
- 0.5 in other FS courses (senior level)
Resources
Laurier students applying to the Vancouver Film School (VFS) must be registered as a student at Laurier in the Film Studies program and have completed a minimum of 2.5 credits in Film Studies. Laurier students may start the VFS programs after completing 10.0 credits at Laurier (normally Year 3) and then return to Laurier to complete Year 4.
Film Production Pathway
VFS’s Film Production program counts as 5.0 credits toward the Laurier Honours BA in Film Studies (10.0 credits) as follows:
- 2.0 from non-major elective 200- or 300-level (senior) credits
- 3.0 from Film Studies 200- or 300-level (senior) credits
Writing for Film,Television, and Games Pathway
VFS’s Writing for Film, Television and Games program counts as 5.0 credits toward the Laurier Honours BA in Film Studies (10.0 credits) as follows:
- 2.5 from non-major elective 200- or 300-level (senior) credits
- 2.0 from Film Studies 200- or 300-level (senior) credits
- 0.5 equivalent to FS374: Screenwriting and Directing
Acting for Film and Television Pathway
VFS’s Acting for Film and TV program counts as 5.0 credits toward the Laurier Honours BA in Film Studies (10.0 credits) as follows:
- 3.0 from non-major elective 200- or 300-level (senior) credits
- 2.0 from Film Studies 200- or 300-level (senior) credits