Current Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Donors Golden Hawks

Search for academic programs, residence, tours and events and more.

English (BA)

brantford

There are stories all around us: stories that inspire, entertain, persuade, even stories that change the world. A story can be 240 characters or 500 pages, and may be made of text, images, or sounds. You might read it in an ad above a subway door or in a graphic novel.

An English degree gives you the skills to understand the stories around you, analyze what gives them their power, and share your own stories in academic and creative forms.

The English program at Laurier in Brantford is small, which means we know our students and care about their success. Our smaller class sizes mean that you get individualized attention and develop a strong relationship with your peers, giving you an environment to thrive in.

New: Looking ahead to a career in education? Apply to the English with Teaching Option program for a direct pathway into Laurier’s Bachelor of Education!

You can also pair your English (BA) degree from Laurier with a Law (LLB) degree from the University of Sussex (United Kingdom) through our six-year pathway program!

Apply Your Learning

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Here are just a few examples of the experiences you’ll have access to in the English program:

  • Take a leadership role in the Brantford Campus English Students' Association (ESA), organize events, and mentor incoming students.
  • Participate in creative writing/literary events with authors.
  • Take English courses with community placements in Writer’s Craft classrooms, after-school programs, local theatres, and other venues.
  • Showcase your work for the public and the Laurier community by participating in the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS).

Check out the English Experience and Career Guide.

 

2022 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

 

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

 

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2022

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: full time or part time      Duration: four years     Start: September (fall term) or January (winter term) or May (spring term)    
OUAC codes: UVN (English); UVU (English with Teaching Option); ULL (Sussex Law Pathway)

Your Next Steps

Apply Now Strengthen Your Application Important Dates

Program Options and Courses

Teaching Option

Are you interested in a direct pathway to a Bachelor of Education?  

Laurier’s English with Teaching Option consists of 4.0 credits: five core half-credit courses offered through the Faculty of Education, plus three elective half-credit courses from an approved list. The option is designed to provide students with a foundational course of study focusing on teaching.  

Students admitted into the Teaching Option pathway will have a guaranteed spot in Laurier’s Bachelor of Education (BEd) program as long as they successfully meet the Option’s requirements.  

Criteria for guaranteed admission to the BEd program of choice include:  

  • Meet all requirements of associated undergraduate program.  
  • Achieve a 10.5 GPA on the ten final full credits completed at Laurier.  
  • Complete all requirements of the Teaching Option.  
  • Satisfy all application requirements of the BEd program. 

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Sample First-Year Courses

  • Literature and Love
  • Literature and Crime
  • Reading Fiction

Sample First-Year Elective

  • Human Rights and Human Diversity
  • History Detectives
  • Indigenous Peoples and Media
  • Studying Youth and Children: An Introduction

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Introduction to Creative Writing
  • Young Adult Literature
  • Gaming and Narrative Theory

Similar Programs

Community Service-Learning

csl-banner.jpg

Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses at Laurier integrate service in the community with what you are learning in your classes. Placements are approximately 10 weeks and take place on a weekly basis from the second week of classes to the final week, typically for two hours per week.

CSL placements consist of volunteering at a local community service, such as a soup kitchen or a children's treatment centre. It’s a great way to apply classroom knowledge and gain practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, develop your network, and graduate with experience.

Interested? Learn more about Community Service-Learning.

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

student-business-lecture-banner.jpg
Quote Image

"A recent favourite course that I have taken would be Colonialism, Indigeneity and Theory. This course really helped in expanding the genre of books that I read, while also promoting diversity within literature and prompting exciting and open discussions."

Kamali Pope, current English student

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • advertising agent
  • copy writer/editor
  • digital communications specialist
  • journalist/reporter
  • lawyer
  • marketing manager
  • project coordinator
  • scriptwriter
  • teacher/ESL instructor
  • technical writer

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Brantford Campus

The Brantford campus is woven into the downtown core of the City of Brantford and is home to more than 3,000 students. Close to great walking and biking trails, you get the best of both worlds.

There are many ways to tour our Brantford campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.
Quote Image

"I enjoy Laurier Brantford’s English classes because they include traditional assignments like essays and non-traditional assignments in their courses. For instance, in The Gothic Novel course, we applied what we learned in the course by selecting a popular culture artifact and discussing how the gothic influenced our chosen object."

Monica Van Ittersum, current English student

Interested in More Info?

Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.

Download a Viewbook Subscribe Connect One-on-One