Undergraduate programs
Undergraduate courses
Visit our course page to learn more about this year's course offerings:Program requirements
Plan your courses with the English major program planning worksheet
Professional communication
The Professional Communication Program will teach you the skills you'll need to succeed as a writer. You'll be ready to enter the high-technology workplace of science, business, industry, government and the professions, using new media to solve the problems of professional communication.
If you've declared a major or an honours degree in any of the disciplines UVic offers, you're eligible to also declare a minor in professional communication. You'll combine your knowledge of your discipline with the ability to communicate it to other professionals and to general readers.
If you have not declared a minor in professional communication, you are still eligible to take our courses if you have the prerequisites. Just register for our courses in the normal way; we welcome students from all faculties and programs across the university.
Please see the professional communication minor requirements.
| Course | Title | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| ENSH 202 | Technical Communications, Written and Verbal | J. Hawkes |
| ENSH 302 | Copy Editing | R. Halliday |
| ENSH 304 | Writing for Government and the Public Sector | R. Pickard |
| ENSH 307 | Effective Communication in Healthcare Professions | E. Yazganoglu |
| ENSH 308 | Speech Communication for Public and Private Sectors | R. Halliday |
| Course | Title | Instructor |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Communications, Written and Verbal | J. Hawkes | |
| Copy Editing | R. Halliday | |
| ENSH 305 | Visual Rhetoric for Professional Writers | S. Last |
| ENSH 309 | Fashion Communication | R. Halliday |
| ENSH 403 | Digital Communication and Social Media | R. Halliday |
| ENSH 406 | Strategic Communication in Arts, Culture and Tourism Sectors | R. Pickard |
Read a Q&A with Dr. Kim McLean Fiander, a seasoned professor and professional communication expert. She shares insights about her journey, the importance of clear writing and how copyediting can benefit future career prospects.
Continuing Studies also offers a Professional Communication in the Workplace micro-certificate.
Contact the professional communication adviser at pcadviser@uvic.ca.
Honours program
The honours program is designed for students committed to the intensive study of literatures in English. English honours students at UVic learn in small groups of peers with similar interests and work closely on original research projects under the supervision of individual faculty members. Students acquire knowledge of the full range of the field—across time periods and around the globe—and have the opportunity to specialize in particular authors, periods, genres and theories.
Read a selection of past honours essay titles.
At the heart of the English honours program is ENSH 301 (Practical Criticism), a year-long seminar on the principles and methods of literary studies. Students develop expertise in the analysis of literary works and learn to situate themselves and their own interests in the wide world of literary studies past and present. The seminar is limited to roughly 15 students. The small class size fosters lively critical exchange and creates a strong sense of a cohort.
"This course, without doubt, was the most important of all the classes I took in my degree," writes a former student. "It was the most stimulating, the most challenging, and the most rewarding."
Honours students also choose 2 capstone courses, which take particular interpretative, theoretical, or thematic approaches to literature, culture, and media.
In their final year, honours students write the graduating research essay (ENSH 499) on a topic of their choice, working one-on-one with a faculty expert in the field. The research project culminates in a friendly “defence” with a committee of faculty members—a rewarding opportunity for students to have sustained engagement with their work.
Please download the PDF for more specific instructions on the honours essay.
The honours program provides exceptional preparation for graduate studies in English. Every year, honours graduates go on to top MA and PhD programs in Canada, the US and beyond. Honours students have used their graduating essays as a first step in an academic career by publishing revised versions in scholarly journals. The program equally develops skills in research, writing and critical thinking that prepare students for a rich variety of careers in teaching, law, journalism, publishing and other fields.
Of the 30 units required in third and fourth years for the honours degree, 24 units must be taken in English courses numbered 300 and above. Please see the English honours program page of the academic calendar for specific course requirements.
The English honours program can be combined with Arts and Writing Co-op, a minor in professional writing or a major in another discipline.
Prospective honours students should apply to the honours adviser for permission to take ENSH 301 in their second (preferred) or third year. Admission to the honours program normally requires grades of A- and above in first- and/or second-year English courses.
In late spring, eligible students, typically with second- or third-year standing, will be invited to join ENSH 301. In addition, students may express interest in the program at any time by emailing the honours adviser.
Contact the English honours adviser at englhonsad@uvic.ca
The honours adviser can help you with:
- learning more about the English Honours Program
- admission to the program
- program requirements and registration
- choosing a topic for ENSH 499 and finding a supervisor
Co-op program
Co-op helps you start building your career while you're still at university. It's designed to work around your academic courses, so you'll complement what you're learning in class with practical workplace experience.
Co-op enables you to try out a range of jobs before you graduate, gain work experience and skills and make connections with employers. And you get paid for the experience! Over half of UVic co-op students graduate with a job offer.
Work study
Eligible students may apply for work study positions in the English department to work while they learn. View eligibility requirements and search current work study postings.Admissions
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a UVic student, from choosing a program and reviewing admission requirements to submitting your application and reporting your grades.
If you have questions, talk to a student recruiter or attend one of our events.