Welcome! The Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo offers unique undergraduate and graduate programs covering the study of literature, rhetoric, professional writing, and digital media. Our professors have national and international reputations in these areas, and we boast many awards for teaching. Graduates of our B.A. and M.A. programs find successful careers in industry, law, government, teaching, medicine, communication design, and entrepreneurship, often getting their start with our co-op program; they also go on to advanced studies in English. Graduates of our PhD program hold academic and non-academic positions in Canada and across the world.
Whether you want to explore literature, digital media, political discourse, or technical communication, our diverse undergraduate degrees and programs allow you to pursue your interests. You have a wide variety of degree options, and with our integrated co-op option, you can combine study and work experience.
Our department features internationally known scholars who conduct research in a variety of fields, including literary studies, digital media, and rhetoric and professional communication. The department is also affiliated with a number of research bodies, including the Critical Media Lab, the Games Institute, First Person Scholar, the Waterloo Directory of Victorian Periodicals, and the Canadian Journal of Disability Studies.
Teaching is central to our department, and our faculty and graduate students include many award-winning instructors. Class sizes in the department are small, and your professors are dedicated, dynamic instructors who will give you the academic tools you need to follow your intellectual passions and the individual attention you need to grow as a scholar.
Find out more
To find out more about our department, follow any of the links above or in the main menu. Our faculty and staff are also happy to talk with you via email, over the phone, or in person to answer any questions you might have.
For undergraduate inquiries
Contact our undergraduate administrator, Jenny Conroy, or our undergraduate chair, Victoria Lamont.
The English undergraduate office is located in Hagey Hall room 222.
For graduate inquiries
Contact our graduate coordinator, Agata Jagielska, or our graduate chair, Jennifer Clary-Lemon.
The English graduate office is located in Hagey Hall room 250.
Social Media
You can also follow us on a variety of social media:
| Platform | What's on it |
|---|---|
 |
Event notices, general department news, and English-related links from both within and outside the department. |
 |
News and events for graduate students and faculty, English-related job advertisements, and calls for papers and articles. |
 |
Words in Place (our department blog): a wide variety of articles on people and events in the department, including interviews with undergraduate and graduate students. |
 |
Videos of department events and student projects. |
 |
Our Department Newsletter: a periodic summary of what's been happening with faculty and students in English Language and Literature. |
Webmaster: Bruce Dadey
News
Congratulations Dr. Elianne El-Amyouni!
Congratulations to our newest PhD graduate, Dr. Elianne El-Amyouni! Elianne's dissertation is titled "Political Identity Expression in Palestinian Youth Subcultures". Her supervisor was Ken Hirschkop and readers were Kevin McGuirk, Heather Smyth and Jens Hanssen. The external examiner was Ted Swedenburg and the internal/external examiner was Rowland Keshena Robinson. Her defense was chaired by Urs Hengartner.
Congratulations Dr. Hannah Watts!
Congratulations to our newest PhD graduate, Dr. Hannah Watts! Hannah's dissertation is titled "Cognitive Constellations: Neurodivergent Aesthetics in 20th Century Experimental Poetries". Her supervisor was Jay Dolmage and readers were Kevin McGuirk and Aimée Morrison. The external examiner was Michael Davidson and the internal/external examiner was Michael Boehringer. Her defense was chaired by Leonardo Simon.
Congratulations to the Class of Fall 2023!
We're proud to announce the names of the English Language and Literature students who received their degrees at the fall 2023 convocation this past weekend. Congratulations to all!