English degree

There’s more to communicating than a well-chosen emoji

Love the written word? An English degree at Waterloo gives you all kinds of opportunity to explore that passion, with more than 150 undergraduate courses available in both the regular and co-op streams.

Take rhetoric courses and learn the art of persuasion. Focus on digital media, where you’ll merge the latest technology with enduring principles of effective communication. Or explore the pleasures and insights of English literature, from Beowulf to Virginia Woolf.

At Waterloo, you’ll be learning from the best. The Department of English features internationally recognized scholars. In their classes, you’ll develop all-important skills in communication, critical thinking, analysis, and persuasion. Your knowledge of language and culture will serve you well whether you’re planning to be a technical communicator, or creative writer, PR professional, lawyer, or CEO.

Faculty:
Faculty of Arts

Degree:
Bachelor of Arts in one of the four English majors

Choose one of four majors

At the end of first year, you'll choose one of four majors within the English program.

Creative and Professional Writing
Hone your creative writing skills while learning from published authors of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. You'll gain skills in editing, communication design, and professional writing. Unique in Canada, this major will teach you to write just about anything — from marketing materials to the next great Canadian novel!

Rhetoric, Media, and Professional Communication
Gain a critical eye in how language is used to persuade and sell while developing skills that enable you to write and design for professional communication channels, web, and social media. You'll learn about writing, reporting, interviewing, blogging, and public speaking.

Literature
Great literature entertains, enlightens, transforms us, and shows us everything language is capable of. In this major, you'll take a deeper look at language and culture through a full spectrum of literary works.

Literature and Rhetoric
Pair your appreciation of great books with the theory of persuasive writing. You’ll examine history, professional writing, information design, and digital media to become an effective communicator and storyteller.

What courses will you take in English?

First-year courses

As an Arts student, you’ll choose your major at the end of first year. You’re encouraged to explore a second major in first year to discover potential new interests.

You will also take an Arts First course in either the fall or winter term of your first year. In this course, instead of going to a lecture hall, you and your classmates will work together to respond to an intriguing challenge. With only 25 students in this course, you might address topics such as The Science of Happiness, Are We Erasing History?, Games and Culture, and Writing About Poems and Songs.

You can choose to study English through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Honours Arts

September to December

  • Choose one course from
  • Arts First requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • Two electives

January to April

  • Choose one course from
  • Arts First requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2
  • Two electives

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

Honours Arts and Business

September to December

  • ARBUS 101 – Introduction to Business in North America
  • ECON 101 – Introduction to Microeconomics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2

Plus one course from

January to April

  • ARBUS 102 – Accounting Information for Managers
  • ARBUS 202 – Professional and Business Ethics
  • Arts First Requirement or elective
  • Prospective major #2

Plus one course from

This is a sample schedule. Courses or when a course is offered may change depending on availability.

After first year

40% of the classes you’ll take will be English courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo – and even spend a semester abroad earning credits toward your degree.

Sample upper-year courses

ENGL 290 – Global Shakespeare
ENGL 294 – Introduction to Critical Game Studies
ENGL 308 – Race and Resistance
ENGL 335 – Creative Writing 1

Customize your degree

You can add additional areas of expertise by including one or more of the areas of focus in English.

  • Creative Writing
  • Digital Media Studies
  • Global Literatures
  • Technical Writing

You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students. Popular choices for English students include Political Science, Communication Studies, and Classical Studies.

Available as a co-op program?
Yes

Available as a regular program?
Yes

Available as a minor?
Yes

Build an awesome résumé. If you choose co-op, you’ll put your education into action during your work terms, explore careers, and earn money at the same time!

Make lasting connections. We cap many of our classes at 40 students, creating an environment where you can connect with your classmates and professors.

Co-op = relevant paid work experience

Waterloo's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience — and make money!

Sample co-op job titles

  • Web and corporate communications officer
  • Cross-cultural trainer
  • Media relations specialist
  • Technical writer
  • Communications assistant
  • Junior editor and marketing associate

Co-op work-study sequence

Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.

The study/co-op sequence is the same whether you study English through Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Year September to December (Fall) January to April (Winter) May to August (Spring)
First Study Study Off
Second Study Co-op Study
Third Co-op Study Co-op
Fourth Study Co-op Co-op
Fifth Study Study -

Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January to April 2027).

Learn more about co-op →

What can you do with a degree in English?

Waterloo English graduates often pursue careers in writing, publishing, communications, and education. They often work in the media, schools, financial institutions, health care centres, and a wide variety of businesses.

Recent graduates

  • Marketing and Communications Specialist — Munich Reinsurance Company of Canada
  • Communications Coordinator — Glenn Davis Group
  • Teacher — Waterloo Region District School Board
  • Content and Project Specialist — Impact-Coaches
  • Technical Writing Specialist — Manulife Financial
  • Digital Publishing Assistant — The Geist Foundation
  • Communications Specialist — Union Strategies

Learn about the future of careers in arts, humanities, social sciences, languages, and creative arts.

Tuition fees for programs in the Faculty of Arts

First-year tuition

Type of fees Tuition (8 months of school)
Domestic (Ontario residents) $9,000
Domestic (Out of province students) $9,000
International (visa students) $57,000
 
  • Estimated amounts listed include incidental fees. Fees based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
  • Visit our financing page to learn about scholarships, estimate your total expenses, and see how co-op can help pay for your education.

Admissions

Apply to Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business and choose one of the four majors in English at the end of first year.

Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including

  • Any Grade 12 U English (minimum final grade of at least 70%)

Admission average: Low 80s (co-op and regular)

Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements for Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business.

Related program

Communication Studies

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