This program is offered in English only.
The Department of English offers the degrees of Master of Arts (with coursework, major research paper, or thesis), Master of Arts with Concentration in Creative Writing (with coursework and project), and Doctor of Philosophy in English. All programs equip students to pursue advanced studies in British, Canadian, or American literature informed by a broad knowledge of literary history and by recent developments in literary criticism and cultural theory. The department is well known for its annual Canadian Literature Symposium, and its faculty is distinguished and well-published.
The department also offers a CO-OP option at the master's level that students can apply to add to the coursework options (with or without Concentration in Creative Writing), and to the major research paper option.
For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.
The MA program is intended to refine the critical, scholarly, and creative skills of high-achieving graduates from undergraduate honours programs. An honours BA in English literature with a minimum high second class standing of B+ is normally required.
A 500-word statement of interest in the program is required with the application. Students applying for the MA with Concentration in Creative Writing (coursework and project option) will submit two writing samples: a scholarly sample, (such as an undergraduate literary-critical essay) and a creative writing sample, ideally in the areas of fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction.
Students who have not previously completed one or more of the following courses – ENG 4397, ENG 4398, or ENG 4399 – must fulfill this requirement by taking one of these courses as part of their English (ENG) elective coursework. The course must be completed within the student’s first two terms of enrollment, and the course will count within their program requirements.
Students who have completed a BA or equivalent degree with a minimum of six full courses in English with an average of 75 per cent (B+) may be admitted to a qualifying year which normally comprises 30 units selected to ensure coverage of the major fields of English literature. These courses must be successfully completed in each case with a mark of B+ or higher. By special permission one or two graduate courses may be substituted for the equivalent number of undergraduate courses. After the requirements of the qualifying year have been satisfactorily fulfilled, students may apply for admission to the regular MA program. Such admission will depend on the quality of their overall record.
Co-operative education is available with this program.
This one-year MA program consists of 18 units of coursework and a Major Creative Project (MCP).
Master's with Coursework and Project
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Courses: | ||
| ENG 6302 | Professional Development: Foundations of Graduate Study in English | 1.5 Units |
| ENG 6303 | Professional Development: Advanced Research and Career Paths | 1.5 Units |
| 15 elective course units in English (ENG) at the graduate level 1 | 15 Units | |
| Project: | ||
| ENG 6190 | Major Creative Project 2,3 | |
Note(s)
- 1
Students who have not previously completed ENG 4397, ENG 4398, or ENG 4399 must complete one of these courses as part of the 15 elective course units. The course must be completed during the student’s first two terms.
- 2
The Major Creative Project (MCP) should be about 12,000 words for prose projects and 6,000 words for verse projects.
- 3
Students must complete all compulsory and optional courses before their enrollment to the Major Creative Project (MCP).
CO-OP Option
CO-OP students must enroll full-time and complete two work terms:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Work Terms: | ||
| ACP 6001 | Co-op Work Term | 6 Units |
| ACP 6002 | Co-op Work Term | 6 Units |
Each work term is graded P/F (Pass or Fail), based on the employer's report and on a written report completed by the student. (The report must be 30 pages, including appendices.) The report is evaluated by the professor in charge of the graduate co-op option in English.
The units awarded for co-op work terms may not be used to obtain equivalences for other courses. In other words, the co-op units are additional to the minimum requirements of the degree.
To remain in the CO-OP option, students must:
- Be enrolled full-time.
- Maintain a 7.0 cumulative grade point average.
- Obtain a satisfactory grade (P) for each CO-OP work term.
Duration of Program
Students are expected to complete all requirements within three terms. All program requirements must be completed within four years of the date of initial enrollment in the program.
Minimum Standards
The passing grade in all courses is B. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 units) must withdraw from the program.
Research at the University of Ottawa
Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:
- Creating a sustainable environment
- Advancing just societies
- Shaping the digital world
- Enabling lifelong health and wellness
From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.
Research at the Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state of the art research conducted by its professors. In the spirit of showcasing its research to the university community as well as to the general public, the Faculty has created three activities: Dean's Lecture Series, Treasures of the Library, and Excellence Lectures.
Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Arts
- Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française,
- Institute of Indigenous Research and Studies,
- Institute for Science, Society and Policy,
- Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI)
- Morisset Library.
For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.
IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.
The titles below refer to general subject areas, whereas the actual seminars will consist of specific studies in the subject areas. For a detailed description of the seminars available in any year, please consult the department webpage. Information is normally available early in the winter for the next academic year. All courses are three units.
ENG 6111 Directed Readings I (3 units)
Course Component: Research
ENG 6112 Directed Readings II (3 units)
Course Component: Research
ENG 6190 Major Creative Project
Writing a Major Creative Project (MCP) that meets the requirements of the academic regulations. Work is performed under faculty supervision. Students produce a substantial work of writing with a view to eventual publication and/or further graduate study. The Major Creative Project may take the form of prose, poetry (verse), literary translation into English, as well as other genres. As part of the MCP students write a critical or scholarly introduction to their creative work of writing. This approach combines creative and academic research practices, and supports the development of knowledge and innovation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation.
Course Component: Research
ENG 6300 Old English I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6301 Old English II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6302 Professional Development: Foundations of Graduate Study in English (1.5 units)
Preparation of students for the professional study of English at the graduate level. Topics include expectations in and out of the classroom, internal and external funding (grants and scholarships), graduate level research techniques, and pedagogical skills conducive to success as a teaching assistant.
Course Component: Seminar
Courses ENG 6302 and ENG 6303 may be taken in any order. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory). Offered in the fall trimester.
ENG 6303 Professional Development: Advanced Research and Career Paths (1.5 units)
Preparation of students for careers involving graduate level research and communication skills, including teaching, university research, and non-academic careers. Topics include writing and publishing scholarly articles and research reports, disseminating research results through academic and non-academic presentations, networking, participation in conferences and professional associations, and career planning for both academic and non-academic career paths for holders of graduate degrees. The course will also prepare students for successful completion of major program requirements such as research proposals, comprehensive exams, and theses.
Course Component: Seminar
Courses ENG 6302 and ENG 6303 may be taken in any order. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory). Offered in the winter trimester.
ENG 6304 Critical Research Methods (3 units)
Overview of theoretical, methodological, and critical approaches to literary studies to enable students to situate their own research within the discipline.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6310 Middle English Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6313 Directed Reading (3 units)
Course Component: Research
ENG 6320 Middle English Literature (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6321 Middle English Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6322 Middle English Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6330 Renaissance Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6341 Shakespeare I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6342 Shakespeare II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6343 Shakespeare III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6344 Shakespeare IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6350 Renaissance Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6351 Renaissance Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6352 Renaissance Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6355 Restoration Literature (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6356 Restoration Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6357 Restoration Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6360 Eighteenth Century Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6361 Eighteenth Century Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6362 Eighteenth-Century Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6363 Eighteenth-Century Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6370 Romantic Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6371 Romantic Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6372 Romantic Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6373 Romantic Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6380 Victorian Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Lecture
ENG 6381 Victorian Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6382 Victorian Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6383 Victorian Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6999 Major Research Paper
The research paper is prepared under the direction of the research paper supervisor and is approved by the graduate committee. The research paper must be successfully completed by the end of the third session of full-time registration in the master's program. In the event of failure, the student must register for an additional session. A second failure leads to a grade of NS (Not satisfactory) on the transcript and to withdrawal from the program.
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
Prerequisites: 15 units at the 5000, 6000, 7000 or 8000 level
ENG 7300 Modern Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7301 Modern Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7302 Modern Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7303 Literature and History of the Disciplines (3 units)
Various topics related to the history of the study of literature and how it has intersected with other fields. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7310 American Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7311 American Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7312 American Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7313 American Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7320 Canadian Literature I (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7321 Canadian Literature II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7322 Canadian Literature III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7323 Canadian Literature IV (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7330 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature I (3 units)
Various topics related to twentieth-century and contemporary literature up to the present day. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7331 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Literature II (3 units)
Various topics related to twentieth-century and contemporary literature up to the present moment. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7332 Cultural Studies I (3 units)
Various topics in cultural studies. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7370 History of the English Language (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7375 Cultural Studies II (3 units)
Various topics in cultural studies. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7376 Book History I (3 units)
Various topics in book history. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7377 Book History II (3 units)
Various topics in book history. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7380 History of Criticism (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7381 Theory of Criticism (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7382 Digital Humanities I (3 units)
Various topics in digital humanities. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7383 Digital Humanities II (3 units)
Various topics in digital humanities. Specific topics will be announced each year.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7384 Theory of Criticism II (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7385 Theory of Criticism III (3 units)
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7386 Special Project (3 units)
Series of open-ended project workshops, including readings exemplifying the art of research in different genres and media (memoir, podcast, lyric essay, video essay, oral history, collage, participant observation, gallery exhibition, etc.). Students will do the reading, debate their findings, and give presentations, but will also develop their own projects over the course of the semester.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 7900 Second Language Requirement
In keeping with the bilingual character of the University, the PhD program has a French language requirement. Students may satisfy this requirement by passing FLS 1000, the test administered by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, or the departmental language test. The departmental tests are one-hour examinations which require the candidate to translate, with the aid of a dictionary, a passage of literary criticism or another appropriate selection of similar difficulty approximately one page in length. Language testing of languages other than French is normally administered by the Department. Students may also satisfy the language requirement by passing six units of second-year university-level language course(s). These courses are additional to the 18 units required for the degree. In all cases, the minimum passing grade is 66% and leads to an S (Satisfactory) on the transcript for ENG 7900. NOTE: Students who achieve 65% or higher at the MA level will not be required to retake the test if they continue on to the PhD.
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
ENG 7997 M. Thesis Proposal
The thesis proposal is prepared under the direction of the thesis supervisor and is approved by the graduate committee. The proposal must normally be successfully completed by the end of the third session. In the event of failure, the proposal can be resubmitted the following session at the latest. A second failure leads to a grade of NS on the transcript and to withdrawal from the program. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
Prerequisites: 7.5 units.
ENG 9997 Ph.D. Thesis Proposal
The thesis proposal is prepared under the direction of the thesis supervisor and is approved by the graduate committee after consultation with area experts. The proposal must normally be successfully completed by the end of the seventh session. In the event of failure, the proposal can be resubmitted the following session at the latest. A second failure leads to a grade of NS on the transcript and to withdrawal from the program. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory).
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research
Préalable : 15 crédits. / Prerequisites: 15 units.
ENG 9998 Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D.)
Volet / Course Component: Recherche / Research