(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) and Doctor of Philosophy in English. Both 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 Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) has consistently awarded the department the council's highest rating.
The department also offers a CO-OP option at the master's level that students can apply to add to either the coursework or the major research paper program.
The department participates in the collaborative programs in Feminist and Gender Studies and in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the Master's level, and in the collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the PhD level. For more information on these programs, see “Program Requirements”.
The collaborative master’s in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MDV) has two goals:
- To offer at the graduate level a multi-disciplinary education in Medieval and Renaissance Studies;
- To teach students the theoretical approaches and methods of research specific to the study of the period.
The specialization in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is intended for students who wish to enrich their training by including to their main program an interdisciplinary component in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Besides a thesis or a major research paper on a topic related to the medieval and Renaissance period, the specific requirements of the collaborative program include two core courses in medieval studies (MDV), one of which will count as a partial requirement in the main discipline.
The programs are governed by the academic regulations in effect for graduate studies. Please note, however, that any course fulfilling a graduate degree requirement in English must be completed with a mark of B or higher. A student whose record shows any two grades lower than a mark of B will automatically be withdrawn from the program. Most graduate courses in the Department of English at the University of Ottawa carry three units. Requirements are stated in number of units.
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 and scholarly 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 thesis option should submit a sample of their academic writing, such as an essay written for an undergraduate English course.
- 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.
Collaborative Programs
Entry into the collaborative program requires at least a passive knowledge of French language.
Applications to the collaborative program must be submitted at the same time as the application for admission to the master's program in the main discipline.
Students wishing to enroll in the Collaborative program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies must first be admitted to the Master's program in one of the participating units. Candidates must hold an Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
The courses offered by the collaborative program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies are offered in English, in French, and in a bilingual format. An excellent knowledge of English or French and a passive understanding of the other language are required. Each academic unit maintains its own language requirements. Except in the case of students in the departments of English and Français, all students have the right to submit assignments, the major research paper, or the thesis, and to answer examination questions in the official language of their choice.
The Department offers two options for the MA
A two year thesis program and a one-year major research paper, to which a CO-OP option can be added.
The completion times above is for the full-time students. Part-time students may take up to four years to complete the MA program, but are not eligible for scholarship support.
The MA Program no longer requires students to demonstrate competence in a language other than English.
Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2022-2023 calendars for the previous requirements.
The requirements of the collaborative program are as follows:
Master's with Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Courses: 1 | ||
| ENG 6302 | Research Methodology | 1.5 Units |
| ENG 6303 | Professional Development | 1.5 Units |
| MDV 5100 | Medieval and Renaissance Studies Research Methods and Tools | 3 Units |
| MDV 5900 | Interdisciplinary Research Seminar 2 | 3 Units |
| Optional Courses: | ||
| 9 course units in English (ENG) at the 6000 or 7000 level | 9 Units | |
| Thesis Proposal: | ||
| ENG 7997 | M. Thesis Proposal | |
| Thesis: 3 | ||
| THM 7999 | Master's Thesis | |
Note(s)
- 1
Students must complete all compulsory courses before they enroll for the thesis. Note that MDV 5900 is a bilingual course that requires at least a passive knowledge of French.
- 2
Students in the collaborative MA program with specialization in Medieval and Renaissance Studies are required to take MDV 5900. As this seminar is bilingual, participants are expected to have adequate command of both official languages.
- 3
A thesis on a topic related to medieval and Renaissance studies; the proposed topic must be approved by the program committee of the participating unit and the committee of the collaborative program. The supervision the thesis must be carried out by a professor approved by the collaborative program committee. At least one of the two thesis examiners must be a member of the collaborative program. In both cases, the title of the degree will indicate the discipline of the participating unit with the specification "specialization in Medieval and Renaissance Studies."
Master's with Research Paper
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory Courses: | ||
| ENG 6302 | Research Methodology | 1.5 Units |
| ENG 6303 | Professional Development | 1.5 Units |
| MDV 5100 | Medieval and Renaissance Studies Research Methods and Tools | 3 Units |
| MDV 5900 | Interdisciplinary Research Seminar 1 | 3 Units |
| Optional Courses: | ||
| 9 elective course units in English (ENG) at the graduate level | ||
| Research Paper: | ||
| MRP 6999 | Major Research Paper 2 | |
Note(s)
- 1
Students in the collaborative MA program with specialization in Medieval and Renaissance Studies are required to take MDV 5900. As this seminar is bilingual, participants are expected to have adequate command of both official languages.
- 2
The Major Research Paper should be about 12,000 words.
CO-OP Option (for Research Paper only)
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 therms 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 two years. The thesis must be submitted 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.
ENG 6111 Directed Readings I (3 units)
Course Component: Research
ENG 6112 Directed Readings II (3 units)
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 Research Methodology (1.5 unit)
Preparation of students for the professional study of English and for the application of graduate level research skills to non-academic careers. Review and analysis of electronic and print research tools and methods. Internet database searches, both in the discipline of English as well as in related fields (such as history, philosophy, and sociology), and evaluation of Internet sites. Short assignments developing skills in academic and non-academic research. Preparation of grant applications and of the thesis proposal (for students in the MA with thesis program). Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory). Offered in the fall session.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6303 Professional Development (1.5 unit)
Preparation of students for careers involving graduate level research and communication skills, including teaching, university research, and non-academic careers. Introduction to academic and non-academic professional activities: 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. Sessions to be devoted to the practice of teaching, covering such topics as syllabus construction, teaching 'styles,' classroom management, teaching dossiers, student evaluation, and the application of teaching skills to non-academic goals such as presentations and team-building. Graded S (Satisfactory) / NS (Not satisfactory). Offered in the winter session.
Course Component: Seminar
ENG 6304 Doctoral 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
MDV 5100 Medieval and Renaissance Studies Research Methods and Tools (3 units)
Approaches to the study of manuscripts (paleography, codicology, iconography) and texts (explication, diplomatics, liturgy, stemmata) of the period.
Course Component: Seminar
MDV 5500 Méthodes et outils de recherche des études médiévales et de la Renaissance (3 crédits)
Approches à l'étude de manuscrits (paléographie, codicologie, iconographie) et textes (explication des textes, diplomatique, liturgie, stemmata) de l'époque.
Volet : Cours magistral
MDV 5900 Séminaire de recherche interdisciplinaire / Interdisciplinary Research Seminar (3 crédits / 3 units)
Séminaire bilingue à thèmes variables destiné à explorer le sens et la valeur du travail interdisciplinaire en études médiévales et modernes. / Bilingual seminar using varying themes as a vehicle for exploring the meaning and value of interdisciplinary work in medieval and modern studies.
Volet / Course Component: Séminaire / Seminar