Graduates of English Major programs leave university with some of the most employable skills in their tool kits, including critical thinking, research and analysis, teamwork and written communication skills.Students in VIU’s Bachelor of Arts, English major or minor programs are exposed to a wide range of literary studies, traditions, approaches and theoretical issues with an emphasis on establishing a clear grasp of major concerns in culture and literature.If you enjoy writing and studying literature, consider choosing an English major or English minor for your BA. VIU’s Bachelor of Arts in English program also offers an Honours option. The study of literature is the study of culture itself: the stories and myths, values and ideals, struggles and conflicts that shape our understanding of ourselves as individuals and of our relationships in the world. Courses in the English Department are designed to increase students' literary, cultural, and critical awareness, and help them develop the skills necessary to express their ideas effectively both orally and in writing: in addition to literary studies, we offer courses in writing, rhetoric, and public speaking.The department offers undergraduate course work at three levels: 100 (University Writing, Literature and Culture, and Literature and Criticism), 200 (University Writing II, Literature and Culture II, Literature and Criticism II, Literature and Traditions II, and Book Club), and 300 (Literature and Writing III, Literature and Culture III, Literature and Traditions III, and Word and Image).There are also some 400-level courses that focus specifically on professional development, whether for the world of work or graduate school. Students may take them while taking 300-level courses.All 100-level and most 200-level and 300-level English courses require that students write supervised examinations, demonstrating the ability to meet the department’s requirements.Note: The English Department considers a minimum “C” (2.33) average in first- and second-year courses to be a reasonable foundation for success in upper-level English courses.