An Honours in English is a program dedicated to the exploration and critical analysis of literature and language. The study of English enhances overall literacy, including written and oral communication, and information literacies. In addition to historical and genre-specific knowledge about literature and culture, students develop intellectual and practical skills, such as critical and creative thinking, and research methods. The study of English also contributes to citizenship and lifelong learning. 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.