For a detailed explanation of coursework terminology -- FCEs, Y/F/S courses, full vs half courses -- please see the first frequently asked question about graduate course enrolment!
In English, most graduate courses are "half courses," which count for 0.5 FCE and are typically held in either the first / fall term (F for first) or the second / winter term (S for second). A few courses in English are full or Y courses, which count for 1.0 FCE and are typically held over both the first and second terms (ENG6999YF Critical Topographies is an exception -- a Y course that is compressed into the single first term).
All courses are run as seminars, and attendance and participation are mandatory. In case of absence due to illness or other causes, please contact the instructor (if possible, in advance).
Course Requirements
MA in English coursework requirements include ENG6999YF Critical Topographies plus 3.0 graduate FCEs in English (usually 6 one-term courses). Typically students take ENG6999YF plus 3 half courses in the fall and then 3 half courses in the winter, although it is not uncommon to complete the final 0.5 FCE in the summer term.
MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing coursework requirements include ENG6950Y Workshop in Creative Writing and ENG6960HY Advanced Creative Writing Workshop plus 2.0 graduate FCEs in English (usually 4 one-term courses), along with a Supervised Writing Project (the equivalent of a thesis) under the direction of a mentor. ENG6950Y and the 2.0 FCEs in English are typically completed in the first year of the program; ENG6960HY and the Supervised Writing Project are completed in the second year.
PhD in English coursework requirements include ENG9400HF Essential Skills Workshop Series plus 3.0 graduate FCEs in English (usually 6 one-term courses) and ENG9900HF Teaching Literature. In the fall of the first year in the program, PhD students should take ENG9400HF plus three half courses; in the winter of the first year, PhD students should take three half courses. ENG9900HF is then taken in the fall of either Year 2 or Year 3.
PhD U (Direct-Entry) in English coursework requirements include ENG6999YF Critical Topographies and ENG9400HF Essential Skills Workshop Series plus 5.0 graduate FCEs in English (usually 10 one-term courses) and ENG9900H Teaching Literature. Typically, in Year 1 of the program PhD U students take ENG6999YF plus 2 half courses in the fall and then another 2 half courses in the winter. In Year 2 of the program PhD U students take ENG9400HF plus 3 half courses in the fall followed by another 3 half courses in the winter. ENG9900HF is then taken in the fall of either Year 3 or Year 4.
Non-credit (CR/NCR) courses do not count towards English coursework requirements.
More information on the School of Graduate Studies, including a Reference for Prospective Students, can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website.
Language Requirements
Normally, all students in the PhD program in English must demonstrate a reading knowledge of French. Those whose proposed research requires a reading knowledge of languages other than French must have or acquire such knowledge (these specific requirements will be set by the individual student's thesis committee). With the written permission of the department, another language (including Old English) may be substituted for a reading knowledge of French. The language requirement must be completed by the end of the third year of the program.
Courses Outside the English Department
Students may take up to 1.0 FCE of coursework (usually 2 half courses) outside of the Graduate Program in English, regardless of whether or not the courses outside of English are in fulfillment of the requirements for a Collaborative Specialization.
If you are not enrolled in a Collaborative Specialization, you must receive approval from the Associate Director, PhD before you can take a course outside of English. If you wish to take a course outside of English, please email the following to the Associate Director, PhD and Tanuja Persaud for each such course: course code, full title, course description, syllabus, and brief rationale for why the course is necessary for your research.
Collaborative Specializations provide structure to extra-departmental or inter-departmental work, so if you are enrolled in a Collaborative Specialization, you may go ahead and take courses outside of English that are required for that program without receiving approval from the Associate Director, PhD, but please note that such courses will count towards the maximum 1.0 FCE that you may take outside of English. (If your Collaborative Specialization requires any elective courses that would put you over the 1.0 FCE maximum outside of English, those elective courses should be selected from among the English course offerings that have been approved by the Collaborative Specialization as fulfilling its elective requirements. Please consult with Tanuja Persaud if you have any questions.)
IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: cross-listed courses. Courses in other units taught by English faculty are considered to be cross-listed and are equivalent to English courses: they may be taken without receiving approval from the Associate Director, PhD and will not count toward the maximum of 1.0 FCE that you may take outside of English.
Any courses (including requirements for Collaborative Specializations) taken outside the department and not taught by an English faculty member beyond the 1.0 FCE limit will not count towards the student's English coursework requirements and will be taken in addition to those requirements.
As not all graduate departments allow students to enrol in courses via ACORN, also check local enrolment procedures with the host department.
PLEASE NOTE: Practicum, lecture series, or lab courses taken through a Collaborative Specialization do not count towards fulfillment of our departmental coursework requirements; e.g., in the Book History and Print Culture Collaborative Specialization, BKS2001H Practicum in Book History and Print Culture will not count towards coursework requirements for the PhD in English and will be completed in addition to our departmental program requirements. If you pursue a Collaborative Specialization, be sure to check with the Graduate Administrator, Tanuja Persaud, to confirm your coursework requirements.
Directed Reading Courses
Directed reading courses (also known as special reading courses) offer the opportunity to explore a topic not currently offered as a graduate course. These are not meant to replace existing curriculum where sufficient course offerings are available.
Students may take one (and no more than one) 0.5 FCE directed reading course in fulfillment of English coursework requirements, and you may only take a reading course with the approval of either the Associate Director, MA, the Director of the MA CRW, or the Associate Director, PhD.
Before you propose a directed reading course to a member of the graduate faculty, please first contact either the Associate Director, MA, the Director of the MA CRW, or the Associate Director, PhD, cc’ing Tanuja Persaud.