The English program at Canisius offers an array of literary experiences in both reading and writing. English majors study the whole range of literature, both fiction and non-fiction, from medieval epic and romance to contemporary novels, poems, and plays. In addition to critical analysis of literature, students may take courses in creative writing, writing theory, and business writing (see Writing Minors below).
Writing about literature emphasizes precision in expression, close textual analysis, the understanding of historical context, and the examination of professional criticism. In addition to requirements in British and American literature, students may choose from a variety of multicultural and interdisciplinary courses such as African-American literature; Native-American literature; film as literature; literature and psychology; women’s literature; and images of women in literature and film
The department also offers minors in:
- Theater Arts -- a five-course sequence that includes course work in acting and production, as well as in dramatic literature.
- Writing -- a five-course program that includes writing theory and practice in various contexts and workshops with experienced writers.
- Creative writing-- a five-course program that gives students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of writing stories, poems, essays and plays, and to hone their technique in a small workshop setting.
The English Department strives to create a community of readers and writers able to think and to act in responsible, enlightened, and informed ways. Through the study of a range of texts and literatures, students engage in the ongoing debates central to an understanding of society and the self.
The department offers courses at the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior levels.
- English 101: Writing about Literature – Freshman Core Curriculum requirement. Concerns the study of literature as creative expression. Builds critical and analytical skills through practice of the writing process and completion of a research assignment. Required of all Canisius freshmen.
- Literature and writing courses in Field 3 of the Core curriculum – these courses, primarily for non-English majors, cover the genres of fiction, poetry, drama, essay, and autobiography; they include multicultural and interdisciplinary topics, with emphasis on the aesthetic value of the works studied.
- English major courses – these are offered at the 200- introductory and the more specialized- 300 levels. Introductory courses focus on the genres writing and literature, and introduce students to the study of English as a discipline. More specialized 300-level courses focus on a particular period or theme or author.
English Honors
English Honors is a flexible program designed to offer interested and motivated English majors the chance to earn honors designation by participating in innovative seminars and working with a faculty mentor in the writing of an original thesis.
The program requires three courses: two seminars and a thesis. The seminars are unique courses, limited in enrollment, designed by faculty around especially engaging questions, topics, and texts. Some are interdisciplinary; some involve both critical and creative writing; others are organized around a particular period, theme, critical approach, or major writer. Typically one English honors seminar is offered each semester. The honors thesis is a long paper, written on a topic of the student’s own choosing under the direction of faculty mentor, the culmination of a semester’s reading, researching, and writing. To read more about the Honors program, click here.