Literature

Did you know? Field trips to literary and cultural events, such as the Shakespeare Festival at Stratford, Ontario, and participation at undergraduate conferences.

Literature, one of the five majors offered in the ONU Department of English, is designed to prepare majors for professional life and graduate school by combining a solid preparation in literature, critical theory and language, with opportunities for real-world experience. Courses include survey, period and specialized courses in American, British and world literatures; single-author courses such as Chaucer and Shakespeare; and critical theory and language. Besides this solid background in literature curriculum, the program offers exciting professional experiences on departmental and University publications. The Senior Seminar capstone project provides majors an opportunity to explore a topic of their own choosing and to enhance their research, writing and professional skills. Literature, as a humanities discipline, hones critical thinking and writing skills and prepares students in a wide variety of culture areas.

Distinctive Features:

Seminars with intensive faculty mentoring
Specialized first-quarter orientation for new majors
Opportunity to create an extended individual research capstone project in Senior Seminar
Diverse and professionally- active faculty
Individual guidance with professional- and graduate-school applications
Technologically-enhanced classroom facilities
Exposure to current cultural developments through enrichment programs
Study-abroad options
Visiting writers sponsered by the department and University, including John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Edward Albee, Nikki Giovanni, Ursula Hegi, John Wideman, Jimmy Santiago Baca, Tom C. Hunley and Elizabeth Kolbert
Membership in Sigma Tau Delta, award-winning national English honor society
Career speakers, some of whom offer mentoring and internship opportunities
Hands-on experience working on five department publications