English, Culture, and Communication Undergraduate Programme

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General Information

Objectives

The primary purpose of the English, Culture, and Communication programme at RMC is to provide a university-level education to students as one of the essential elements of their professional development. In meeting that responsibility, the programme is designed to foster both the general intellectual development achieved through university education and the particular skills and insights derived from the study of literary culture and language. At all levels of instruction, the courses offered by the department have three basic objectives:

1. to develop clarity, precision, and maturity in spoken and written communication;
2. to focus attention on the importance of cultural and social values in developing an understanding of the forces that have shaped civilization and that are shaping the contemporary world; and
3. to develop a flexible intellectual capacity centred around thinking skills and problem-solving abilities which can be applied to a wide range of professional responsibilities where individuals must take action in the face of concrete human problems.

Communication Skills

In English, Culture, and Communication, particular emphasis is placed on refining writing and verbal skills in the first and second-year courses, but that emphasis continues in senior courses, especially for those students enrolled in the B.A. (Honours) or B.A. English, Culture, and Communication programme. At the same time, analytical study of complex literary works develops the other half of communication: the ability to listen carefully and to understand in detail what another person is attempting to communicate. Together, the development of writing and reading skills heighten awareness both of the potential and of the limitations of verbal communication.

Perceptive Insight

The study of literature offers valuable insights into the cultural and social values of a people or a particular group, and acknowledges that these values represent (and have always represented) powerful driving forces shaping the development of any given society, whether it be our own or that of others. At all levels of instruction, English, Culture, and Communication attempts to demonstrate that the influence of social and cultural forces is as important as the role of political, economic, historical and strategic realities in understanding the historical development of societies and the complex nature of the contemporary world.

Intellectual Development

English, Culture, and Communication shares with other disciplines a concern for developing traditional patterns of logical analysis and evaluation. However, because of the nature of creative literature, the English, Culture, and Communication programme is also conscious of the value of developing non-linear forms of thought, intuition, imagination, and emotive perception. Such skills are particularly valuable in understanding and dealing with human problems. Creative literature is almost always about understanding a concrete human situation in depth, and the effort to find a creative solution to the problems raised. Studying and analyzing such problems develop a flexible and responsive intelligence, one well suited to the demands of leadership responsibilities.

Programme Structure

• Students normally apply for entry into the English, Culture, and Communication degree programme in their second year.
• In addition to ENE211 and ENE212, students are encouraged to take at least six other English, Culture, and Communication credits in their second year in order to create greater flexibility in course selection in third and fourth years.
• The programme of study for English, Culture, and Communication consists of a set of courses required by the department, in addition to the core curriculum for a Bachelor of Arts. The department offers a number of courses that are required as part of the core curriculum. In many instances, these courses can also be counted toward requirements for a B.A. (Honours), B.A., Concentration, or Minor in English, Culture, and Communication.

First Year

These courses are taken by all first-year students and are designed to refine basic writing and reading skills as well as to introduce students to the range of English, Culture, and Communication, which forms an important part of their general cultural heritage.

Second Year

ENE211: Reading the Contemporary World 1 and ENE212: Reading the Contemporary World 2 provides more specific literary and intellectual foundations for advanced studies and is mandatory for all students in Arts. The course explores significant aspects of modern thought and cultural issues in order to provide a broad foundation for students entering any humanities, Social Sciences, or Business Administration programme. An important element of ENE211 and ENE212 is instruction in writing skills.

Third and Fourth Years

In their third and fourth years, students enrolled in a B.A. (Honours), B.A., Concentration, or Minor in English, Culture, and Communication can take courses at both the 300 and the 400 level. Students are urged to plan ahead and to discuss their whole programme with the department head when they apply to enter the English, Culture, and Communication degree programme.

English, Culture, and Communication Programme Course Groupings

Group A: Medieval and Early Modern Literature

• ENE314: Shakespeare's Peers
• ENE316: From Beowulf to Lancelot: Warriors, Visionaries, and the Medieval World
• ENE318: Medieval Road Tripping: The Canterbury Tales
• ENE428: Screening Shakespeare

Group B: 18th and 19th century

• ENE307: British Literature during the Romantic Period
• ENE309: Hearts of Oak: British Literature and Culture in the Age of Empire
• ENE312: Cross-currents in French and English Literature (1850–1900)
• ENE320: Words as Weapons: The Roots of Satire in the Eighteenth Century
• ENE322: The Rise of the English Novel
• ENE371: On the Origins of Scientific Culture: The Rise of Science in the Nineteenth Century
• ENE381: First Feminists: Early Women Writers
• ENE385: Introduction to Children’s Literature

• ENE389: The Influence of English Literature in Enlightenment France

Group C: National and Global Cultures

• ENE226: Foundations of Western Literature: Greek and Roman Classics and the Bible
• ENE230: Indigenous Literatures and Media
• ENE311: Modern British Culture
• ENE313: Postmodern British Literature
• ENE331: World Literature: Crisis and Conflict
• ENE333: World Literature: Coherence and Incoherence
• ENE352: Where is Here? Canada’s Literary and Cultural Evolution
• ENE353: Blurred Lines: Contemporary Canadian Culture and Identity
• ENE356: Bridging the Two Solitudes: French and English Canadian Literature
• ENE358: French-Canadian Literature in Translation
• ENE361: American Literature: Visions and Voices
• ENE363: American Literature: The American Dream

Group D: Critical Approaches and Methodologies

• ENE228: Critical Approaches to Literature and Culture
• ENE403: Gender and Literature I
• ENE405: Gender and Literature II
• ENE413: Literature, Culture, and Ecology
• ENE415: Literature, Culture, and Evolution
• ENE421: Literary Theory I: Postcolonialism, Race, and Ethnicity
• ENE423: Literary Theory II: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
• ENE484: Post-Colonial Literature

Physical Conditioning and Second Language Courses

• ATE101: Foundations of Fitness, Health and Sports
• ATE301: Unarmed Combatives, Military Skills and Individual Sports
• LCF100 : Compétence de base – partie I
• LCF200 : Compétence de base – partie II
• LCF301 : Compétence intermédiaire – partie I
• LCF302 : Compétence intermédiaire – partie II
• LCF400 : Compétence intermédiaire - partie III

Programme Requirements

B.A. (Honours) English, Culture, and Communication

• Students apply for entry into the B.A. (Honours) English, Culture, and Communication programme during their third year.
• This is a 40-credit programme, including the core courses for arts programmes, and the English, Culture, and Communication requirements listed below.
• Students must successfully complete the following courses: (a minimum of 20 English, Culture, and Communication credits).

Mandatory Courses

• ENE111: Introduction to Literary Studies and University Writing Skills 1 (1 credit)
• ENE112: Introduction to Literary Studies and University Writing Skills 2 (1 credit)
• ENE211: Reading the Contemporary World 1 (1 credit)
• ENE212: Reading the Contemporary World 2 (1 credit)
• ENE492: Seminar in Advanced Professional Skills (1 credit)

Optional Courses

• 2 credits from Group A: Medieval and Early Modern Literature (2 credits)
• 2 credits from Group B: 18th and 19th century (2 credits) ^{Note 1}
• 2 credits from Group C: National and Global Cultures (2 credits)^{Note 2}
• 1 credit from Group D: Critical Approaches and Methodologies (1 credit)
• 8 Optional Credits in English, Culture, and Communication at the 300 or 400 level (8 credits)

B.A. English, Culture, and Communication

• This is a 40-credit programme, including the core courses for arts programmes, and the English, Culture, and Communication requirements listed below.
• Students must successfully complete the following courses: (a minimum of 16 English, Culture, and Communication credits)

Mandatory Courses

• ENE111: Introduction to Literary Studies and University Writing Skills 1 (1 credit)
• ENE112: Introduction to Literary Studies and University Writing Skills 2 (1 credit)
• ENE211: Reading the Contemporary World 1 (1 credit)
• ENE212: Reading the Contemporary World 2 (1 credit)

Optional Courses

• 1 credit from Group A: Medieval and Early Modern Literature (1 credit)
• 1 credit from Group B: 18th and 19th century (1 credit)
• 1 credit from Group C: National and Global Cultures (1 credit)
• 1 credit from Group D: Critical Approaches and Methodologies (1 credit)
• 8 Optional Credits in English, Culture, and Communication at the 300 or 400 level (8 credits)

Programme Outline Tables

The following tables are examples of a typical outline, by year, of a B.A. (Honours) English, Culture, and Communication programme of study or a B.A. English, Culture, and Communication programme of study that would cover the required courses.

Concentration in English, Culture, and Communication

The following list identifies English, Culture, and Communication courses required for the completion of a 12-credit Concentration in English, Culture, and Communication.

Students pursuing a Concentration in English, Culture, and Communication must complete the following within their 30-credit degree:

• at least 12 credits in English, Culture, and Communication
  • at least six of these credits at the senior level
  • at least six of these credits through RMC

Certain courses are required:

• ENE105 and ENE106 or equivalent 2-credit first-year Language and Literature course
• ENE202 or ENE203 or equivalent 1-credit second-year Language and Literature course

RMC English, Culture, and Communication offers the following courses by distance toward the Concentration:

• ENE105: Introduction to Literary Studies: Short Fiction and Poetry (1 credit)
• ENE106: Introduction to Literary Studies: Drama, Long Fiction, and Film (1 credit)
• ENE202: Cross-Currents of 20th-Century Literature: Modernism (1 credit)
• ENE203: Cross-Currents of 20th-Century Literature: Post-Modernism (1 credit)
• ENE309: Hearts of Oak: British Literature and Culture in the Age of Empire (1 credit)
• ENE358: French-Canadian Literature in Translation (1 credit)
• ENE403: Gender and Literature (1 credit)
• ENE426: Directed Research Project (2 credits)

Minor in English, Culture, and Communication

The Minor requires eight credits.

Students must successfully complete the following courses:

• 8 credits in English, Culture, and Communication at any level

Minor in Culture and Diversity

The minor requires eight credits:

• Two credits from the Core Curriculum: HIE101 and POE116.
• Four credits from identified courses (see list below) in English, Culture, and Communication and/or French, Literature, and Culture.
• Two credits from identified courses (see list below) from two of the following disciplines: Economics, History, Management, Politics, and Psychology.

The minor, therefore, exposes students to diversity from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives and within different historical, cultural, and professional contexts. This multidisciplinary study of diversity equips students to think critically, systematically, and creatively about complex and non-linear cultural phenomena.

Mandatory courses (2 credits)

• HIE101 The Historical Origins of the Contemporary World
• POE116 Introduction to international Relations

Optional courses (6 credits)

Choose four credits from the following:

• ENE228 Critical Approaches to Literature and Culture
• ENE230 Indigenous Literatures and Media
• ENE313 Postmodern British Literature
• ENE331 World Literature: Crisis and Conflict
• ENE333 World Literature: Coherence and Incoherence
• ENE353 Blurred Lines: Contemporary Canadian Culture and Identity
• ENE363 American Literature: The American Dream
• ENE375 Literature and Spirituality
• ENE381 First Feminists: Early Women Writers
• ENE382 Indigenous Literature: Centring Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Voices
• ENE383 Major Women Writers: 1900 to the Present
• ENE384 Indigenous Literature: Centring Women’s Voices
• ENE389 The Influence of English Literature in France in the Enlightenment
• ENE391 Literary Masculinities
• ENE230 Indigenous Literatures and Media
• ENE403 Gender and Literature I
• ENE405 Gender and Literature II
• ENE421 Critical Theory I: Postcolonialism, Race, and Ethnicity
• ENE423 Critical Theory II: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
• ENE484 Post-Colonial Literature

Choose two credits from the following:

• BAE314 Marketing Fundamentals
• BAE460 Consumer Behaviour
• ECE330 Labour Economics
• GOE305 World Regional Geography: Europe and/or the Americas
• GOE307 World Regional Geography: Europe and/or the Africa
• GOE472 Understanding Post-Soviet Europe and Asia
• HIE301 Indigenous Peoples in Canada: A History
• HIE305 Africa in World History
• HIE343 Occupied Europe, 1938-1945
• HIE350 Genocides and Mass Crimes in the 20th Century
• HIE392 European Imperialism - Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
• HIE394 A History of China: Origins and Identities
• HIF401 Histoire Québec de 1945 à nos jours
• HIE403 Social History of Canada (1870-1980)
• HIE444 War and Memory in the Twentieth Century
• HIE452 War, Peace, and Civil Society in Modern History
• HIE456 Issues in Women, War and Society
• HIE485 Conflict in Modern Africa
• POE301 Indigenous Issues in Canadian Politics
• POE421 Political Ideologies
• POE425 Regional Comparative Politics
• POE434 Comparative Studies in Development
• POE435 Terrorism and Political Violence
• PSE324 Cross-Cultural Psychology
• PSE334 Introduction to Human Sexuality
• PSE416 Laboratory on Prejudice: From Attitudes to Action
• PSE484 The Psychology of Gender in the Military