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Become a skilled reader. Learn to write with power and passion. Study English at CapU to sharpen your critical thinking skills and enliven your understanding of local and global cultures.

Why study English at Capilano University?

Cultural literacy is increasingly important in our highly connected world. And the ability to analyze and interpret written information is a vital skill for career success.

At CapU, you’ll study the rich traditions of literature that have deeply shaped past and present cultures. You’ll explore what happens when you imagine the lives of others. And you’ll learn the arts of persuasion that guide good writing in and outside of university. In small, discussion-oriented classes, you'll develop skills in literary analysis, genre analysis, cultural studies and other critical practices.  

Many CapU English courses meet the university’s Cap Core requirements. Their breadth provides both practical skills and aesthetic awareness. 

Careers and further education

Students of English have gone on to a wide variety of careers including education, law, media/publishing, advertising, public policy and librarianship. The department’s focus on locally- and globally- relevant social and historical content means students bring significant cultural fluency to an increasingly knowledge-based and international economy. 

CapU Associate degrees in English and creative writing are designed to stand on their own as employer-recognizable qualifications, but graduates can progress to our Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies program or transfer directly to the third year of related Bachelor programs at other BC universities.

English programs

CapU Associate degrees in English and creative writing are designed to stand on their own as employer-recognizable qualifications, but graduates can progress to our Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies program or transfer directly to the third year of related bachelor programs at other BC universities.

Our Associate of Arts degree - English provides a comprehensive foundation of courses in the Arts and Sciences with a literature specialization. The Associate of Arts degree - Creative Writing guides students to produce original content in a variety of genres including poetry, fiction, drama, screenwriting, hybrid-genres, creative non-fiction and digital media.

English courses

English courses are open to all students and most meet the University's Cap Core requirements.

  • Composition courses teach essential reading, thinking, and communication skills.
  • Literature courses examine the major genres, as well as new media and film.
  • Creative writing courses involve the study and production of literary and non-literary texts.

English programs

CapU Associate degrees in English and creative writing are designed to stand on their own as employer-recognizable qualifications, but graduates can progress to our Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Interdisciplinary Studies program or transfer directly to the third year of related bachelor programs at other BC universities.

Our Associate of Arts degree - English provides a comprehensive foundation of courses in the Arts and Sciences with a literature specialization. The Associate of Arts degree - Creative Writing guides students to produce original content in a variety of genres including poetry, fiction, drama, screenwriting, hybrid-genres, creative non-fiction and digital media.

English courses

English courses are open to all students and most meet the University's Cap Core requirements.

  • Composition courses teach essential reading, thinking, and communication skills.
  • Literature courses examine the major genres, as well as new media and film.
  • Creative writing courses involve the study and production of literary and non-literary texts.

Student opportunities

From writing for our literary magazine The Liar to winning awards, there are many opportunities open to students of English at CapU. The department also offers events throughout the year including visiting writers' readings. 

Check out student resources below to find help with writing assignments or preparing for the English Diagnostic Test.

Scholarships, awards & prizes

A number of scholarships and awards are available to English students. Visit Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards to apply. 

The current awards available to students of English include: 

  • Lady Alice Sorila-Rothberg Memorial Scholarship – Fall
  • Third and Fourth Year English Scholarship - Spring
  • Dorothy E. Gould Scholarship – Spring
  • Lucille Fisher Memorial Scholarship – Spring
  • Sandra Isabel McArthur Brouwer Award – Spring 

The English department also awards a number of prizes in the form of cash grants. In most cases, instructors nominate candidates for these prizes, which include:  

  • Department of English Student Vision Prize
  • English 100 Prize for Research Essay – Fall
  • English 100 Prize for Research Essay - Spring
  • First Year Literature Essay Prize – Fall/Spring
  • Second Year Literature Award – Spring

Student resources

Instructors from the English department are available on a drop-in basis at CapU’s Writing Centre to help students plan or polish their written assignments.

The Writing Centre also offers help to students preparing for CapU’s English Diagnostic Test.

Adèle Barclay BA (Hons), MA, PhD
English Instructor
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 986 1911 ext. 3031
Fir Building, room FR404
adelebarclay@capilanou.ca
Alana Gerecke BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English
School of Humanities

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
alanagerecke@capilanou.ca
Alicia Fahey BA (Hons), B.Ed., MA, PhD
English Instructor, English Department Coordinator
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 3033
Fir Building, room FR404
aliciafahey@capilanou.ca
Alison Dean
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
Alisondean@capilanou.ca
Andrea Actis BA, PhD
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 986 1911 ext. 3438
Fir Building, room FR404
andreaactis@capilanou.ca
Anne Stone BA (Hons), MA
Instructor, English
School of Humanities - English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 986 1911 ext. 2425
Fir Building, room FR404
astone@capilanou.ca
Bobbi Copeland
Instructor, English
School of Humanities - English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
bobbileecopeland@capilanou.ca
Brian Ganter
Instructor
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English
School of Social Sciences
Women's & Gender Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies
School of Motion Picture Arts
Centre for Teaching Excellence

604 986 1911 ext. 2290
Fir Building, room FR412
bganter@capilanou.ca
Brook Houglum BA, MA, PhD
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English
School of Humanities

604 986 1911 ext. 7310
Fir Building, room FR404
bhouglum@capilanou.ca
Carlos Reyes BA, MA, PhD
Summer Coordinator Human./Inst., English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2403
Fir Building, room FR404
creyes@capilanou.ca
Cassidy Picken BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Instructor, English, Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 3474
Fir Building, room FR404
cassidypicken@capilanou.ca
Dara Greaves BA (Hons), PhD
Instructor, Writing Centre Convenor
School of Humanities - Writing Centre
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2026
Fir Building, room FR404
daragreaves@capilanou.ca
Erika Behrisch BA, MA, PhD
Instructor, English
School of Humanities - English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
erikabehrisch@capilanou.ca
Hande Gurses BA, MA, PhD
Instructor, English
School of Humanities - English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
handegurses@capilanou.ca
Ian Cresswell BA (Hons), MA, Dip, M.Litt, LPC
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2317
Fir Building, room FR404
iancresswell@capilanou.ca
Kenneth Huynh BA, BEd, MA, PhD
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
kenhuynh@capilanou.ca
Kent Lewis BA, MA, PhD
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2422
Fir Building, room FR404
klewis@capilanou.ca
Leah Bailly BFA, MFA, PhD
Instructor, Engl, Creative Writing Conv
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 3677
Fir Building, room FR404
leahbailly@capilanou.ca
Mandy Koolen BA, MA, PhD
Instructor, English & Women's & Gender Studies
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English
School of Social Sciences
Women's & Gender Studies

604 986 1911 ext. 2498
Fir Building, room FR404
mandykoolen@capilanou.ca
Matthew Cooke
DDA1
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - Art History
School of Humanities - Language Resource Centre
School of Humanities - Chinese
School of Humanities - English
School of Humanities - French
School of Humanities - History
School of Humanities - Japanese
School of Humanities - Linguistics
School of Humanities - Philosophy
School of Humanities - Spanish
School of Humanities - Writing Centre

604 986 1911 ext. 2172
Fir Building, room FR404
matthewcooke3@capilanou.ca
Patricia Tatum
Divisional Supervisor
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - Art History
School of Humanities - Chinese
School of Humanities - English
School of Humanities - French
School of Humanities - History
School of Humanities - Japanese
School of Humanities - Language Resource Centre
School of Humanities - Linguistics
School of Humanities - Philosophy
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - Spanish
School of Humanities - Writing Centre

604 984 1713 ext. 1713
Fir Building, room FR404
ptatum@capilanou.ca
Rae Nickolichuk
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences

604 986 1911 ext. 2289
Fir Building, room FR404
rnickoli@capilanou.ca
Reg Johanson BA, MA
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English
School of Humanities

604 986 1911 ext. 2428
Fir Building, room FR438
rjohanso@capilanou.ca
Roger Farr BA (Hons), MA
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2291
Fir Building, room FR404
rfarr@capilanou.ca
Ryan Knighton BA (Hons), MA
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
rknighto@capilanou.ca
Steven Weber
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 7150
Fir Building, room FR404
stevenweber@capilanou.ca
Tetsuro Shigematsu
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 3588
Fir Building, room FR404
tetsuroshigematsu@capilanou.ca
Tim Acton BA (Hons), MA, PhD
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
Capilano University Faculty Association
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2402
Fir Building, room FR404
tacton@capilanou.ca
Torin McLachlan
Instructor, English
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 984 4957 ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
torinmclachlan@capilanou.ca
Victoria Ross BA (Hons), MA
Instructor, English
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities - English

604 986 1911 ext. 2426
Fir Building, room FR404
vross@capilanou.ca

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

About this program

English
604 984 4957, ext. 4957
Fir Building, room FR404
humanities@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Birch Building, room BR230

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca