Academic Programs Committee Reports

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
REQUEST FOR DECISION

PRESENTED BY: R. Lucas, Chair, Academic Programs Committee
DATE OF MEETING: Dec. 13, 2001
SUBJECT: Major program revisions in English BA programs
DECISION REQUESTED: That the changes in the English programs be approved.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL:
The department is restructuring the English curriculum into a sequence including 300-level courses. The department is retaining its existing course categories of Anglo-Saxon & Medieval, Renaissance, 18th/19th Century, and 20th Century and majors will still require at least 6 credit units of pre-20th Century courses. Four-year and Honours students will now also require one or more �Foundation� courses (ENG 202 Reading the Canon: Texts/Contexts; ENG 203 Reading English: Critical Approaches; ENG 204 The History and Future of the Book)
RATIONALE:
The department is revising its course structure so that students in the Honours and major programs will be provided with the background necessary for more advanced study. The foundation courses cover three areas: the critical and historical processes that shape the construction of literary traditions; theoretical issues and problems in literature; and the profound relationship between the technology of the book, including digital platforms, and our understanding of literature. Note that this course is unique among other English programs in North America. Requirement to take at least one of these courses will enrich student programs.
IMPACT AND RELATIONSHIPS:
No changes are required to programs in other departments.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES REQUIRED:
These revisions are budget-neutral. Several courses are being deleted so that the Foundation courses can be introduced.
COMMITTEE COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATION:
Proposal received on Oct. 23, 2001
Academic Programs Committee: recommend approval (Oct. 31, 2001).
Budget Committee: recommends acceptance on the understanding that there are no budget implications (Nov. 19, 2001).
Planning Committee: approved by Executive committee (Nov. 30, 2001).