The University Writing Minor is a cross-disciplinary program designed to give special emphasis to writing throughout a student’s education. In this age of information and knowledge- based economies, the Writing Minor will help prepare students to be effective communicators and active participants in civic and cultural life.

The Minor has four primary goals: first, to enhance learning through writing across the disciplines; second, to ensure continuous development of student writing throughout the educational experience; third, to promote awareness of the rhetorical function of language across the disciplines; fourth, to provide students with a means of indicating a writing emphasis in their education for purposes of graduate school and/or future employment.

Declaring a Minor

Current students can declare a minor in this program through their myBCA account.

A Minor in University writing consists of twenty-one semester hours of credit taken from the list of approved Writing Intensive (WI) courses.* Nine semester hours (three WI courses) are compulsory for the Minor: English 2860, English 3810 and the core course, Writing 4040. The remaining twelve semester hours are fulfilled by taking four WI elective courses after the prerequisite courses, one of BCA 1010, BCA 1020, or BCA 1030 and one writing intensive course as specified in Academic Regulation 1(g), have been taken.

A maximum of 3 semester hours from the major subject may be credited towards the Minor, but only if at least three semester hours of credit in the major subject additional to those required for the Major are taken.

WI elective courses are designated by the Coordinating Committee and published before the registration period begins for each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to consult the Co-ordinator before registering.

Electives must be in at least two disciplines.

Compulsory Writing Minor Courses

• English 2860 Linguistics II: The Grammar and Vocabulary of English
• English 3810 Professional Writing
• Writing 4040 Communication and Rhetoric in Context

Writing Minor Electives

Course offerings are determined on a semester-by-semester basis. See current offerings consult the BCA web pages, or communicate directly with the Co-ordinator.

Writing-Intensive Courses

Writing-intensive (WI) courses at BCA use writing as a major means of developing thinking and learning in the disciplines. Such courses integrate a significant amount of writing (and opportunities for revision) into the work of the course, providing a variety of formal and informal occasions for students to write and learn the goals, assumptions and key concepts of a course. Formal writing opportunities allow students to learn the formats characteristic of a discipline, such as a research report, a critical essay, an essay examination, or a laboratory report. Formal writing is used primarily as a means for demonstrating learning outcomes.

Informal writing opportunities allow students to use writing as an instrument of learning through write-to-learn strategies, such as journals, letters, logs, lists, questions, short in-class responses to readings, lectures, and discussion. Informal writing enhances the quality and depth of the learning process.

Although no definitive quantity of writing can be stipulated for a WI course because of disciplinary differences, writing opportunities, both formal and informal, should account for a minimum of 50% of the grade weight.  In addition, apart from informal writing and examinations, at least 10-15 pages of writing should be assigned (e.g., reports and essays); and, on at least one occasion, students should be allowed opportunities for revision, with critical comments on drafts, before a final grade is awarded.

High School Graduates

American High School Equivalency Chart

Successful completion of Grade 12 examinations in a University Preparatory Program with an overall average of at least 70% (75% for Quebec Secondary V students) in the following subjects:

• English;
• one Social Studies or Language;
• any 3 other academic courses. Grade 12 math recommended.
  Note: Grade 12 Math is a prerequisite for some 1st year Art courses.

Please refer to the BCA Academic Calendar for complete admissions information.

BCA's undergraduate tuition is the second-lowest in the Atlantic region, and we offer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards.

Tuition

$6,390 per year, based on 30 credit hours ($639 per 3 credit course).
International students pay $7,470 per year in addition to full-time student tuition.

For a complete breakdown of part-time or full-time study as a student in the Faculty of Arts, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

Scholarships and Awards

BCA supports you and your educational goals. We administer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards to our undergraduate and graduate students every year. Depending on your faculty or program, and year of study, you may be eligible for available awards.

Search the complete list of scholarships for information and application forms.  

Celebrating Student Achievement

Including Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships and Academic Excellence Awards, these awards recognize the academic achievements of all students who meet the eligibility criteria while studying towards their first undergraduate degree.

Visit the Scholarships site for complete information.