The English Major

Students who major in English (associate degree) take five classes beyond the freshman writing core to broaden their background and understanding of literature in different time periods and genres, and to continue developing critical reading, thinking and writing skills. The College offers a variety of 200-level literature courses, creative writing and special topics classes to prepare students for transfer as an English major or another major that requires similar skills. The English faculty strive to expose students to a broad spectrum of the human condition and apply literary criticism and psychoanalytical theory to a study of literary characters.

Through the course of study in the Associate Degree in English, students will be provided an opportunity to learn how to:

 • recognize and demonstrate an understanding of universal characters, symbols, and themes in a variety of literary works.
• recognize and demonstrate an understanding of historical, sociological, religious, psychological, and artistic influences in a variety of literary works.
• develop a foundation of allusions and references applicable to literary studies.
• read, understand, analyze, and practice writing various stylistic, structural, and aesthetic forms.
• demonstrate proficiency in analytical, critical, and creative writing.
• see literature in new ways and learn to use it as a tool for living their own lives and making discoveries about the human condition and the human spirit.

Students who enroll in this major generally love to read, appreciate language, enjoy writing, and wish to broaden their education in the humanities. They are students who usually communicate well and want to pursue a career that requires good speaking and writing skills. English majors generally transfer into the junior year in the same major, branch out into writing or communications majors like Journalism or Public Relations, or consider the study of business or law.

English, as a major, is versatile and can lead to pursuing a variety of professional careers such as: lawyer, teacher, investment banker, social worker, consultant, magazine writer, and account executive. English majors work in offices, banks, hospitals, social work, education, publishing and government, as well as in many businesses and industries.