Program Description

A major in English will prepare you to express your ideas, develop a distinct voice, and practice critical thinking skills that are valued and desired in many diverse career fields, such as law, teaching, advertising, journalism, artificial intelligence, entertainment, communications, and business administration. In studying arguments and expository texts, you will explore diverse perspectives and develop your own critical reading and writing processes, equipping you to effectively and confidently communicate your ideas. Through the study of literature and the practice of creative writing, you will deepen and expand your understanding of the world and the significant historical and cultural contexts that inform so much of the conversations, art, and pop cultural influences that shape consciousness. In the ever-changing world and growing global society, majoring in English at Foothill College will prepare you to embrace new ideas, adapt to evolving technologies, and engage in meaningful discourse throughout your academic, personal, and professional life.

Learn more about the program on the English website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers an Associate Degree for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the English AA-T listing.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to examine and understand works within historical and cultural contexts, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, ability, and socioeconomics.
• Students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking, reading, and writing skills through reflection and analysis of written and multimedia texts and genres, engaging with multiple perspectives.
• Students will be able to conduct research, demonstrating the ability to locate, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically cite information from a variety of sources in their written work.
• Students will be able to recognize, cultivate, and engage in linguistic justice and make intentional decisions about the impact of their language on an audience.
• Students will be able to think critically about their role as citizens who must engage with the economy (in their vocations and as consumers), the justice system, politics, and their community.
• Students will be able to demonstrate an emerging authentic and personal writing style and voice.

Award Type(s)

• AA = Associate in Arts Degree

Units Required

• Major: 27-30

Associate Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 units is required¹ to complete the associate degree, including:

• Core and support courses for the major (27-30 units total)
• Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
  • Foothill College General Education
  • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)²
  • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)²
  • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)³

¹

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

²

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

³

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
Select one of the following options:		5-9
Option 1
ENGL 1B	COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
or ENGL 1BH	HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
Option 2
ENGL 1C	ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
or ENGL 1CH	HONORS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
ENGL 16	INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
or ENGL 16H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
And, for either option, select any two courses from the following:		10
ENGL 43A	SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY
or ENGL 43AH	HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY
ENGL 43B	SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT
or ENGL 43BH	HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT
ENGL 45A	SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865
or ENGL 45AH	HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865
ENGL 45B	SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT
or ENGL 45BH	HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT
Support Courses
For Option 1, select three courses from the following, of which two courses must be Literature courses (minimum of 12 units): 1, 2		12-15
For Option 2, select two courses from the following, of which one course must be a Literature course (minimum of 8 units): 1, 2		8-10
ENGL 1B	COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE 3
or ENGL 1BH	HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
ENGL 1C	ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING 3
or ENGL 1CH	HONORS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
ENGL 50C	TECHNICAL WRITING
ENGL 80	INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL WRITING
CRWR 6	INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING
CRWR 25A	POETRY IN COMMUNITY
CRWR 39A	INTRODUCTION TO SHORT FICTION WRITING
CRWR 39B	ADVANCED SHORT FICTION WRITING
CRWR 41A	POETRY WRITING
CRWR 41B	ADVANCED POETRY WRITING
Literature Courses 1
ENGL 16	INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE 3
or ENGL 16H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
ENGL 43A	SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY 3
or ENGL 43AH	HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY
ENGL 43B	SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT 3
or ENGL 43BH	HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT
ENGL 45A	SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 3
or ENGL 45AH	HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865
ENGL 45B	SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT 3
or ENGL 45BH	HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT
ENGL 5	LOUD & QUEER: LITERATURE OF SEXUAL/GENDER IDENTITY
ENGL 7	NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 8	CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
ENGL 10A	LITERATURE & THE ENVIRONMENT
ENGL 11	INTRODUCTION TO POETRY
or ENGL 11H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POETRY
ENGL 12	AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 12A	ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE: LITERATURE OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY
ENGL 14	TRAVELING THE WORLD THROUGH CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
ENGL 17	INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE
ENGL 18B	GOTHIC & HORROR LITERATURE
ENGL 22	WOMEN WRITERS
ENGL 24	UNMASKING COMICS: THE DAWN OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL
ENGL 27G	DETECTIVE & MYSTERY FICTION
ENGL 31	LATINO/A LITERATURE
ENGL 34C	LITERATURE INTO FILM
ENGL 37	SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE: REIMAGINEERING REALITY
ENGL 38	LITERATURE OF PROTEST
ENGL 40	ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 49	CALIFORNIA LITERATURE: GOLDEN STATE CULTURES, GEOGRAPHIES & HISTORIES
ENGL 70R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH 2
ENGL 71R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH 2
ENGL 72R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH 2
ENGL 73R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH
Total Units		27-30

¹

The student has the option of taking all support courses from the Literature courses.

²

If the student chooses to apply ENGL 70R, ENGL 71R or ENGL 72R to the support course requirement, additional coursework may be required to meet the minimum units for the support courses.

³

If not used to fulfill the core course requirement.