English
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
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Students will be able to examine and understand works within historical and cultural contexts, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, ability, and socioeconomics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
Select one of the following options: | 5-9 | |
Option 1 | ||
COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE | ||
or ENGL 1BH | HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE | |
Option 2 | ||
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING | ||
or ENGL 1CH | HONORS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING | |
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE | ||
or ENGL 16H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE | |
And, for either option, select any two courses from the following: | 10 | |
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 | |
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 | |
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 | ||
or ENGL 45AH | HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 | |
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 | |
COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE 3 | ||
or ENGL 1BH | HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE | |
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING 3 | ||
or ENGL 1CH | HONORS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING | |
TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
INTRODUCTION TO TRAVEL WRITING | ||
INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING | ||
POETRY IN COMMUNITY | ||
INTRODUCTION TO SHORT FICTION WRITING | ||
ADVANCED SHORT FICTION WRITING | ||
POETRY WRITING | ||
ADVANCED POETRY WRITING | ||
Literature Courses 1 | ||
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE 3 | ||
or ENGL 16H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE | |
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 | |
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 | |
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 3 | ||
or ENGL 45AH | HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 | |
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT 3 | ||
or ENGL 45BH | HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT | |
LOUD & QUEER: LITERATURE OF SEXUAL/GENDER IDENTITY | ||
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE | ||
LITERATURE & THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
INTRODUCTION TO POETRY | ||
or ENGL 11H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POETRY | |
AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE: LITERATURE OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY | ||
TRAVELING THE WORLD THROUGH CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE | ||
INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE | ||
GOTHIC & HORROR LITERATURE | ||
WOMEN WRITERS | ||
UNMASKING COMICS: THE DAWN OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL | ||
DETECTIVE & MYSTERY FICTION | ||
LATINO/A LITERATURE | ||
LITERATURE INTO FILM | ||
SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE: REIMAGINEERING REALITY | ||
LITERATURE OF PROTEST | ||
ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | ||
CALIFORNIA LITERATURE: GOLDEN STATE CULTURES, GEOGRAPHIES & HISTORIES | ||
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH 2 | ||
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH 2 | ||
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENGLISH 2 | ||
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.