Academic Catalog

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

  • 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

Core Courses
Select one of the following options:5-9
Option 1
COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
Option 2
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
HONORS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
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
HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY
SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT
HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865
HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT
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, 212-15
For Option 2, select two courses from the following, of which one course must be a Literature course (minimum of 8 units): 1, 28-10
COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE 3
HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING 3
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
HONORS INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY 3
HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE I: BEOWULF TO THE LATE 18TH CENTURY
SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT 3
HONORS SURVEY OF BRITISH LITERATURE II: THE ROMANTIC PERIOD TO THE PRESENT
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865 3
HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE I: BEGINNINGS TO 1865
SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE II: 1865 TO THE PRESENT 3
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
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 Units27-30
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.