The English department offers courses from the pre-collegiate through the college sophomore levels. English courses provide students with a comprehensive foundation for writing, textual analysis, and critical thinking. These skills will help them succeed in composition and literature courses, as well as provide them with the foundation for a satisfying occupation or profession.
The English program fosters a strong liberal arts background through instruction in literature and its cultural contexts, including history, philosophy, politics and religion.
Courses are sequenced to lead students to the A.A. degree or to university transfer.
English Faculty
The Importance of English
Using English effectively and making a good living have much in common. The study of English encompasses much more than the mechanics of grammar, punctuation and spelling. Through preparatory and advanced courses in literature and composition, students are afforded the opportunity to sharpen their critical reading and writing skills.
The English curriculum develops the students' ability to communicate and also fosters a strong liberal arts background. Such a background gives students not only marketable communication skills, but also an understanding of the history and development of civilization.
Careers in education have provided satisfying occupations for English majors in the past and will continue to do so. However, the ability to handle language effectively and clearly is valuable in any occupation the college graduate may pursue. In fact, the English major is invaluable preparation for many professional careers.
Professional schools find that students who have specialized narrowly in their undergraduate educations often enter without broad general knowledge and without the skills of communication necessary for success in their chosen professions. Results of extended studies indicate that a major in English is particularly effective as pre-professional training for students going into law, business or government.