English

Language is Power

Apply

Program Duration: 2 Year Program
Degree Type: Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Total Credit Hours: 61

A teacher demonstrates a literary technique to a classroom.

About This Program

Employers will always need people who can tell a story and whose gifts can be applied well beyond the classroom. In the English degree, you will read inspiring literature and explore the connection between reading, writing and thinking as you prepare to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree in English. Courses in British, American and World Literature are combined with electives in foreign languages, philosophy and religion, as well as classes in poetry, fiction, scriptwriting and memoir which enable you to earn a Creative Writing certificate while completing your associate’s degree.

Apply Now

Quick Information

Online Learning 100%
General Contact Call (215) 751-8010

Transfer Opportunities

A private university known for its diverse academic programs and global perspective, located in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Public university in central Pennsylvania offering diverse programs.

A private research university in Philadelphia known for co-op programs and innovation.

A Jesuit institution fostering leadership, service, and academic excellence in Philadelphia.

A public university in West Chester, Pennsylvania, known for diverse programs and academic excellence.

View all transfer opportunities

Semester 1

English majors should complete ENGL 101, ENGL 102, ENGL 190, FNMT 118 or other college Mathematics, CIS 103, and either 211, 212, 221, 222, 250, or 251 in the first 24 credits.

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors)	3 credits	English Majors should take ENGL 190 concurrently with ENGL 101	Writing/Research/Info Lit 1
ENGL 190 - Introduction to Literature	3 credits	Fulfills Gen Ed requirement Fulfills Program Requirement	Cultural Analysis & Interpretation
FNMT 101- Quantitative Reasoning or FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra or MATH 150 - Introductory Data Analysis or MATH 161 - Precalculus I	3 credits	Some colleges and universities require a mathematics course above FNMT 118. Students who are FNMT 118 ready should take MATH 150 instead of FNMT 101. Students who are FNMT 118 ready who wish to transfer to Temple University should take FNMT 118, which is the prerequisite for MATH 161. Students with a math placement score above FNMT 118 should take MATH 161 or a higher-level math course. Please visit the transfer agreements web page for more information and consult with an advisor when selecting a quantitative reasoning course.	Quantitative Reasoning
CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology	3 credits	Students with computer skills may apply for credit by exam through the Computer Technologies Department	Technological Competency
HIST 101 - United States History: Colonial America through the Revolutionary Era or HIST 102 - United States: The Civil War and the19th Century or HIST 103 - United States History: The 20th Century and Beyond or HIST 103H - United States and Pennsylvania History: The 20th Century (Honors) or HIST 121 - World History: The Distant Past or HIST 122 - World History: The Recent Past or HIST 220 - African American History to 1877 or HIST 221 - African American History After 1865	3 credits	Students should choose a history course that complements their interests in literature. HIST 121 and HIST 122 count for the World Society requirement at Temple University.

Notes:

This program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program after earning their associate’s degree
Follow this course schedule each semester and you’ll earn your associate’s degree in two years
Make sure you discuss your first semester schedule and your educational plan with an advisor or counselor when you register.

Semester 2

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
BIOL 106 - General Biology I or BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology or CHEM 105 - Inquiry into Chemistry or STS 101-Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society or other 4-credit lab science, selected in consultation with an advisor	4 credits	Students should consult with their transfer institution or an advisor before choosing a Scientific Reasoning course.	Scientific Reasoning
ENGL 115 - Public Speaking	3 credits		Oral Communication/ Creative Expression
ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors)	3 credits		Writing/Research/Info Lit 2
MATH 150 - Introductory Data Analysis or MATH 161 - Precalculus I or ENGL 205 - Creative Writing or other general elective selected in consultation with an advisor	3 credits	Second math course needed only if transfer institution requires Math beyond FNMT 118. Students planning to transfer should choose MATH 150 or MATH 161 or higher. Students in the Creative Writing Academic Certificate should take ENGL 205 in the second semester, ENGL 280, 281, 282, or 283 in the third semester, and ENGL 280, 281, 282, or 283 concurrently with ENGL 285 in the fourth semester.	General Elective
ENGL 211 - Survey of British Literature: From Beginnings to 1750 or ENGL 212 - Survey of British Literature: From 1750 to the Modern Era or ENGL 221 - Survey of American Literature: From the Beginnings to the Civil War or ENGL 222 - Survey of American Literature: From the Civil War to the Present	3 credits	Students are required to take one British literature survey or one American literature survey and one African or African American literature survey. Students may choose any survey course listed here. The two courses do not have to be sequential. Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution may want to consult with an advisor before selecting their survey courses.

Notes:

Don’t forget to meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Start planning for transfer:
- Did you know our dual admissions partnerships include scholarship opportunities?
- Learn more about our transfer agreements and use our interactive search tool for your program’s transfer options
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Now is a good time to start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship— You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

Semester 3

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
World Language 101: (Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish) or other general elective selected in consultation with an advisor	3 credits	Students who wish to study a world language or who plan to transfer to an institution that requires a world language are advised to take at least two semesters of a world language aselectives.
ENGL 250 - Survey of African American Literature: From Colonization to the Harlem Renaissance or ENGL 251 - Survey of African American Literature: From the Harlem Renaissance to the Present or ENGL 256 - African Literature	3 credits	Students are required to take two survey courses: one in the second semester and one in the third semester. Students may choose be any two survey courses listed here. The two courses do not have to be sequential. Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution may want to consult with an advisor before selecting their survey courses.	Major Course
ENGL 106 - Grammar or ENGL 122 - Writing for Mass Media or ENGL 137 - Introduction to Theater or any 200-level English course, with the exception of ENGL 214.	3 credits	ENGL 106 recommended for students interested in editing and publishing. English 122 recommended for students interested in professional writing Students enrolled in Creative Writing Certificate must take ENGL 280, 281, 282 or 283 as English Elective.	Directed Elective
ENGL 245 - World Literature: From Antiquity to 1500 or ENGL 246 - World Literature: From 1500 to the Present	3 credits		Major Course
BHHS 103 - Human Development and Behavior in the Social Environment or ENGL 107 - Society and Mass Communications or JUS 101 - Survey of Criminal Justice or SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology or SOC 101H - Introduction to Sociology (Honors)	3 credits		Directed Elective

Notes:

Meet with an advisor and review this schedule when registering for your classes
Make sure you are using Starfish Connect to track and improve your grades
Stay on the path to success: take advantage of academic support services offered by Counseling the Learning Labs, Academic Advising and more
Start financial planning for next semester:
- Manage your financial aid
- Take advantage of our payment plans and know the payment deadlines
- Apply for a scholarship—You only have to complete one application to be considered for all available scholarships

Semester 4

Course Number and Name	Credits	Advisory Notes	Course Type
General Elective	3 or 4 credits		General Elective
ENGL 106 - Grammar or ENGL 122 - Writing for Mass Media or ENGL 137 - Introduction to Theater or any 200-level English course, with the exception of ENGL 214.	3 credits	ENGL 241 - Shakespeare recommended for students transferring to Arcadia University. English 122 recommended for students interested in professional writing Students enrolled in Creative Writing Certificate must take ENGL 280, 281, 282 or 283 concurrently with ENGL 285.	Directed Elective
2nd World Language: (Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish) or ENGL 122 - Writing for Mass Media or other Humanities Elective chosen in consultation with an advisor	3 credits	Students who wish to study a foreign language or who plan to transfer to an institution that requires a foreign language are advised to take two semesters of a foreign language as their humanities electives. ENGL 122 recommended for students interested in journalism, advertising, and public relations	Directed Elective Humanities
ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology or HUM 130 - Introduction to Japanese Culture and Civilization or HUM 150 - Introduction to Latin American Cultures and Civilizations or HUM 180 - Introduction to African Cultures and Civilizations or RS 151 - World Religions	3 credits	Philosophy or Religious Studies Course required at Holy Family, St. Joe's, Villanova, and LaSalle.	Directed Elective
ENGL 285 - Portfolio Development or general elective	3 credits	Students enrolled in Creative Writing Certificate must take ENGL 285. ENGL 285 is only open to students enrolled in the Creative Writing Certificate. Other students choose a general elective based on area of interest and transfer institution selected in consultation with an advisor.	Directed Elective

Notes:

Congratulations, this is your final semester! Don’t forget to complete your graduation application.
Meet with an advisor when registering for your classes
Finalize your transfer plans:
- Meet with a counselor at your selected dual admissions transfer college
- Meet with one of our College’s counselors or an advisor to review transfer requirements
Take advantage of our scholarship opportunities for transferring students and apply for a scholarship
Visit Career Connections to learn about internships and your future career possibilities

Teacher at the head of the classroom speaks to her students.

Launch Your Career in English

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary – est. salary $94,251*
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists – est. salary $70,629
Proofreader or Copy Markers – est. salary $52,579
Technical Writer – est. salary $85,739

Learn More

**EMSI Data, 2022; The greater Philadelphia region a percentage of people in these jobs may have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Career Outlook

$94,251

Median Salary of an English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary

21,213

Number of Jobs in the Region

+10.9%

10-year Job Outlook in the Region for an English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary

Featured Career

English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Starting Pay: $46,727

A teacher in a classroom points and speaks to a student.

Typical Tasks

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Teach writing classes.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as poetry, novel structure, and translation and adaptation.

Related Programs

Let's Get Started

Apply

Plan a Visit

Apply for Financial Aid

View of Main Campus at 17th Street and Spring Garden Street with city skyline in view