Designed for students planning to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree, the English degree pursues an overall curriculum shaped by relevant and contemporary course design and invested instructors who are Masters in the study of English. In addition to building their capacity in the written and oral communication skills, English majors will explore the many tenets of rhetoric, literature and creative writing.
A degree in English is the beginning of a pathway that leads to careers such as: Journalist, Copywriter, Editor, Advertising Assistant, Educator, Freelance Writer, Technical Writer, Public Relations Manager, Marketing Director.
Program Goal
The Associate of Arts degree in English at Manchester Community College offers a cohesive college composition curriculum that prepares students for college-level writing, reading and research. Aligning with coursework offered at four-year institutions, the English degree provides all students with courses in rhetoric, literature and creative writing that align with English, offering students the first two years of a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English.
Program Outcomes
Students who graduate from this program will demonstrate:
- Proficiency in undergraduate college composition competencies most importantly critical thinking/reading to:
- Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate ideas and texts
- Conduct and understand the process of research through identifying, analyzing, synthesizing, and documenting credible source material
- Ability to compose an argument (thesis) supported by the most essential information available on the topic
- Proficiency in undergraduate communication competencies that include:
- Rhetoric (formulation and delivery of an argument)
- Discipline-specific writing
- Context-sensitive approaches
- Effective peer feedback
- Proficiency in genre-specific competencies in preparation for further study including the ability to:
- (Literature) propose and support interpretations of a wide range of texts by performing close textual analysis and accounting for the impact of historical, cultural, and literary contexts
- (Creative Writing) recognize the creative/intentional elements employed in the genres of poetry, fiction, and drama and compose original writing that engages these elements.
Transfer Credit Policy
Courses will be considered for transfer to the English program under the following conditions:
College Composition I and II coursework must be completed no more than 10 years prior to acceptance into the English program. Exceptions to the 10-year maximum timeframe for College Composition I and II may be granted at the discretion of the Program Coordinator.
The College Composition I course proposed for transfer must be a college-level course and require a research paper. The College Composition II course (or equivalent) proposed for transfer must include argument writing and advanced research methods.
English Degree
Degree Program - First Year
| First Year | Fall Semester | TH | LAB | CR |
| FYE100M | MCC Essentials | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| ENGL109M or ENGL110M |
College Composition I with Corequisite or College Composition I |
4 | 0 | 4 |
| Science Elective (BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, ESCI, GEOL, PHYS) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POLS, PSYC, SOCI) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Liberal Arts and Science or Open Elective* | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total | 14 | 0 | 14 | |
| First Year | Spring Semester | TH | LAB | CR |
| ENGL113M | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ENGL207M | Introduction to Literary Analysis | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Literature Elective (must be 200 level) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POLS, PSYC, SOCI) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 15 | |
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| Second Year | Fall Semester | TH | LAB | CR |
| ENGL220M | College Composition II** | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Pre-1800 Literature Elective - Choose one: (ENGL200M***, ENGL223M, ENGL225M, ENGL230M) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| English Elective (200 level) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (ASL, FREN, SPAN) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total | 16 | 0 | 16 | |
| Second Year | Spring Semester | TH | LAB | CR |
| Post-1800 Literature Elective - Choose 1: (ENGL200M***, ENGL201M, ENGL202M, ENGL208M, ENGL210M, ENGL218M, ENGL224M, ENGL227M, ENGL228M, ENGL229M, ENGL235M) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| English Elective (200 level) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Lab Science Elective (BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, ESCI, GEOL, PHYS) | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective (ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POLS, PSYC, SOCI) | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | 3 | 16 | |
Total Credits - 61 |
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* Liberal Arts and Sciences Elective: any course with ANTH, ARTS, ASL, BIOL, CHEM, ECON, ENGL, ENVS, ESCI, FREN, GEOG, GEOL, HIST, HUMA, MATH, PHIL, PHYS, POLS, PSYC, SOCI, or SPAN in the course number.
** Denotes milestone course which must be taken / passed in the semester indicated to maintain good standing in the degree program.
*** ENGL200M: This course can count as pre- or post-1800 course dependent on topic. Please refer to the English Department Chair with questions.
