About Our Program

HCC’s English program is designed for students seeking a degree in English from a Baccalaureate institution. Students considering this program should be interested in critical thinking, analysis, reading, writing, and literature in preparation for studies in English language and literature. The program emphasizes written composition, American and British literature, fiction, and creative writing to aid students in expanding their critical thinking and textual analysis skills.

Nature of Work and Employment

Textual analysis, research, and writing skills are needed for a number of professions. Employers looking for English majors include those hiring teachers, lawyers, technical writers, librarians, researchers, and publishers. Often ministers, politicians, and creative writers start out in English.

Special Considerations

The listed coursework is a recommendation only. Students should check with a student advisor for HCC graduation requirements and specific university requirements in this major. Students must meet with an advisor to ensure that the special requirements of the department and institution to which they plan to transfer are met. Colleges and universities have specific requirements for transfer students.

Requirements

Associate of Arts Requirements

Students must meet all requirements for the Associate of Arts degree in order to graduate from Highland Community College. For more information, please see your advisor.

Recommended Courses

The following are recommended courses for this major only.

The requirements for the Associates of Arts degree include taking ENGL 121 Rhetoric and Composition I and ENGL 122 Rhetoric and Composition II. In addition to the Humanities requirement for the degree, students must take additional literature courses from the courses listed on this page to complete this major. For more information please see your advisor.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
ENGL 220	Topics in Literature	3
ENGL 221	Creative Writing	3
ENGL 222	Modern Literature	3
ENGL 223	Introduction to Fiction	3
ENGL 224	Introduction to Poetry	3
ENGL 225	American Literature I	3
ENGL 226	American Literature II	3
ENGL 227	British Literature I	3
ENGL 228	British Literature II	3
ENGL 229	Introduction to Shakespeare	3
ENGL 230	Women in Literature	3
ENGL 231	Intro to Children's Literature	3
ENGL 232	Ethnic Literature from the US	3

Program Outcomes

• Written Communication: The development and expression of ideas in writing.
  
• Oral Communication: A prepared, purposeful presentation designed to increase knowledge, to foster understanding, or to promote change in the listeners’ attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors.
• Quantitative Literacy: The ability to reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations.
• Information Literacy: Engage in reflective discovery of information, evaluate information based on an understanding of how it is produced and valued, synthesize information to create new knowledge and participate ethically in communities of learning.
• Critical Thinking: A habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.

Program Contacts

Students planning to major in theatre with an acting emphasis should contact a Theatre Department representative before enrolling. Call Highland at 815-235-6121 for the following program contacts:

• Sam Fiorenza, English Faculty
• Tracy Mays, English/German Faculty
• Jami Spencer, IRW/Co-Req. Writing Faculty
• Danny Tufariello, English Faculty
• Wes Bertram, Student Advisor
• Rae Schupbach-Roe, Dean, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts