English (Literature), A.A.

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Program Code: H.ENG.AA

Graduation requirement: 60 credit hours

The English (Literature) program is for students interested in literature and literary studies and/or planning to transfer as a junior into a baccalaureate English program. Because literature deals with the full range of human experience, the program’s recommended literature and creative writing courses offer an excellent supplement to all of the general education requirements for the A.A. degree.

Students are encouraged to complete the A.A. degree prior to transferring to maximize transferability of credits. Because baccalaureate program admission is competitive, completion of the recommended courses and the Parkland degree do not guarantee admission.

Students should plan their transfer programs with a Parkland academic success advisor and the catalog of the four-year college or university they plan to attend.

Program Notes

Recommended courses are designed to facilitate completion of the A.A. degree and transfer into a four-year college or university with junior standing in a chosen academic path.

Recommended Elective Courses

The following courses are recommended as options to fulfill general electives for this degree.

Choose any two literature or creative writing courses (in addition to the required General Education elective in Humanities). Requirements for the English major vary widely from one institution to another, with some programs requiring or including new courses at the lower-division level. If a particular program does not offer a course, or does not offer it at the lower-division level, the transfer student will receive credit toward graduation for the course, but the credits may not apply toward the number of credits required in the major. Upon transfer to a baccalaureate institution, students may expect 3 to 9 credit hours to be applied to a major in English.

The courses below are those most likely to be accepted as major courses in baccalaureate English programs. Students are encouraged to keep course syllabi and a writing portfolio to assist in transfering courses not included below and for outcomes assessment in the major.

Common genre courses

LIT 121 - Introduction to Poetry 3 credit hours
LIT 126 - Introduction to Drama 3 credit hours
LIT 127 - Introduction to Fiction 3 credit hours

Multicultural or human diversity courses

A few universities require a multicultural or human diversity course within the English major. Universities with such a requirement may accept:

LIT 141 - Introduction to African American Literature 3 credit hours
LIT 146 - Introduction to Non-Western Literature 3 credit hours
LIT 147 - Introduction to African Literature 3 credit hours

Creative Writing specialization

A few universities offer a specialization in creative writing. Universities offering the creative writing specialization will accept one of the following courses in the creative writing specialization only:

ENG 161 - Creative Writing I - Fiction 3 credit hours
ENG 162 - Creative Writing I - Poetry 3 credit hours

Graduation Requirements for the Associate in Arts Degree

General Education Core Curriculum: 38 credit hours

Note: One course taken in Humanities, Fine Arts, or Social/Behavioral Sciences must be a Non-Western culture course.

Communications: 3 courses (9 credit hours)

Take all three:

COM 103 - Introduction to Public Speaking (IAI C2 900)
ENG 101 - Composition I (IAI C1 900) - Grade of C or higher required
ENG 102 - Composition II (IAI C1 901R) - Grade of C or higher required

Social/Behavioral Sciences: 3 courses (9 credit hours)

Take courses from at least two different subjects.
Choose from the
Social/Behavioral Sciences GECC course list

Humanities and Fine Arts: 3 courses (9 credit hours)

Take at least one course from Humanities and at least one course from Fine Arts.
Choose from the
Humanities and Fine Arts GECC course list

Mathematics: 1 course (3 credit hours)

Choose from the
Mathematics GECC course list

Physical and Life Sciences: 2 courses (8 credit hours)

Take one course from Physical Sciences and one course from Life Sciences. Or, take both of the Interdisciplinary Physical/Life Sciences courses.
Choose from the
Physical and Life Sciences GECC course list

Liberal Arts and Sciences: 3 credit hours

Take one:

LAS 188 - Diverse U.S. Cultural Expression 3 credit hours
OR LAS 189 - Introduction to Liberal Arts and Sciences 3 credit hours

General Elective Courses: 19 credit hours

Choose general elective courses to meet the 60 credit hour graduation requirement. If LAS 188 was chosen above, 22 hours of general elective courses will be needed to reach 60 total credit hours.

General electives include any transfer-focused courses (courses with an even middle number such as MGT 101 or ART 121).

Students should work with their advisor to choose electives that match their interests and transfer plans. Some four-year universities prefer transfer students to complete specific coursework. Contact the Academic Advising office for assistance with course planning.

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