English

English

About the Program

The Houston Community College English Department offers a diverse range of courses, including Composition I and II (dedicated to teaching college level writing), Literature courses on all genres and periods, Creative Writing courses that explore multiple genres, and Technical Writing courses focused on professional writing.

AWARD TYPES: Associate in Arts

AREA OF STUDY: Liberal Arts, Humanities & Education

Degrees and Certificates

Learn more about the Degrees and Certificates offered by this program by visiting the HCC Catalog.

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Program Outcomes

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
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Write in appropriate genres using varied rhetorical strategies.

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Write in appropriate genres to explain and evaluate rhetorical and/or literary strategies employed in argument, persuasion, and various genres.

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Analyze various genres of writing for form, method, meaning, and interpretation.

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Employ research in academic writing styles and use appropriate documentation style.

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Communicate ideas effectively through discussion.

Program Information

General Requirements

To be eligible for an Associate in  Arts (AA), an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or an Associate in Science (AS) degree from HCC, a student must successfully:

Complete at least 60 semester hours of credit as follows: (a) for the AA degree, 43 hours of required core courses and 17 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major (b) for the AAT degree, 44 hours of required core courses plus 16-18 hours of required pre-teaching courses (c) for the AS degree, 43 hours of required core courses plus six additional hours of mathematics, four additional hours of natural science, and 7 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major.

 

Additional Degree Requirements

A student who has received an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution must meet specific requirements to earn an additional degree from HCC.

  • The student must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours at HCC for each additional degree. These hours may not repeat credit applied from a previous HCC degree.  These hours may not be satisfied through credit by exam.
  • All additional hours must be applicable toward the additional degree. If the student has prior credit in required courses, appropriate substitutions may be arranged.
  • All courses required by the specific HCC program of the additional degree must be completed.
  • A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned on all hours since the previous degree.
  • Academic courses from previous degrees may be applied to an additional AAS degree required academic core where equivalent and appropriate, which waives the need for approval, except where program restrictions prevail.
  • If the first degree was an Associate in Arts, an Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate in Science, a bachelor degree, or higher degree from an accredited educational institution in the United States, the student will be considered to be “Core Complete”, thus needing to complete only the requirement of 18 additional semester hours at HCC toward a new associate degree.
  • Each additional academic associate degree obtained from HCC must be of a different type.  Thus, a student may only obtain one Associate in Arts, one Associate of Arts in Teaching, and/or one Associate in Science from HCC. For example, if one degree from HCC was an AA, then any additional degrees must be an AAT, AS, or AAS.
  • Multiple Associate of Applied Science degrees may be earned from HCC if all AAS program requirements are met including earning at least 18 additional semester hours at HCC, 12 of which must be earned in the major program of the additional degree. In most cases, however, there is only one AAS degree allowable per workforce program. See counselor or program chair for clarification.
  • Multiple workforce Certificates of Completion may be earned from HCC if all program requirements are met for each certificate including earning at least 9 additional unique semester hours at HCC toward the major program of the additional certificate.
  • All other state and institutional graduation requirements, including TSI policies and financial obligations, must be met.

 

Employment

There are 1,682 Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to decrease by 1.4% over the next four years.

  • The estimated annual job openings is 47 jobs a year.
  • Median Wages - $20.33 hourly, $42,000 annually

Addtional Employment Information »

 

Online Program Restrictions

Some online programs may require up to 15% of their curriculum be taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Language Option Restrictions

Some online programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some online programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Required Course Restrictions

Some online programs may require students to participate in one or more campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.  

Potential Course Restrictions

Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.

 

Field of Study Curriculum

English Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum

Field of Study Coursework:

  • ENGL 1301        Composition I
  • ENGL 1302        Composition II

 

Choose two of the following Literature Survey courses:

  • ENGL 2341        Forms of Literature
  • ENGL 2321        British Literature
  • ENGL 2322        British Literature I
  • ENGL 2323        British Literature II
  • ENGL 2327        American Literature I
  • ENGL 2328        American Literature II
  • ENGL 2332        World Literature I
  • ENGL 2333        World Literature II

 

Fully Transferable: 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has designated the Field of Study Curriculum courses as “fully transferable” to other public colleges and universities in Texas. Students planning on transferring to either private or out-of-state institutions should direct transfer questions to that college or university.  

For more information, refer to the HCC Catalog (https://www.hccs.edu/programs/catalog/ ) and Field of Study Curricula Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board thecb.state.tx.us/institutional-resources-programs/public-universities-health-related-institutions/transfer-resources/field-of-study-curricula/

 

 

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Marketable Skills

Learn more about the marketable skills—skills valued by employers that can be applied in variety of work settings—so you can communicate these to potential employers. Click on the relevant award title below to see descriptions of marketable skills for that area.

English - Field of Study, A.A.

Career Opportunities

Explore real-time labor market data on occupations you may pursue post-graduation, offering insight into career opportunities, potential earnings, and job demand in the Greater Houston region.

For more in-depth information about this career and other career pathways, visit Career Coach.

Resources

Search for a English Professor or request more information

Get in touch

English

Chair
Dr. Mary Lawson
mary.lawson@hccs.edu


Associate Chair
Prof. Stacey Higdon
stacey.higdon@hccs.edu


Associate Chair
Dr. Robin Nealy
robin.nealy@hccs.edu


Associate Chair
Prof. Mandy Palmer
mandy.palmer@hccs.edu

Hours of Operation: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm