About the English Major

Words are power! English is by far the most flexible undergraduate degree you can get.

English majors have some of the highest acceptance transfer rates in law schools, MBA programs, and other professional degree programs. As an English major, you will be sought after in many fields because employers will know that you have mastered the power of communication. English majors study not just language, literature and culture, but also the arts of communicating persuasively and of thinking critically and creatively.

Explore Potential Careers

Studying English can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Lawyers
  • Teachers or professors
  • Librarians
  • Journalists
  • Librarians
  • Authors
  • Technical writers
  • Speechwriters
  • Grant writers
  • Editors
  • Publishers
  • Public relations specialists
  • Advertisers

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish. 

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals. 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1A + 1AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4-6  
CSU GE Area A1 Oral Communication 3  
CSU GE Area B4 Math / Quantitative Reasoning 3-8  
CSU GE Area E Lifelong Learning and Self-Development 3  

Total Units: 13-20 

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1B Writing about Literature 4  
Major Requirement - Group 2: Core Survey Courses See Counselor 3  
CSU GE Area B1 Physical Science 3-6  
CSU GE Area B3 Lab Activity (To Be Taken with Course from B1 or B2) 1  
CSU GE Area C1 Arts 3  
Additional CSU Transferable Units   3  

Total Units: 17-20 

Semester 3

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1C Writing about Nonfiction 4  
Major Requirement - Group 2: Core Survey Courses See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement - Group3: Specialized Literature Courses See Counselor 3  
POLS 1 U.S. Government 3  
CSU GE Area D Social Sciences 3  

Total Units: 16

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Major Requirement - Group 3: Specialized Literature Courses Literature Courses 3  
CSU GE Area B2 Life Science 3-6  
CSU GE Area D Social Sciences 3  
Additional CSU Transferable Units   3  
Additional CSU Transferable Units   3  

Total Units: 15-18

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1A + 1AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4-6  
GE Area A Communication and Analytical Thinking 3  
GE Area D Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirement 3  
GE Area G1 Health Knowledge Requirement 2-3  
Degree Applicable Elective   3  

Total Units: 15-18

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1B Writing about Literature 4  
Major Requirement - Group 2 See Counselor 3  
GE Area F United States History and Government Requirement 3  
MATH 46, MATH 60 or 860, ET 108B, or ET 50, or PSYC 5, or ECON 5, or LALS 5, or PHIL 12A, or FIN 136M or higher math course (or equivalent) Math Graduation Requirement 3-8  
GE Area G2 Physical Skills Requirement 1-3  

Total Units: 14-21

Semester 3 (Summer)

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Degree Applicable Elective   3  

Total Units: 3

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Major Requirement - Group 2 See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement - Group 3 See Counselor 3  
GE Area H Ethnic Studies, Women's and Gender Studies and LGBTQ Studies 3  
Degree Applicable Elective   3  
Degree Applicable Elective   3  

Total Units: 15

 

Semester 5

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Major Requirement - Group 3 See Counselor 3  
Major Requirement - Group 3 See Counselor 3  
GE Area C Natural Sciences Requirement 3-6  
Degree Applicable Elective   3  
Degree Applicable Elective   3  

Total Units: 15-18

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities. Start planning your transfer by exploring English programs at the following institutions: 

  • San Francisco State University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of California, Davis
  • Colombia University
  • New School for Social Research

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.