Why major in English? Because it empowers you.

No matter what your major you are in, no matter what career path you choose, being able to communicate it vital to success and that's where our department and the English AAT-degree come in.

The primary things we teach--at all levels of study, including Credit ESL (English as a Second Language for transfer to the University of California UC and CSU)--are critical thinking, critical reading offered in our staple reading courses (Reading 98 and Reading 101, which is CSU transferable) and the art of the argument.  After all, that is what college is all about: learning to think for yourself and knowing what you think and why.  In our classes, we examine issues critically, read classic and contemporary texts closely, and discuss enduring and current issues that affect all of us on a daily basis in order to better understand history, the world and our place in it. 

Our goal is to empower you, our students, to find your unique voice so that you can create the change you want to see in your life and in the world. You are the future and we believe in your ideas and intellect.  It is not about what we think; it is about what you think.  Our faculty is dedicated to providing the tools and guidance to help you become the most powerful, expressive, and self-aware person you can be. Using the Socratic method, we employ dialogue and debate to help us all come to higher levels of understanding.  This, we believe, is the best way to make positive changes in all fields of study now and in the future, and we will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you find your unique voice and that it is strong and ready to be heard. So, join us! English majors have rewarding careers in law, business, diplomacy, teaching, tech, communications, political science, and the arts to name a few. 

In short, the English major is a springboard for any profession that requires critical thinking and communication--and what career doesn't?  Besides, you will read some inspiring literature that makes us all realize what it means to be human and why we are much more similar than we are different, and why all those commonalities and differences should be celebrated!  As the great F. Scott Fitzgerald put it, "That is part of the beauty of all literature.  You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone.  You belong."

We offer several English Department scholarships for all students, regardless of residency status.