Our English program will challenge you not only to be more well-read and well-spoken, but to be more compassionate and more interesting. In our courses you will repeatedly be faced with taking a position and defending it with logic and reason. You will be taught to read analytically – to ask why – and to think critically and write persuasively. Since all these skills transfer well to the job market, you will not only be ready to transfer to four-year schools, but for eventual careers across a wide range of occupations.
The English department is proud to offer the Associate of Arts (A.A.) in English. As an additional transfer option, AACC has the unique Transfer Studies degree. Both degrees will prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution. Whichever path you choose, we strongly encourage you to meet with an advisor to structure your AACC studies to meet your specific transfer goals.
You’ll study great works of literature while building your reading, writing and analytical abilities.
Did you know you can earn this degree online? Online programs are a great fit for busy working adults and any student who would benefit from the flexibility of a virtual classroom!
The Transfer Studies, A.A. allows you to explore different subjects or concentrate on a specific course plan that will best meet your in-state (and even some out-of-state) transfer goals. This option is particularly good if you are undecided in your ultimate career direction, not sure where you'd like to eventually transfer or just looking to complete general education requirements while "testing the waters" of a particular major. No matter what brings you to Transfer Studies, the result is a well-rounded associate degree preparing you for further studies and successful career.
“One of the greatest advantages that I’ve received from attending community college was having the opportunity to take control of my education and my choice of career destination."
Read Esther's StoryAmaranth is AACC’s student-run journal for the creative arts. Published every April, Amaranth showcases student writing and visual art from the college community and its alumni. Taking on the role of editor-in-chief, managing editor, publicity manger or staff member gives students the opportunity to develop job-related skills in a creative field. Students run staff meetings and advertise the journal while soliciting submissions, working within a budget and coordinating with a print shop to produce a volume worthy of the creative work contained within its pages. Staff members can also earn college credit while working on the journal. Amaranth has been recognized with numerous awards, including the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Award, the Community College Humanities Association’s Literary Magazine Contest and the prestigious Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press.
Coffeehouse is a monthly open mic event hosted by the staff of Amaranth where participants are invited to read their poems and stories, present and discuss visual art or short films, or perform music, monologues, comedy sketches or dance.
Coffeehouse is a great opportunity for students to get to know each other and share their creative talents, for prospective students to get a glimpse of AACC's creative community and for alumni to see old friends and catch up.
Every April, the final Coffeehouse of the year is a release party for the latest edition of Amaranth. Magazine contributors read and discuss their pieces, awards are presented, and family, friends and faculty are invited to support and celebrate the amazing creative work produced by our students.
Due to current concerns with COVID-19, Coffeehouse events are virtual until further notice.
Writers Reading at AACC hosts an array of writers including poets, fiction writers, essayists, songwriters, memoirists, playwrights, journalists and screenplay writers. Guest writers read from their work and engage in discussion with the audience about things such as their creative process, the arc of their careers and advice for beginning writers.
Writers Reading events are sponsored by the School of Liberal Arts and are free to students, faculty, staff and members of the community.
The Creative Writing program actively promotes the writing of its students. All enrolled students are eligible to submit their writing to college awards for potential cash prizes and inclusion in Amaranth. Our program is also affiliated with the League for Innovation, which hosts a Student Literary Competition. Students who win our local League for Innovation competition at AACC are sent forward to compete at the league level for cash prizes and international recognition in the League for Innovation journal.
Check out the tabs below for information on where you can transfer your degree and scholarships that can help you pay for college.
If you decide to earn your A.A. degree in English, you can transfer to complete your four-year degree. We have partnerships and transfer agreements in place with many colleges and universities so you can easily transfer when you're ready. Transfer agreements (or “articulation agreements,” as they’re officially called) are formal arrangements between institutions that allow certain credits to transfer seamlessly from one school to the other. After completing our program, you can seamlessly transfer to:
In addition to these colleges, you can work with a transfer advisor to set up a specific plan to transfer to the four-year school of your choice.
Paying for college should be simple! Scholarships are available to help you prepare for your career in English:
If English sounds appealing, but you’d like to compare it to other offerings, see if one of these is a better fit.
Interests: Social justice and writing
A Little More: Suzanne Spoor’s philosophy of teaching is this: help students find their voices and grow. Whether the class is on writing, African American literature or gender studies, she designs the experience so students encounter ideas they find outrageous, thereby uncovering more about themselves.
Learn more about Suzanne.
Candice Mayhill reads her powerful blog post, “My Big Fat Community College: A love letter to my community and its college.” She and host Dan Baum then discuss what inspired her, what she learned, and of course, how she redefined herself. Redefine U podcast, Special Series, Episode 19, "A Love Letter."
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