Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

English, Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts
Virginia Commonwealth University

Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.

The Bachelor of Arts program in English requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 33 upper-level (numbered 300 to 499) credits in the major. Six of the 33 credits may be taken in upper-level foreign literature read in the original language or upper-level foreign literature in English translation (FLET). UNIV 111 and UNIV 112 (or equivalent) and a 200-level literature course (or equivalent) do not count toward the major.

Outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following: Read closely a wide variety of texts from diverse traditions and recognize how texts are shaped by historical, geographical and generic contexts Learning outcome 1: Employ strategies for interpreting form and ideas through close reading in order to build knowledge of human experience Learning outcome 2: Demonstrate competence at synthesizing ideas within given contexts and perspectives Write clear and effective compositions that reflect their understanding of literary genres, critical perspectives and rhetorical purposes Learning outcome 3: Evince a thorough understanding of context, audience and purpose Learning outcome 4: Organize and synthesize ideas to reveal insightful patterns related to the focus of the writing assignment Employ various strategies for research in order to write persuasive essays Learning outcome 5: Demonstrate discernment at engaging high-quality, credible, relevant sources as parts of published scholarly conversations Learning outcome 6: Integrate evidence into a well-structured, logical argument


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree The English major is characterized by a curiosity about the written word in all its varieties. While English majors are, uniformly, avid readers, the major is as much about writing as it is about reading. As an English major you’ll hone your natural ability as a writer to a keen edge through a variety of critical, creative, and professional writing assignments.
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

English majors must take a minimum of nine credits at the 400 level, including the senior seminar, ENGL 499. Students may expect 300-level courses in the department to emphasize historical breadth, while 400-level courses will offer in-depth focus. ENGL 410-ENGL 414, ENGL 480-ENGL 485 and ENGL 499 will include British, American or other literatures (world, transatlantic, etc.). For specific topics, see the Schedule of Classes; majors are encouraged to choose 400-level courses from more than one literary tradition (British, American, other literatures).
Considerations When Selecting Courses

Students should take their college’s equivalent of VCU’s required Focused Inquiry sequence (UNIV 111, UNIV 112, & UNIV 200) to develop their writing skills. Students should also take both halves of the American or British literature surveys as these will fulfill our major’s foreign language requirement in addition to providing you with a sound foundation for upper-division literature courses.

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Virginia Commonwealth University within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree Due to our flexible degree requirements, many VCU English majors choose to pursue a double major. Within the department, we offer a wide variety of innovative literature courses - literature of addiction, myth and the body, leisure and travel in African-American literature - as well as courses in creative and professional writing. Undergraduate students also have opportunities to work as interns on one of the three journals housed in the department (Blackbird, Journal of the Short Story in English, Plain China) or the British Virginia scholarly editing project.
Program Successes & Highlights All English majors complete an introductory course that focuses on the professional opportunities available with a degree in English. Our majors have succeeded with a variety of employers including Apple TV, Dominion Energy, University of Virginia Press, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Glitter Magazine. In addition, many of them have found employment in teaching or higher education.
Program Credit Requirements
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Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
  • Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
  • View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
If you are interested in the cost of attending this institution, please visit the institution's cost page to review costs
Applicable Admissions Agreements
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The table below lists admissions agreements between Virginia Commonwealth University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.

Institution Name Type Title
Richard Bland College GAA Transfer Agreement - Virginia Commonwealth University and Richard Bland College
Blue Ridge Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Central Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Danville Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Mountain Gateway Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Eastern Shore Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Germanna Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Brightpoint Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Laurel Ridge Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Mountain Empire Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
New River Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Northern Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Paul D. Camp Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Patrick & Henry Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Piedmont Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Rappahannock Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Southside Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Southwest Virginia Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Tidewater Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Peninsula Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Highlands Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Western Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University
Wytheville Community College GAA Guaranteed Admission Agreement - Virginia Community College System and Virginia Commonwealth University

You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Students who earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts & Sciences, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Science, General Education Certificate, or Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System, Richard Bland College, or the College of Southern Maryland may be eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Admission Agreement. Students with one of these degrees may also be eligible to have the majority of their general education requirements waived.

Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students who have earned a transfer-oriented associate degree from any regionally accredited institution or the Uniform Certificate of General Studies from the Virginia Community College System before enrolling at VCU will have their General Education requirements satisfied.
Credit for Prior Learning VCU accepts a variety of types of credit for prior learning, including but not limited to Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), military experience, Cambridge, and industry certifications that are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education or the National College Credit Recommendation Service.
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Virginia Commonwealth University
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
1902
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
VCU prefers transfer applicants with a cumulative college GPA of a 2.5 or higher who are in good standing with their pre...see moreVCU prefers transfer applicants with a cumulative college GPA of a 2.5 or higher who are in good standing with their previous institution. Some degree programs like Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Engineering have more competitive GPA requirements. Admission to programs in VCU Arts is also based on an evaluation of additional application materials and may be more competitive. Transfer applicants with fewer than 24 earned semester (36 quarter) hours will also be reviewed based on their high school GPA.
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? VCU is a large, research-driven institution nestled on two campuses in downtown Richmond, Virginia, offering a vast array of degree programs from arts to dental hygiene to engineering to education. VCU students have access to hundreds of student organizations, which is a great way to connect with others whether or not you choose to live in one of our many on-campus residence halls. Take advantage of VCU's location with access to the James River and its park system, internship and job opportunities, community engagement, and interstates to travel to the beach, the mountains, and Washington, D.C..
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year is determined by the student's first semester of degree-seeking attendance at VCU.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions https://admissions.vcu.edu/apply-to-vcu/undergraduate/transfer/
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Eastern Mennonite UniversityBachelor of Arts EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Averett UniversityBachelor of Arts in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Hollins UniversityBA in English and Creative WritingBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Ferrum CollegeB.S. in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor of Arts in English, Major in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor of Arts in English, Major in English, Concentration in LiteratureBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor of Arts in English, Major in English, Concentration in WritingBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
James Madison UniversityBachelor of Arts, Major in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Longwood University English BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Longwood University English: Secondary Teaching Licensure BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Arts in English EducationBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Arts in Literary StudiesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Radford UniversityBA in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Radford UniversityBS in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Science4-YearIn-Person
University of LynchburgBA in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
The University of Virginia's College at WiseBachelor of Arts in English, Major in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Wesleyan UniversityBachelor of Arts in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Mary Baldwin UniversityBachelor of Arts in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
George Mason UniversityEnglish, BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Norfolk State UniversityBachelor of Arts in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
William & MaryEnglish - Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Old Dominion UniversityEnglish-BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
University of Mary WashingtonBA in English:Creative WritingBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
University of Mary WashingtonBA in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Bridgewater CollegeEnglish Major - BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Shenandoah UniversityBachelor of Arts EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Bluefield UniversityBA in English - LiteratureBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Bluefield UniversityBA in English - Pre-LawBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Bluefield UniversityBA in English - WritingBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Randolph CollegeBachelor of Arts in English: Creative Writing emphasisBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Randolph CollegeBachelor of Fine Arts in English: Creative Writing emphasisBachelorBachelor of Fine Arts4-YearIn-Person
Randolph CollegeBachelor of Arts in English: Literature emphasisBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Emory & Henry UniversityEnglish Literature (BA)BachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Randolph-Macon CollegeEnglish (BA)BachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Regent UniversityB.A. in EnglishBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearHybrid
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1123.00English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
43-9081.00Proofreaders and Copy MarkersRead transcript or proof type setup to detect and mark for correction any grammatical, typographical, or compositional errors. Excludes workers whose primary duty is editing copy. Includes proofreaders of braille.Office and Administrative Support Occupations
25-2031.00Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationTeach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Plan Name Not Provided at Virginia Commonwealth University
These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $6,600 Per Semester $52,800 $0 $52,800 Every credit above 14 credits in a semester is charged at half price ($230 per credit for credits 15 and above; credits 1 -14 are charged the full rate)
Fees
University Fee $1,341 Per Semester $10,728 0 $10,728
Technology Fee $158 Per Semester $1,264 0 $1,264
Library Fee $44 Per Semester $352 0 $352
Student Activity Fee $45 Per Semester $360 0 $360 MCV Campus students pay a flat rate of $18
Academic Support Services Fee $50 Per Semester $400 0 $400
Health Fee $123 Per Semester $984 0 $984
Program Fee $45 Per Semester $360 0 $360
Transition Fee $150 Per Semester $1,200 0 $1,200 New undergraduate transfer students will be charged the Student Transition Fee in their first semester to cover Orientation. The Transition Fee for new First-Year Students is $225 and will be assessed in the first semester.
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Tuition & Fee Notes:
  • Potential Additional Fees
    • Additional fees may include on-campus housing, meal plan, parking, technology, and program- and course-specific fees.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.