Bachelor of Arts in English

Catalog Year 2025-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for ENGLISH

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement Requirements

• This degree program is covered by VCU Guaranteed Admission Agreement.

• By meeting the following criteria, you are guaranteed admission to the BA in English:

• Earn the transfer associate degree.

• Earn minimum GPA of 2.5. VCU recognizes cumulative GPA as recorded on VCCS transcript.

• Complete minimum 30 credits at VCCS institution

• Earn grades of C or higher in all community college courses.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://transfer.vcu.edu/.

• Register Intent to Transfer: https://ugradadmissions.vcu.edu/register/letterofinterest.

• Admission Application: By March 15 for fall, November 1 for spring at https://www.vcu.edu/admissions/apply/.

• Financial Aid: https://semss.vcu.edu/our-services/financial-resources-and-guidance/.

• FAFSA: March 1 deadline at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Complete English courses and start math sequence in first year.

• Create schedule for required courses, watch prerequisites. See www.TransferVirginia.org.

• Connect with advisor at community college and VCU Transfer Center in first semester.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Department of English teaches students to see their worlds with clarity and respond with sensitivity through reading, writing, critical thinking. Students gain knowledge and skills to participate actively in twenty-first-century global culture and professional workplace. Department fosters deep reading of traditional Anglophone canon and diverse literatures, cultivates appreciation of aesthetic features and social functions, studies crafts of creative and professional writing. By engaging in multiple media, learning rhetorical practices, and writing/editing texts, students gain critical and creative thinking skills recognized as essential by employers. Students prepared to participate in their historical moment, speak about literatures past and present, produce substantial creative and professional communication. Options include minors in creative writing or professional writing and editing, experiential learning through internships, independent studies, or Distinguished Majors program.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Completion results in all lower-division general education requirements met.

• Dual Enrollment - Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Results in 60 credits applied and VCU general education satisfied. High school students apply as freshman for orientation purposes.

• Credit for Prior Learning: VCU accepts AP, IB, Cambridge, CLEP, DANTES, military credits.

• Catalog Year: VCU honors degree requirements from Undergraduate Bulletin at time of first post-high-school enrollment in appropriate associate degree. Students stay enrolled at community college max 4 years, enroll at VCU within 1 year of completing associate.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Located in downtown Richmond, within 2 hours of beach, mountains, Washington DC. VCU provides top-ranked academic programs, research opportunities, urban setting.

• VCU is large public research institution dedicated to student and Richmond community success.

• Diversity, inclusion, equity are core values. Connect with broad range of people.

• Learn more at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• Completing associate transfer degree satisfies lower division general education, increases likelihood of completing bachelor’s degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at community college could exhaust financial aid there and reduce future aid at VCU?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore possible careers, salaries, job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

Program Successes & Highlights

• Department of English has range of courses from traditional canonical (Shakespeare) to diversity literature (Multiethnic Literature, Black Women Writers, African American Literature) to contemporary genres/authors (Popular Cultural Studies, Fan Fiction). Also courses in creative writing, professional writing, digital rhetoric.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• If applying through general application instead of GAA, considered with all transfer applicants.

• Learn more at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Do More With Your Degree!

• Department offers accelerated B.A. to M.A. program allowing qualified students to earn both in minimum 5 years by completing approved graduate courses during senior undergraduate year.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• All students complete at least one VCU REAL experiential learning activity to graduate. Examples: internships, research, service learning. Satisfied by 300+ level REAL course or approved co-curricular experience.

• Learn more at https://real.vcu.edu/.