Associate of Arts in English

In today's information society, reading comprehension and writing skills are essential for everyone. The English program offers a rich and varied education in these vital areas of literacy - serving the individual student, the academic community and the society at large. In order to develop an understanding of our cultural tradition and to stimulate students' imaginations, the department offers literature courses ranging from surveys of British, American and world literature to introductory courses in poetry, Shakespeare and contemporary fiction to special topics on a particular author or theme.

The English Program at Santa Barbara City College has been developed with the following vision as its guiding principle: to provide to all matriculating students an education that encompasses foundational skills for employment and for all of their college and university learning. The skills include composition and critical thinking, both of which further their ability to participate knowledgeably in the social dialogue of our times. The study of literature in its various forms of fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry enlarges students’ cognitive abilities and connects them to the larger discourse relating to human experience and values.

A product of this vision and the Program’s curricula is a student body that is curious, self-directed in inquiry, and engaged with ideas--historical, contemporary, artistic and social. The Program thus serves the individual student, the academic community, and society at large. The reading and writing components of the Program not only promote the critical thinking skills necessary for analysis but also develop understanding of diverse cultures, traditions, and histories.

The freshman English courses (ENG 110 Composition and Reading and ENG 111 Critical Thinking and Composition Through Literature) provide students with the foundation in college writing and research to promote their individual growth and to enhance their ability to succeed in their further education or in their work-certificate goals. In addition, sophomore literature courses satisfy the requirements for the English major and also attract and motivate students to become acquainted with important and exciting works of art. They also fulfill the General Education requirements for students enrolled in degree and transfer programs. Since one important goal of our English Program is to foster creativity and imaginative endeavors so necessary in the life of the mind and the spirit, our department also offers Creative Writing courses and the option to earn a Creative Writing Certificate.

SBCC offers a Transfer Agreement Guarantee (TAG). A TAG is a contractual agreement between the student, SBCC, and specific four-year colleges or universities. This includes six University of California ( *UC) institutions, six California State Institutions (CSU), seven California private institutions, nine out-of-state institutions, as well as Honors Transfer Agreements with ten institutions and 8 CSUs without campus impaction. Students must enroll in the TAG program and work with a TAG advisor. Please click here to learn more on the TAG program website.