Major map compass icon
2021-2022

English, Bachelor of Arts (accelerated masters degree option)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts, English Specialization (Northern Virginia Community College)
Northern Virginia Community College
Northern Virginia Community College
Program description

The Department of English teaches students to see their worlds with clarity and respond to them with sensitivity, through reading, writing, and critical thinking. Students gain the knowledge and skills to participate actively and conscientiously in the twenty-first-century global culture and the professional workplace. The Department fosters the deep reading of the traditional Anglophone canon as well as the literatures of diverse cultures and under-represented voices, it cultivates an appreciation of their aesthetic features and social functions, and it studies the crafts of creative and professional writing. By engaging in multiple media, learning a wide variety of rhetorical practices, and writing and editing academic and creative texts, students gain skills in critical and creative thinking increasingly recognized as essential by employers. Students are prepared to participate in their historical and cultural moment, to speak with authority about the literatures of the past and present, and to produce substantial creative and professional communication of their own.


Students have the option to pursue minors in creative writing or professional writing and editing. Students also have the opportunity for meaningful experiential learning, whether through internships, independent studies, or pursuit of the department’s Distinguished Majors program.

Career opportunities

A recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers lists written communication skills as the single most desirable attribute any employer seeks. Similarly, Google’s Project Oxygen revealed the seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills cultivated by humanities degrees including communicating and listening well, possessing insights into others, particularly those with different values and points of view, and being able to make connections across complex ideas. An undergraduate degree in English provides exactly those skills.


Additionally, a degree in English is good preparation for graduate study in English, as well as other areas such as, law, education, public administration, or business. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are imperative for most careers related to non-profits, education, law and business. Gain experience in fundraising and grant writing techniques. Nonprofit and educational organizations are often funded in this manner. Part-time and summer jobs, internships, and volunteer positions are critical to gaining the experience and skills that employers seek.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Editor
  • Fundraiser  
  • High School Teacher
  • Human Resource Specialist
  • Library Technician
  • Proof Readers and Copy Markers
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Reporters and Correspondents
  • Research Assistant
  • Social Media Coordinator
  • Staff and Legislative Assistant
  • Technical Writer
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Advertising Executive
  • Attorney
  • College Professor or Administrator
  • Copywriter
  • Director of Communications
  • Public Policy Specialist
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • To declare: none To graduate: 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

English, Bachelor of Arts (accelerated masters degree option)

Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts, English Specialization)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Complete ENG 111 and ENG 112.
  • Meet with your academic advisor or counselor each semester.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
  • Use Navigate to connect with your advisor and create a program plan.
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Review VCU English department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers and for information about English talks and clubs.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
  • Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
  • Attend cultural events at NOVA and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to English through the NOVA career planning system.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
Experience Year 2
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU English Department and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students in English to make professional and personal connections.
  • Research housing in Richmond for next year.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
  • Continue learning a foreign language, or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • If interested, attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or English-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
  • Plan to complete at least two job experiences (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college. The English department offers three internship options.
  • Create a resume.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Complete ENG 111 and ENG 112.
  • Meet with your academic advisor or counselor each semester.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Register for SDV 100 or SDV 101.
  • Use Navigate to connect with your advisor and create a program plan.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
  • Review VCU English department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers and for information about English talks and clubs.
  • Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
  • Learn about the admissions process by speaking with the VCU Transfer Admissions representative at NOVA.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at NOVA and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to English through the NOVA career planning system.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU English Department and consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students in English to make professional and personal connections.
  • Research housing in Richmond for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
  • Continue learning a foreign language, or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
  • If interested, attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or English-related events.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
  • Speak with employers that visit campus throughout the year.
  • Plan to complete at least two job experiences (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college. The English department offers three internship options.
  • Create a resume.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

English, Bachelor of Arts (accelerated masters degree option)

Northern Virginia Community College (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts, English Specialization)

Northern Virginia Community College courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV SDV 100 College Success Skills or SDV 101 Orientation to (a specific discipline) UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
World Language 101 World Language (101-Level) OR ASL 101 - or general education elective if placed out of the 101-level VCU Equivalent 3 to 5 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
Physical or Life Science w/ Lab Select 1: BIO 101 General Biology I OR CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry I OR GOL 105 Physical Geology OR PHY 101 Introduction to Physics I OR PHY 150 Elements of Astronomy VCU Equivalent 4 General education
ENG 112 College Composition  II UNIV 200 3 General education
World Language 102 World Language (102-Level) OR ASL 102 - or general education elective if placed out of the 102-level VCU Equivalent 3 to 5 General education
MTH 245 Statistics I (or general education elective) VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Physical or Life Science w/ Lab Select 1: BIO 101 General Biology I OR BIO 102 General Biology II OR CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry I OR CHM 102 Introductory Chemistry II OR GOL 105 Physical Geology OR GOL 106 Historical Geology OR PHY 101 Introduction to Physics I OR PHY 102 Introduction to Physics II OR PHY 150 Elements of Astronomy VCU equivalent 4 General education
Social/Behavioral Science Elective Select one: PLS 135 American National Politics OR PLS 211 United States Government I OR PSY 200 Principles of Psychology OR SOC 200 Principles of Sociology OR SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology I VCU equivalent 3 Elective
CST Select 1: CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking OR CST 110 Introduction to Communication OR CST 126 Interpersonal Communication SPCH 121 3 Elective
English Literature Elective Select 1: ENG 241 Survey of American Literature I OR ENG 242 Survey of American Literature II OR ENG 243 Survey of English Literature I OR ENG 244 Survey of English Literature II OR ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I OR ENG 252 Survey of World Literature II ENGL 3 Major (Ancillary)
World Language 201 World Language (201-Level) OR ASL 201 - or general education elective if placed out of the 201-level Note: the BA degree requires EITHER completion of a foreign language through the 202 level OR six credits of literature (e.g., ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252). Students concerned about the foreign language requirement should discuss their options with their academic advisor. VCU Equivalent 3 Major
HIS Elective HIS 101 History of Western Civilization I (select for European studies) OR HIS 102 History of Western Civilization II OR HIS 111 History of World Civilization I OR HIS 112 History of World Civilization II OR HIS 121 United States History I OR HIS 122 United States History II HIST 3 General education
Social/Behavioral Science Elective Select one: ECO 201, 202, GEO 210, PSY 200, 216, 230, SOC 200, 211 VCU equivalent 3 General education
English 200 Level Elective Select one: ENG 210 Advanced Composition OR ENG 211 Creative Writing I ENGL 3 Major
English 200 Level Elective Select one: ENG 236 Introduction to the Short Story OR ENG 237 Introduction to Poetry OR ENG 253 Survey of African American Literature I OR ENG 256 Literature of Science Fiction OR ENG 257 Mythological Literature OR ENG 279 Film and Literature VCU equivalent 3 Elective
World Language 202 World Language (202-Level) OR ASL 202 - or general education elective if placed out of the 202-level Note: the BA degree requires EITHER completion of a foreign language through the 202 level OR six credits of literature (e.g., ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252). Students concerned about the foreign language requirement should discuss their options with their academic advisor. VCU Equivalent 3 Major (Ancillary)
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Select one: ART 101 History and Appreciation of Art I OR ART 102 History and Appreciation of Art II OR MUS 121 Music Appreciation I OR PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy I OR CST 151 Film Appreciation VCU equivalent 3 General education
General Education Elective Select one: PLS 241 International Relations I OR REL 231 Religions of the World I (note: this elective is NOT Needed if World Languages total more than 15 Credits) VCU equivalent 3 Elective
HUM 198 Seminar and Project Liberal Arts HUMS 1XX 1 Elective
Northern Virginia Credits Transferred to VCU 60 to 62
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
ENGL 301 Introduction to the English Major 3 Major
ENGL 499 Senior Seminar in English 3 Major
ENGL ___ Select one course from two of the following areas (see VCU advisor for course options): - Linguistics - Writing - Criticism 6 Major
ENGL ___ Select two courses from the approved list of Literature prior to 1700 (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
ENGL ___ Select two courses from approved list of Literature 1700-1945 (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 Major
ENGL ___ Select one course from approved list of Literature of diversity (see VCU advisor for course options) 3 Major
ENGL ___ Select six to nine required elective/optional focus credits (see VCU advisor for course options) 6 to 9 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 12 Elective
Open electives 13 Elective
Credits Completed at VCU 58 to 60
Bachelor's degree total 120