May 16, 2024
2023-2024 Online Catalog

Program Description


The English degree program is designed for the students interested in focusing on literature and writing in an interrelated academic environment. The program features a broad range of courses in English language, literature, and composition, including introduction to literature, survey courses, genre courses, diversity-based and interdisciplinary courses, and writing-intensive courses. The program will enable interested students to begin their major in English at Union College and transfer to a four-year institution to continue their academic advancement on the baccalaureate level.

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

  • Write clearly, grammatically, and fluently with focus and continuity in standard American English;
  • Demonstrate the ability to revise papers through the writing process;
  • Demonstrate clarity, analytical skill, and organization to present and support ideas in formal papers and in-class writings;
  • Articulate their evolving point of view about literature, authors, diverse cultures, and periods, and about compositional artistry, creativity, and style;
  • Apply technology skills to write research papers that explore critical inquiry on works and authors studied; judge reliable sources for such writing;
  • Discuss major writers, movements, cultures, and works covered in a given course in ways that demonstrate analytical competency and compositional skill;
  • Illustrate the interrelatedness of literature, literary theory, and composition through discussion and written analysis;
  • Evaluate the various issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion through the use of textual analysis.

After Union College


Graduates can transfer to a related program at a four-year college or university and are eligible to take advantage of the many transfer/articulation agreements Union College has with some of the top four-year colleges and universities in the country. See a transfer advisor for details.

Recommended Sequence


First Year


Second Year


Fall Semester


Semester Total: 16

Spring Semester


Semester Total: 12

Total Program Credits: 60


* ENG 200-Level or  FIA 232

Milestone Courses


The milestones (in bold)identify critical courses for timely progress and the semester in which the course should be completed for on-time graduation.  Milestone course grades < 2.0should be discussed with an advisor.

Career and Transfer Information