Concentrations: American Literature, British Literature, Creative Writing, World Literature

Major requirements and their VCCS equivalents (and RBC equivalents if applicable)

JMU Course: ENG 221, Literature, Culture, Ideas

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 225, 245, 246, 247, 255, 257, 273, 274, 276 or 278
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 201 or 202
  • NOTE: See advising note #1.

JMU Course: ENG 222, Genre(s)

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 230, 236, 237, 250, 256, 258, 260, 267, 268, 271 or 275
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 210, 212 or 213
  • NOTE: See advising note #1

JMU Course: ENG 235, Survey of English Literature: From Beowulf to the 18th Century

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 243
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 203
  • NOTE: See advising note #1

JMU Course: ENG 236, Survey of English Literature: Victorian Era through the 20th Century

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 244
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 204

JMU Course: ENG 247, Survey of American Literature: From the Beginning to the Civil War

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 241
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 205
  • NOTE: See advising note #1

JMU Course: ENG 248, Survey of American Literature: From the Civil War to the Modern Period

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 242
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 206

JMU Course: ENG 260, Survey of African-American Literature

  • VCCS equivalents: ENG 253 or 254 or 258
  • RBC equivalents: ENGL 214

JMU Course: Philosophy course for the B.A. degree

  • VCCS equivalents: PHI 100, 200, or 227
  • RBC equivalents: PHIL 101, 201, 202 or 203
  • NOTE: Not required to transfer; may be taken at JMU. Please Note: PHI 111 and 220 (VCCS) and PHIL 121 (RBC) will transfer but DO NOT count for the B.A. philosophy requirement.

JMU Course: PSYC 160, Life Span Human Development

  • VCCS equivalents: PSY 230 or 231 and 232
  • RBC equivalents: PSY 250
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure.

JMU Course: EDUC 200, Foundations of American Education

  • VCCS equivalents: EDU 200
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure.

JMU Course: EDUC 310, Teaching in a Diverse Society

  • VCCS equivalents: EDU 204
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure.

JMU Course: EXED 200, Foundations of Exceptional Education

  • VCCS equivalents: EDU 250
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure (double major in English and secondary education, not required for students in the 5 year M.A.T. program).

Advising Notes

Please Read: This major guide is a list of all possible major courses offered in the Virginia Community College System. Not all courses may be offered at your community college, and you are not required to complete all these courses in order to transfer. Rather, it’s designed to help you meet JMU major requirements before you transfer, and be better prepared to progress through the major once you arrive at JMU. Please be sure to read the advising notes for additional information on the major.

  1. Majors must take 3 of the ENG courses listed above, with the following caveats:
    1. one course must be either ENG 235 or 247
    2. of the remaining two courses, only one may be ENG 221 or 222. Both with not count.
  2. English majors earn a B.A. degree. The B.A. requires intermediate proficiency in a foreign language (either through the JMU foreign language placement exam or coursework). 
  3. A philosophy course is also required for the B.A.; see course equivalents above for options. B.A. requirements may be taken at the community college or at JMU.
  4. Students seeking teacher licensure in English must also complete the pre-professional secondary education program (5-year program) or double major in secondary education (4-year program). All education students must apply and be admitted to Teacher Education. See the admission requirements and use the links below to learn more about the application process. 

Updated 5/23

For more information:

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