Welcome! The English Department at Manchester Community College is committed to the belief that reading, writing and critical thinking are essential activities for all people. Through the courses it offers and the activities and events it sponsors, the department engenders a love of the spoken and written word and enriches the academic, cultural and economic life of the college and the community. The English Department offers courses in academic reading and writing, literature, creative writing, research writing and technical writing, honors courses and several practicums.
The department is often thought of as the gateway to the college experience. ENG* 101: English Composition, a requirement of every degree program and a prerequisite for many courses, is an integral part of the college’s general education core curriculum. This course introduces students to the kinds of reading, writing and critical thinking that they will encounter in the academic world.
Student placements are determined by an assessment test prior to registration in a program. (Some students may be exempt from this process. The link explains the exceptions.) The results of this test will determine the degree of preparedness and readiness of the student to enter and successfully complete ENG* 101.
Recognizing that not all students will be prepared to enter the college-level English curriculum, the department has developed two developmental courses which prepare students for ENG *101:
ENG* 093: Introduction to College Reading and Reading
ENG* 096: Introduction to College English
Based on their placement scores, students will enroll in either of these courses, and with successful completion, will be eligible for ENG* 101.
Some students, also based on their placement scores, will be eligible to register for ENG* 101 with developmental support embedded into the course: ENG* 101M: Composition with Embedded Support.
The department’s primary goal is to help students become successful college-level readers, writers and thinkers, and one of the benefits of attending MCC are the English Department support services available to students who wish additional help and practice.
For students who plan to transfer to complete the requirements for a bachelor of arts degree in English at one of the four Connecticut state universities or Charter Oak State College, enrolling in the college’s English Studies Transfer Ticket degree pathway program is a good choice. By entering this program, students are able to start their course work at MCC and take advantage of its high quality instruction and more affordable community college tuition and fees. Upon completion of the CSCU Pathway Transfer: English Studies associate degree, students are guaranteed full junior status and can complete a bachelor’s degree in their major without losing any credits or being required to take extra credits or incur additional expenses.
Those who are interested in English or who are considering transferring to a college outside the CSCU system should consider the Liberal Arts and Science associate in arts degree program.
Students who are thinking of transferring are encouraged to meet with their academic advisors to discuss their plans and how MCC courses transfer to other institutions. More information on the transfer options available at MCC can be found in the Transfer Planning portion of the website.
Additionally the department has an English as a Second Language (ESL) Program for the non-English speaking student. A complete listing and description of all English courses can be found in MCC’s course descriptions.
Career Information
Learn about a career with a degree in English.
Contacts
James Gentile
Professor
Co-Chair, English Department
860-512-2667
Andrew Sottile
Associate Professor
Co-Chair, English Department
860-512-2668