Illinois Community Colleges
English Programs
English coursework at community colleges in this state. Composition, literature, and writing-track classes for transfer-track liberal-arts students.
14 colleges · 528 sections · 60 unique courses · Fall 2026
English composition is required at virtually every four-year college in Illinois for graduation, and the two-semester intro composition sequence (English I and II) is among the most-enrolled courses at Illinois Community Colleges community colleges. The 528 sections across 14 institutions this term cover composition, intro literature, technical writing, and creative writing.
The English associate is a transfer pathway — completing the first two years of an English bachelor's at community-college tuition. Direct career roles in English (technical writer, copy editor, content marketer) typically need a bachelor's and a strong portfolio. Compare colleges below for online section availability; English I and II are among the most-online-available courses across Illinois Community Colleges.
Colleges offering English
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waubonsee Community College | 127 | 12 | 35 | — | — |
| McHenry County College | 72 | 9 | 27 | — | — |
| Morton College | 62 | 7 | — | — | — |
| Parkland College | 51 | 8 | 16 | — | — |
| Kankakee Community College | 44 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | 44 | 6 | — | — | — |
| South Suburban College | 37 | 8 | 13 | — | — |
| Danville Area Community College | 27 | 5 | 9 | — | — |
| Shawnee Community College | 22 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| Oakton College | 12 | 7 | 3 | — | — |
| Lincoln Trail College | 9 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Olney Central College | 9 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Wabash Valley College | 8 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Frontier Community College | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
English Availability Snapshot
How english sections are being offered across 14 colleges in Illinois this term (528 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person347 (66%)
- online105 (20%)
- hybrid76 (14%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)253
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)108
- Evening (5 PM and after)37
- Asynchronous / TBA130
Start dates
Sections begin on 18 distinct dates. 58 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 144 distinct instructors across 14 colleges.
Common English courses
- ENG 101Rhetoric I(130 sections)
- ENG 102Rhetoric II(63 sections)
- ENG 151COMPOSITION I(45 sections)
- ENGL 131First-Year English I(28 sections)
- ENGL 1613English I(24 sections)
- ENG 152COMPOSITION II(23 sections)
- ENG 099Writing Skills Review II(22 sections)
- ENGL 101Rhetoric and Composition I(18 sections)
- ENG 085Basic Integrated Reading and Writing(15 sections)
- ENG 1111COMPOSITION I(15 sections)
- ENG 0111English Composition I(13 sections)
- ENG 088Basic Composition(10 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Will my English composition credits transfer?
- Yes — English I and English II from any Illinois Community Colleges college transfer 1:1 to every Illinois public four-year. Most also transfer to out-of-state public and private institutions, though the specific course-equivalence depends on each receiving school's catalog. English composition is among the most reliably transferable courses you can take.
- Can I major in English at a community college?
- You can complete the associate of arts with an English focus — the first two years of an English bachelor's — but the upper-division (literature theory, advanced writing seminars, capstone) only happens at a four-year. CC English faculty often teach intro literature and creative writing well, especially small workshop-style courses; serious English majors get strong preparation at the CC level.
- What jobs does an English degree qualify me for?
- With just the associate: limited direct roles — entry copywriting at small companies, administrative work, content moderation. With the bachelor's added: technical writer, content marketing, editor, communications coordinator, teacher (with certification), journalist, publishing assistant. The strongest English-major careers combine the writing skills with a domain specialty.
- Is the writing instruction at community college as good as at a four-year?
- Often yes, sometimes better. Community-college composition classes are typically smaller (20-25 students) than the large-lecture composition courses at flagship state universities, and CC English instructors are usually full-time teaching faculty (not graduate students). The instruction quality is high; the credential signaling is what differs.
Compare English programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Illinois’s english programs stack up.
Other programs in Illinois
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.