Massachusetts Community Colleges
English Programs
English coursework at community colleges in this state. Composition, literature, and writing-track classes for transfer-track liberal-arts students.
6 colleges · 626 sections · 53 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
English composition is required at virtually every four-year college in Massachusetts for graduation, and the two-semester intro composition sequence (English I and II) is among the most-enrolled courses at MassCC community colleges. The 626 sections across 6 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 MassCC.
Earnings & outcomes for English graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 2301 — English Language and Literature, General. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering English
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill Community College | 197 | 10 | 63 | 22 | — |
| Middlesex Community College | 178 | 15 | 79 | — | — |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 101 | 15 | 42 | — | — |
| Holyoke Community College | 77 | 12 | 24 | 5 | — |
| Berkshire Community College | 44 | 9 | 14 | — | — |
| Greenfield Community College | 29 | 11 | 14 | — | — |
English Availability Snapshot
How english sections are being offered across 6 colleges in Massachusetts this term (626 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person286 (46%)
- online207 (33%)
- hybrid104 (17%)
- zoom29 (5%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)259
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)131
- Evening (5 PM and after)54
- Asynchronous / TBA182
Start dates
Sections begin on 6 distinct dates. 62 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 135 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Bristol Community College2 programs
Bunker Hill Community College2 programs
Cape Cod Community College1 program
Requirements
15 creditsBehavioral & Social Sciences
15 credits- ENL 102English Composition II(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Holyoke Community College1 program
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: 35-36 CREDITS
35 credits- ELEC XXXSocial Science Elective (B) Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXSocial Science Elective (B) Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXSocial Science Elective (B) Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXHumanities Elective (C) Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXornot offered
- ELEC XXXMathematics Elective (D) Credit(s): 3-4not offered
- ELEC XXXLaboratory Science Elective (E) Credit(s): 4not offered
- ELEC XXXLaboratory Science Elective (E) Credit(s): 4not offered
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: 9 CREDITS
9 credits- ELEC XXXselect 2 of the following: literature electivenot offered
- ELEC XXXornot offered
- ELEC XXXSPA 214(C) - The Spanish Short Story Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXselect 1 of the following: literature/journalism/creative writing electivenot offered
- ENG 113Journalism I1 section
- ELEC XXXornot offered
- COM 113Journalism I1 section
- ELEC XXXENG 208(C) - Latinx Literature Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXornot offered
- ELEC XXXLAX 208(C) - Latinx Literature Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXENG 224(C) - Children’s Literature Credit(s): 3not offered
- ELEC XXXornot offered
- ELEC XXXENG 235(C) - African-American Literature Credit(s): 3not offered
PROGRAM ELECTIVES: 12 CREDITS
12 creditsSee catalog for course list
GENERAL ELECTIVES: 4 CREDITS
4 creditsSee catalog for course list
TOTAL: 60-61 CREDITS
60 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
MassBay Community College1 program
First Year: Semester 1
First Year: Semester 2
Second Year: Semester 1
Second Year: Semester 2
English Concentration Elective:
- ELEC XXXor any college-level English, Communication or Literature coursenot offered
Source: College catalog
North Shore Community College1 program
Recommended Course Selection Sequence
- CMP 101Composition 1(3 cr)not offered
- FFL 100First Year Experience(3 cr)not offered
- LIT 210American Literature 1: Colonial Period to the Civil War(3 cr)not offered
- LIT 212American Literature 2: Civil War to the Modern Age(3 cr)not offered
- LIT 202British Literature 1: Eighth Century to Nineteenth(3 cr)not offered
- LIT 204British Literature 2: Nineteenth Century to(3 cr)not offered
- LIT 206World Literature 1: Ancient World to Eighteenth Century(3 cr)not offered
- LIT 208World Literature 2: Eighteenth Century to(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Quinsigamond Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
62 credits- ENG 101Placement into college level Composition I(3 cr)not offered
- SOC 101Introduction to Psychology OR PSY 101 Placement into college level Introductory Sociology F/S/SU 3(0 cr)not offered
- ENG 102Composition II(3 cr)not offered
- HUM 105Introduction to Humanities(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 210Introduction to Literary Theory(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Roxbury Community College1 program
Springfield Technical Community College1 program
Select one:
- ELEC XXX(Note 1)not offered
Select one:
- ELEC XXX(Note 1)not offered
Total: 16 credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Total: 13 credits
13 creditsSee catalog for course list
Total: 16 credits
16 creditsSee catalog for course list
Select one:
- ELEC XXX(Note 1)not offered
Total: 15 credits
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Common English courses
- ENG 101Composition I(212 sections)
- ENG 111College Writing I(110 sections)
- ENG 102Composition II(98 sections)
- ENG 112College Writing II(68 sections)
- ENG 109Critical Thinking(26 sections)
- ENG 095Writing Skills II(20 sections)
- ENG 092Reading, Writing, and Reasoning(10 sections)
- ENG 085Pre-College English I(6 sections)
- ENG 105Fund of Oral Communication(6 sections)
- ENG 104Composition I & II(5 sections)
- ENG 113Journalism I(4 sections)
- ENG 116Technical Writing(4 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Will my English composition credits transfer?
- Yes — English I and English II from any MassCC college transfer 1:1 to every Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts’s english programs stack up.
Other programs in Massachusetts
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.