Virginia Community Colleges
English Programs
English coursework at community colleges in this state. Composition, literature, and writing-track classes for transfer-track liberal-arts students.
23 colleges · 1655 sections · 32 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Last updated: October 20, 2018
English composition is required at virtually every four-year college in Virginia for graduation, and the two-semester intro composition sequence (English I and II) is among the most-enrolled courses at VCCS community colleges. The 1655 sections across 23 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 VCCS.
Colleges offering English
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | 479 | 24 | 170 | — | — |
| Tidewater Community College | 184 | 14 | 92 | — | — |
| Brightpoint Community College | 113 | 12 | 66 | — | — |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | 107 | 9 | 32 | — | — |
| Germanna Community College | 97 | 12 | 46 | — | — |
| Reynolds Community College | 92 | 9 | 50 | — | — |
| Virginia Western Community College | 78 | 8 | 35 | — | — |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 73 | 9 | 27 | — | — |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | 58 | 6 | 24 | — | — |
| Central Virginia Community College | 55 | 8 | 19 | — | — |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | 47 | 11 | 17 | — | — |
| New River Community College | 33 | 8 | 4 | — | — |
| Rappahannock Community College | 33 | 9 | 19 | — | — |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | 28 | 6 | 10 | — | — |
| Southside Virginia Community College | 28 | 9 | 15 | — | — |
| Danville Community College | 27 | 8 | 16 | — | — |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | 25 | 6 | 9 | — | — |
| Camp Community College | 22 | 8 | 13 | — | — |
| Wytheville Community College | 21 | 5 | 13 | — | — |
| Eastern Shore Community College | 16 | 7 | 4 | — | — |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | 16 | 7 | 13 | — | — |
| Mountain Empire Community College | 12 | 3 | 7 | — | — |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | 11 | 5 | 4 | — | — |
English Availability Snapshot
How english sections are being offered across 23 colleges in Virginia this term (1655 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person700 (42%)
- online680 (41%)
- hybrid250 (15%)
- zoom25 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)530
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)331
- Evening (5 PM and after)126
- Asynchronous / TBA668
Start dates
Sections begin on 29 distinct dates. 416 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Eastern Shore Community College1 program
Detailed course requirements are not yet available for this program. View in college catalog
Source: College catalog
Northern Virginia Community College2 programs
Reynolds Community College2 programs
Tidewater Community College1 program
Common English courses
- ENG 111College Composition I(1037 sections)
- ENG 112College Composition II(322 sections)
- ENG 246American Literature(53 sections)
- ENG 245British Literature(35 sections)
- ENG 250Children's Literature(31 sections)
- ENG 225Reading Literature: Culture and Ideas(26 sections)
- ENG 255World Literature(19 sections)
- ENG 236Introduction to the Short Story(16 sections)
- ENG 258African American Literature(16 sections)
- ENG 115Technical Writing(15 sections)
- ENG 211Creative Writing(15 sections)
- ENG 275Women in Literature(14 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Will my English composition credits transfer?
- Yes — English I and English II from any VCCS college transfer 1:1 to every Virginia 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 Virginia’s english programs stack up.
Other programs in Virginia
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.