What is a Transfer Pathway?

A transfer pathway represents a typical course schedule/sequence for a student planning to complete the A.A. degree within two years, then transfer and major in a specific discipline. A transfer pathway is not institution-specific. 

It is important to understand that the pathway provided in the adjacent tab is just one possible combination of classes by which to complete an A.A. and prepare for transfer in your chosen area of study. Other course combinations and sequences can work, too. It is strongly recommended that students work directly and frequently with a COD academic counselor/advisor, a COD faculty advisor, and academic counselors/advisors at potential transfer schools, to develop and execute a plan that works best for them.

Note that "English," as a broad academic area, actually features many programs or tracks of study.  These include Creative Writing, Film, Literature, and Writing Studies (which itself includes distinct areas of study like Professional Writing and Rhetoric and Writing).  

It is important for all Associate of Arts English majors to explore what potential transfer schools offer in terms of an English degree, areas of emphasis or tracks within that degree, and/or stand alone BA degrees in areas of English studies. Some schools may offer a BA in English, for example. Others may offer separate BAs in English Literature, and/or in Rhetoric and Writing, and/or in other fields within English. Many schools will offer a variety of BA possibilities in English.

The map/pathway in the adjacent tab is divided by semester, but we recognize that not all students are full-time (or will be successful in all classes). The plan also does not include summer coursework, though many students actively take classes in summer. Taking classes in summers might alter the semester by semester sequencing suggested and/or could lighten Fall/Spring course loads. 

We want to stress that it is not necessary to take exactly the classes listed in the adjacent tab in exactly the order in which they are presented and/or in particular semesters together. Rather, the map could be used more like a checklist of courses to complete that will generate an AA and prepare a student for transfer as an English major. As with course selection itself, there are many options for pacing and sequencing that can work.

Given that there is no one, single path by which a student can earn an AA from COD in preparation to transfer as an English major, and given the variety of tracks or potential BA programs within and/or related to English as an area of academic study, and given that different transfer schools are likely to have different requirements/recommendations for what courses transfer students can most usefully be taking as part of their AA work, it is strongly recommended that students work directly and frequently with a COD academic counselor/advisor, a COD faculty advisor in English, and with academic counselor/advisors at potential transfer schools, in order to develop and execute a plan that works best for that individual student.

Students should also be encouraged to be proactive when exploring transfer options: Are there existing transfer agreements in place between COD and a partner school? Will transfer schools accept more than the 64 credits of an AA degree, thus allowing students to complete additional coursework at COD (usually at lower cost than at transfer institutions)?  Are there scholarships available and is the value of those scholarships negotiable?

Finally, students should be encouraged to take classes that are attractive to them and that will hopefully inspire their love of learning. It is ultimately less important that students take exactly the classes that we prescribe and far more important that when making choices about what classes to take, students are doing so with as full an understanding as possible as to how those choices will impact broader academic, personal, and professional plans.

For more information about English, please visit the program page.

College of DuPage also offers institution-specific information to help prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university; please visit the transfer opportunities page for more information.

Suggested Semester Sequence

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ENGLI 1160 Native American Literature, ENGLI 1161 Multicultural Literatures of the U.S., and ENGLI 1165 Literature, Gender, and Sexualities satisfy both College of DuPage Human Relations and Global/Multicultural Studies degree requirements.

Program Milestones

First Semester

• Consider joining or visiting with a professional, cultural or interest-based Student Club.

Second Semester

• If you have not done so yet this semester, it is important to make an appointment with a Faculty or Program Advisor to discuss your future academic progress.

General Education Requirements

For general education requirements for the A.A. degree, please visit the A.A. degree catalog page.

Please note that the A.A. and A.S. Degrees currently require a minimum of 64 hours for completion. If the transfer pathway listed above has fewer than 64 hours listed, students will need to take additional coursework to reach that minimum. Students should consult with a faculty or program advisor to discuss their options.