Class Descriptions

The Department offers six main writing courses, four at the transfer (college) level and two at the developmental (college-preparatory) level. The first transfer-level course, EWRT 1A, is required for graduation (AA degree, General Education) and for transfer. The other transfer writing courses (EWRT 1B, 1C, and 2) also satisfy many graduation and transfer requirements (including those of De Anza, the CSU system, and the UC system). See the Schedule of Classes or the De Anza College Catalog for complete charts of these requirements. Or talk to your counselor. Information regarding placement tests and pre-requisites is described following the course descriptions below.

In addition to writing courses, the English Department offers a broad range of literature courses, including "genre" courses in poetry, fiction, and drama; historical survey courses in British and American Literature; and courses on Shakespeare (including one involving a trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon), the Bible, Women and Literature, Contemporary Literature, International Literature, Mythology and Folklore, Children's Literature, among others. The Department also offers several creative writing courses and publishes two editions (student and national) of an acclaimed literary magazine, called Red Wheelbarrow. The national edition publishes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, photography, and other art from around the country and the world, while the student edition publishes the best creative work of De Anza (and Foothill) students. Moreover, the English Department has been in the forefront in offering computer- and television-based Distance Learning courses, making our courses more available to more students.

• English Literature Courses
• English Writing Courses

For courses in reading, vocabulary, and spelling, visit the Reading Department.

Placement
Entering students take an English or ESL Placement Test, the results of which place them into EWRT 1A, into ESL classes, or into developmental (college-preparatory) reading and/or writing courses. (High school grades and SAT scores may also play a role in placement.) Students placed into developmental classes must pass these classes before going on to 1A.

Learn more about Placement Tests.