This is a broad area of concentration which prepares you to transfer to a four-year college or university.    Graduates with degrees in English may pursue careers in education but are also sought after in other fields such as advertising, public relations, publishing, technical writing, media, law, and public service.  The writing and critical thinking skills stressed in upper-level English courses are valued in many other fields as well.

1. The small class sizes of English classes at SUNY Orange mean you will have greater opportunity for instructor feedback and mentoring.
2. You can fulfill two years of requirements for English majors at lower cost and transfer “seamlessly” to a SUNY university prepared for upper-level English coursework.
3. Following the Registered Track in English prepares you for a variety of programs that emphasize writing, research, reading, and critical thinking. Students in this concentration gain creativity as well as communication and interpersonal skills, qualities sought after by many employers.

Upon graduating with a Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Science degree, students will:

• demonstrate foundational knowledge of and an appreciation for the cultural, social, and natural worlds
• recognize the diversity of human experience, values, and perspectives
• demonstrate an understanding of the forms of artistic expression and their creative processes
• apply critical thinking and systematic reasoning skills.
• demonstrate information management, quantitative skills, and an understanding of the role of empirical measurement
• use effective oral and written communication skills
• transfer to, and succeed at, an upper-level institution

The goal of this registered track is to complete the requirements in two years and maximize transfer opportunities to a four- year institution

You should begin to investigate transfer options early and then work closely with your advisor to select appropriate electives.

Although some students transfer to a four-year program before earning an Associates degree, earning this degree has benefits in transfer options and scholarship opportunities.

If you earn the AA degree, transfer between a two-year SUNY and a four-year SUNY should be a seamless process.

Admission to this program requires that students be high school graduates or have high school equivalency diplomas (HSEs). If students are not high school graduates, they may be eligible for admission to the College’s 24 Credit Hour Program. If students are home schooled, they may be eligible for admission.

SUNY Orange has special relationships with upper-level colleges and universities for transfer. These transfer institutions include:

• four-year institutions in the State University of New York (SUNY) system
• private NYS and national four-year institutions

To provide for a smooth transfer, students should consult with both their academic advisors and the potential transfer institutions for academic course selection and guidance as soon as possible.

The registered tracks within the Associate in Arts degree program serve as a foundation for students who will complete their bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution. They may then pursue careers in a number of areas. In addition, successful completion of a bachelor’s degree can also lead to continued study on the graduate level.

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Courses for the English track within the Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Science degree are available during the daytime and evening at the Middletown and Newburgh campuses. Some courses are available online. Some 200-levels are offered only one semester or are not offered each year. Speak with an advisor in the English Department for more information.