English: Composition, Literature, and Creative Writing
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of a true education.
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Cypress College English Department offers a transfer program that includes composition, literature, creative writing, and humanities. Our mission is to provide courses that are innovative, flexible, and challenging to meet academic standards for transfer, vocation, and personal development. The program offers online, hybrid, accelerated, and learning community classes, as well as an AA in English degree.
English Department faculty strive to support and advance students’ abilities to read, write, and think both analytically and creatively.
Notice
You are now able to use the Guided Self-Placement tool instead of taking an assessment test for English or math. To use the tool:
- Log in to myGateway
- Got to the Cypress Tab
- Select GSP
What You’ll Study
- English Skills
- Basic Study Skills
- Reading & Writing
- College Writing Preparation
- College Reading Strategies
- College Writing
- Literature
- Critical Reasoning and Writing
- Critical Analysis and Literature
- Creative Writing
- Critical Reading, Writing and Thinking
- Writing the Personal Statement
- Humanities: Ancient and Medieval
- Humanities: Renaissance-Present
- Academic Reading and Study Strategies
- The Film
- Screenwriting
- Poetry Writing
- Short Story Writing
- Creative Nonfiction Writing
- Grammar and Usage
- College Study Strategies
- Asian American Literature
- English Literature
- American Literature
- Literary Journal Publication
- Shakespeare
- Children’s Literature
- Mythology
- Multicultural Literature
- Science Fiction
- African-American Literature
- Arabic Literature
- Writing in the Health Sciences
Catalog
Visit our catalog for more information about the degrees and certificates, courses, and program learning outcomes for students majoring in English.
Careers & Salary
Careers
- English Language Teacher
- Literature Teacher
- Secondary School Teacher
- Writer
- Author
Salary
- Low: $43k
- Average: $81k
- High: $200k
Program Mapper
What Students Say
“Above all, the faculty anchored me to Cypress. I was thrilled by their dedication, passion, knowledge for their subjects, and their willingness to always meet with me during office hours to talk. I felt valued and included in a way I’d never experienced from past teachers.”
William Conley
“I’ve also been fortunate to have some of the best professors. They are knowledgeable, empathetic, helpful and, most importantly, passionate. None are just going through the motions of teaching, but rather, really taking pride in what they do. Their passion helps me to feel excited for what’s to come!”
Jolene Gazmen
Faculty
- Linda Borla
- Justin Campbell
- Kendyl Covey
- Christie Diep
- Janet Fujimoto
- Ruth Gutierrez
- Sarah Jones
- Bret Kaufman
- Lawrence Keel
- Annette Letcher
- Kathleen McAlister
- Joseph Melodia
- Melanie Nabahani
- Alejandro Omidsalar
- John Payne
- Ashton Politanoff
- Kathryn Sonne
- Stephanie Tran
- Keith Vescial
- Randa Wahbe
Adjunct Faculty
- Tamar Altebarmakian
- Jacqueline Barretto
- Justin Brewer
- Andrea Briseno
- Jaime Brody
- Idalith Bustos
- Judith Castillo
- Karen Coley
- Mouminat Damer
- Letitia Deon
- Derrick Drury
- Danielle Dymond
- Adira Edmund
- Dahlia Flores-Salcido
- Elaine Folayan
- Diane Gabriel
- Devon Garcia
- Alyssa Garmin
- Nicholas Gil
- Christy Groves
- Jen Ho
- Mark Hyer
- Brian Jacob
- Jason Jenkins
- Josiah Jure
- Kevin Knowles
- Corey Leis
- Alexander Lennert
- Miles Magnesi
- Tyler Malone
- Rudith Maravilla
- Cassandra Matsuya
- Anna Morrison
- Janet Nau
- Janessa Osle
- Levon Parseghian
- Alan Passman
- Claire Pelonis
- Jax Pham
- Laura Powell
- Maureen Provenzano
- Mallory Reeves
- Thomas Reynolds
- Emily Robles
- Martin Salgado
- Cara Sharp
- Nora Simoes
- Bede Ssensalo
- Anthony Stevenson
- Jon-Erik Tateri
- Burlee Vang
- Ruby Villarruel
- Ann Warren
- Amanda Wetrick
English Department
Location: Humanities, 2nd Floor
T: (714) 484-7169
Department Chairs: Joseph Melodia, jmelodia@cypresscollege.edu and Kathleen McAlister, kmcalister@cypresscollege.edu