English - Pasadena City College

Join us in reading, writing, and thinking critically!

The English Division at PCC provides the core reading, writing, and literature courses for all students at PCC as well as offers multiple associate degree and transfer programs which delve into the studies of composition, reading, literature, and creative writing.

Contact the English Division

C-245
(626) 585-7371
M-Th, 7:30 am - 8 pm
F, 7:30 am - 4 pm
Closed on Weekends

Stay Connected

A student works with a faculty member during English class.

Explore our Programs

From beginning to advanced, the English Division offers a variety of courses and programs to meet your needs.

Overview of English Programs

A STACC student presents their english discouse project

Compressed Composition

The Stretch Accelerated Composition (STACC) program increases your access to and success in transfer-level English Composition courses.

Learn More About STACC

A picutre of "Singing in the Rain" in London, one of the stops during the Theatre in London travel program

Student Opportunities

Our division offers many opportunities beyond the classroom including writing for our literary magazine, Inscape, traveling abroad for theatre programs, and performing on Poetry Day.

View All Opportunities

Book Recommendations From Our Faculty

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann"How lives connect post-9/11-beautifully written." Recommended by Amy Ulmer.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

"This book brings back memories of my youth reading R. A. Salvatore and Anne McCaffey's sci-fi/D&D novels. Totally gruesome read-but that may be why I love it!" — Recommended by Anna A. Davis

Cover artwork of the Madonnas of Echo Park

The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse

"An exploration of race and identity told through the journey of diverse characters in one of Los Angeles's oldest." — Recommended by Brian Adler

Cover artowrk of the book "The Deafening"

Deafening by Frances Itani

"I recommend Deafening because its beautiful and complicated narrative style provides a lesson for anyone who aspires to be a novelist." — Recommended by Brian Kennedy

Cover artowrk of the Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

"A real-life comic book." — Recommended by Dustin Hanvey

Cover artwork of Waiting for the Barbarians

Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee

"A surreal journey through the outskirts of empire." — Recommended by James Click

Cover artwork of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart

"Witty, intelligent story of a teen mastermind who aims to take down the patriarchy of her private school. Includes discussions of feminism, language, and even Foucault's panopticon, By the end of the book, you will realize that E. Lockhart is the true mastermind." — Recommended byKathy Kottaras

Plum Bun by Jessie Fauset

"Female empowerment in the Harlem Renaissance." — Recommended by Jessica Banks

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

"A taste of India." — Recommended byShellie Santani

Original Instructions by Melissa Nelson

"Original Instructions evokes the rich indigenous storytelling tradition. It depicts how the world's native leaders and scholars are safeguarding the original instructions and protecting some of the last healthy, biodiverse landscapes on the planet." — Recommended bySilvia Villanueva

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

It's a childhood book with all the life lessons you need to know and should never be forgotten." — Recommended by Tatyana Surenyan

The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang

"Based on the superhero comic book The Green Turtle, the very first Asian American superhero from the 1940s." — Recommended by Tooktook Thongthira

Cover artwork of For She's a Jolly Good Fellow

For She's a Jolly Good Fellow by Vimla Kapoor

"A complex chronicle told with startling simplicity, spanning eighty some years. A story told with passion, humor, and astonishing candor." — Recommended by Vanitha Swaminathan