English, Humanities, and Foreign Languages

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From learning how to improve academic writing and engaging with age-old philosophies to analyzing literature and studying foreign languages, the English department at WCJC offers it all. Learn the foundations of composition, critical thinking, and research in this English degree program designed to immerse you in all areas of literature and language.

Program Details

For in-depth descriptions of courses in English and program information, review the WCJC course catalog.
As a full-time student, you can earn your Associate of Arts with a concentration in English in just two years via coursework covering topics such as core composition, technical writing, American literature, world literature, and more. Learn about the humanities and take foreign language classes to fulfill your degree requirements. If you’re planning to transfer to a four-year institution, be sure to confirm the transferability of courses to meet the degree requirements of the institution in which you plan to attend.

After graduating from WCJC’s English program, you’ll be well-prepared to transfer to a four-year institution to earn your Bachelor of Arts. With a B.A. in English, you can find a rewarding career in a number of roles, including:

  • English Teacher
  • English as a Second Language Teacher
  • Tutor
  • Technical Educator

Find more information, including wages and education requirements, on Career Coach!

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Plan Your Classes & Transfer Smoothly

Meet the Faculty

Tom-Kody Krpec received his B.A. in Humanities-English and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Houston-Victoria. He began teaching at WCJC in the fall of 2017. He has taught classes in developmental reading and writing and English in traditional and hybrid classroom settings. 

Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall 245
Phone: 281-243-8508
Email: krpect@wcjc.edu 

Pamela Armentrout received her B.A. and M.A. from Texas A&M University. She has taught at WCJC for more than twenty years. She currently teaches ENGL 1301 and ENGL 2311 online and on the main campus in Wharton.

Office: Wharton Campus, Science Building 209
Phone: 979-532-6470
Email: PArmentrout@wcjc.edu 

Don Cavin received a B.A. in English from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, and an M.A. in English from the University of College Cork in Cork, Ireland. He has taught English composition, developmental reading and writing, and English as a second language. Before joining WCJC, he held teaching positions at Houston Community College and Anhui University of Finance and Economics in Bengbu, China.

Office: Richmond Campus, 240-G
Phone: 281-239-6401
Email: CavinD@wcjc.edu 

Jackie Cooper-Edwards has more than 18 years of experience in education. Prior to joining the WCJC faculty as an adjunct instructor in 2006, she began her educational career as a Language Arts teacher at the junior-high and high-school levels. She earned her B.A. (English) from Fisk University and her M.A. (English) from Texas Southern University. Most recently, she earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston. She currently teaches English Composition 1301 and 1302 on the main campus.

Office: Richmond Campus, 225-C
Phone: 281-239-1587
Email: edwardsj@wcjc.edu 

Nathan King received his Ph.D. in Humanities-Studies in Literature from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2019. His dissertation, “A Dialogic Reading of Alejo Carpentier’s The Kingdom of This World,” focused on the intersection of history, music, and identity in Carpentier’s novel. His areas of academic interest are fantastic and neo-Baroque literature, modernism, and musical aesthetics.

Office: Richmond Campus, 140-I
Phone: 281-239-1565
Email: kingn@wcjc.edu 

Karen Lescure graduated with her master’s degree in English in 1997 and teaches English at the Sugar Land campus. She has been a full-time faculty member since the fall of 2004. In addition to teaching English, Karen enjoys writing in her spare time and has published a narrative in the Houston Chronicle's Texas Magazine.

Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall 213
Phone: 281-243-8530
Email: karenl@wcjc.edu 

Joy Magowan began teaching for Wharton Community Junior College in Fall 2012. Previously, Dr. Magowan taught for the U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools and the University of Maryland University College Europe, living outside of the United States for 26 years. Dr. Magowan received an M.A. from Arizona State University in 1984 and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 2006.

Office: Richmond Campus, 140-I
Phone: 281-239-1562
Email: magowanj@wcjc.edu 

Angelique Sakry joined WCJC in the fall of 2009. She has taught English Composition 1301 and 1302 for the past 10 years as an adjunct instructor. She received her undergraduate degree through Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, and her master's degree from the University of Houston - Victoria in English and Communications. She has also completed additional graduate hours through the University of Houston - Victoria’s Creative Writing M.F.A. program.  

Office: Wharton Campus, Peace Building, 102-B
Phone: 979-532-6433
Email: sakrya@wcjc.edu 

Jessi Snider has a B.S. and an M.A. from the University of Houston system and a doctorate from Texas A&M University. She has taught at both the high school and college levels. Jessi's academic interests include Victorian literature, postmodern literature, and literary theory. 

Phone: 281-239-1588
Email: Sniderj@wcjc.edu 

Jeff Tix spent more than two decades in systems consulting before turning to his true interest in teaching. Even in private industry, he taught classes whenever possible. His B.A. is in Business Analysis, and he has an M.B.A. in Finance, as well as an M.A. in English with a minor in History. He is a serious music collector and a serious cook.

Office: Richmond Campus, 240-F
Phone: 281-239-1512
Email: TixJ@wcjc.edu 

Matthew Tougas (he, him, his) earned his Master’s from the University of New Mexico and his Bachelor’s from the University of Kansas, both of which he studied English - Rhetoric, and Writing. His areas of expertise are in composition, rhetoric, and community literacies. Prior to arriving at WCJC, Matthew taught at Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University.

Office: Richmond Campus, 225-F
Phone: 979-532-6598
Email: TougasM@wcjc.edu 

Julieta Woleslagle obtained her Bachelor’s in Humanities with a concentration in English from the University of Houston - Victoria in 2013. She went on to simultaneously obtain a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a Master of Science in Publishing from the University of Houston - Victoria in 2017. She has been teaching first-year writing courses and professional writing courses since 2017. When she isn't teaching, Julieta is busy polishing her first novel, Dragon.

Office: Wharton Campus, Peace Building, 108-A
Phone: 979-532-6318
Email: woleslaglej@wcjc.edu 

Walter Barta joined WCJC in the fall of 2021 and teaches NCBI 0300, ENGL 1301, and ENGL 1302. He received his degrees from the University of Houston. Formerly, he was a tutor, workshop facilitator, and assistant teacher for Houston Independent School District. He has also been working as a technical writer and analyst for Houston area businesses for the last five years. On the side, he writes for the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" book series.

Email: bartaw@wcjc.edu 

Dana Bramble received her degree in education from Southwest Texas State
University and has 17 years of teaching experience. She has been teaching full-time at WCJC since 2001. Mrs. Bramble has taught ENGL 0307, READ 0306, and READ
0307; she now teaches INRW 0306 and NCBI 0306. Her College Readiness courses
integrate technology with the writing process.

Email: danab@wcjc.edu 

Cindy Diener has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas A&M University (Dec. 1990) and a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in English and Psychology from the University of Houston - Victoria (August 1996). Her years of teaching experience span the junior high, high school, and college levels. Her previous college teaching experience includes 10 years for Victoria College and six years part-time for WCJC before being hired full-time by WCJC in 2011. Cindy’s academic interests include technology, feminist literature, and British literature. Her personal and academic motto is “Anything is possible.” She approaches each day as though this is the rule and not the exception. 

Email: dienerc@wcjc.edu 

Dalia El Metwally has taught for over twenty years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and her first Master of Arts degree in Applied Linguistics from Alexandria University. She earned her second Master of Arts degree in English in 2006 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she subsequently finished all Ph.D. program coursework and is currently working on her dissertation.

Email: elmetwallyd@wcjc.edu 

Eric Reyes holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from Texas Southern University and an M.S. in Education from Hunter College. He is currently working on a doctoral degree from Aberystwyth University. Eric's academic interests include World War I literature and modernist literature.  

Email: reyese@wcjc.edu 

Carolyn Stice received her doctorate from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, specializing in poetry. She has a special interest in the work of female writers and in postcolonial literature. She currently lives in northern New Mexico with her family, where she enjoys hiking, gardening, bird-watching, and yoga.

Email: SticeC@wcjc.edu 

Ava King Humme received her B.A. in Journalism from Texas A & M University and M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, with additional graduate coursework in English Literature, from the University of Houston-Victoria. Since 1991 she has taught for WCJC in various departments, including Vocational Education, Adult Basic Education, Developmental Studies, English, and Humanities. Ms. Humme has taught at the University of Houston-Victoria and for Region IV of the Texas Education Agency and volunteered as a Special Education reading tutor for middle school students in Fort Bend ISD. She also has a solid professional background as a writer and editor for several major energy companies. Courses Currently Taught: Humanities 1301.

Office: Sugar Land Campus, Brazos Hall 114
Phone: 281-243-8508
Email: avah@wcjc.edu  

Jimidene Murphey has 25 years of experience in the classroom. She earned her B.B.A. and M.B.A. in marketing and management from Tarleton State University and completed her M.A. in composition/rhetoric and technical writing at Texas Tech University. Ms. Murphey has taught at South Plains College, Clarendon College, Victoria College, University of Houston, and WCJC. Additionally, she has prepared over 32 ancillaries for English and business textbooks and was part of a grant to bring online student services to rural colleges. Courses currently taught: Humanities 1301.

Office: Wharton Campus, Peace Building 204
Phone: 979-532-6318
Email: murpheyj@wcjc.edu  

Anna G. Patrick received her B.A. in Corporate Communications and Spanish and her M.A. in Spanish Linguistics and Latin American Literature from the University of Houston. Part of her graduate studies was completed at Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. She has taught Spanish language classes at Lone Star College-North Harris and Wharton County Junior College. Courses Currently Taught: SPAN 1311, SPAN 1312, SPAN 2311, and SPAN 2312. 

Phone: 281-239-1573
Email: patricka@wcjc.edu  

Office: Richmond Campus, 240-F
Phone: 281-239-1681
Email: WeirH@wcjc.edu 

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