A method for double programming of multi-level-cell (MLC) programming in a multi-bit-cell (MBC) of a charge trapping memory that includes a plurality of charge trapping memory cells is provided. The double programming method is conducted in two phrases, a pre-program phase and a post-program phase, and applied to a word line (a segment in a word line, a page in a word line, a program unit or a memory unit) of the charge trapping memory. A program unit can be defined by input data in a wide variety of ranges. For example, a program unit can be defined as a portion (such as a page, a group, or a segment) in one word line in which each group is selected for pre-program and pre-program-verify, either sequentially or in parallel with other groups in the same word line.