English Major, Secondary Education, BA

Program Description

The Secondary English Education (grades 9-12) degree program prepares teacher candidates who the right knowledge, skills and dispositions to effectively teach English in secondary schools. The program gives more emphasis to the professional education core and pedagogy and is designed to provide a study of language, including acquisition of language, dialect, levels of usage, semantics, grammatical analysis, and the nature and development of language.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will be able to:

1. Analyze, evaluate, and respond to a varied body of literature: traditional and contemporary, adolescent and popular, oral, Western and non-Western, and literature by women and minorities.
2. Demonstrate effective composition skills and experiences in advanced composition and/or creative writing and an introduction to composition pedagogy.
3. Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of the mass media and technology, including training in analysis and evaluation of verbal and non-verbal symbols presented in both print and non-print materials.
4. Select and use instructional materials and strategies, including the ways in which non-print and nonverbal media can supplement and extend the experiences of print and verbal media.
5. Apply independent investigation and research skills in motivating pupils toward continuous and self-directed learning.
6. Use effective methods of teaching reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing.
7. Effectively use knowledge of adolescent psychological development and sociological factors when planning and delivering instruction.
8. Blend theory and practice in planning effective instruction; classroom management; and assessment, diagnosis, and evaluation of students.
9. Exhibit appropriate professional attitudes toward the teaching of English through the study and investigation of current research.

Specialized Admission Requirements for the Major

Students wishing to pursue a degree in this program must be formally admitted to the teacher education program by the end of their sophomore year. Requirements for admission follow:

1.    Completion of the General Education requirements.

2.    Completion of English, speech, mathematics and laboratory courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course.

3.    Completion of EDU 2334 (Education, Culture, and Society) with a grade of “C” or better as part of the new General Education requirements. 

4.    A cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or better for admission into teacher education. Transfer students must bring a 2.5 GPA or earn the required grade-point average during the first 12 credit hours completed at the university.

5.    Proof of proficiency in mathematics, reading, and writing as demonstrated on the SAT/ACT or Praxis I exam.

6.    Successful completion of a written exam or proof of exemption based on Praxis I essay writing.

7.    Application (including professional references) that verifies completion of all of the above requirements. Application for admission is due by the last day of classes of each term. Admission decisions are made at the end and beginning of spring and fall terms.

 

Progression Requirements

Teacher education candidates must maintain a 2.50 GPA and earn a grade of “C”, or better, in all major courses, including professional and academic concentration courses. All pedagogical core courses numbered above 4000 require admission to the teacher education program and may not be taken until all admission requirements have been met.   Some courses have prerequisites that candidates must fulfill before registering for those courses. 

Plan of Study

The BS degree in English Education requires the successful completion of at least 120 hours of course work.         

General Education (60 credit hours; they include pre-requisite courses as indicated below)

Seek guidance from faculty advisor, professional advisor, and academic advisement outline, including new General Education.General education selections must include:

 

EDU 2334 (Education, Culture, and Society)

ENG 2301   World Literature I

ENG 2313    Survey American Literature

ENG 2314    Survey American Literature II

SPH 2341     Fundamentals of Speech

 

English Content Courses

 

ENG 3302     Advanced Composition

ENG 3306     British Literature I

ENG 3307     British Literature II

ENG 3321     Grammars of English

ENG 3348     Adolescent Literature

ENG 4302    Composition Theory & Pedagogy   

ENG 4355     Literary Criticism

ENG 4364     Shakespeare

 

English Content Area Pedagogy

 

SED 2115      Practicum in English Education

SED 3151      Junior Practicum in English Education 

SED 3161      Junior Practicum in English Education II

SED 43**     Teaching Research

 

Pedagogical Core Courses

 

EDU 3322     Parent Sch. Com. Relations                                

EDU 4333     Responsive Pedagogy 

EDU 4338     Psychological Found. Ed.

EDU 4339     Integrating Media and Technology in P-12 Settings

EDU 4981     Observation of Student Teaching     

RED 4364     Reading in Content Area        

SED 4353     Principles and Methods of Teaching English

SPE 3300       Exceptional Children in the Regular Classroom