The English Major with Secondary Education Licensure provides an emphasis on language and literature. It enables students to communicate clearly and effectively and to develop skills in the interpretation and evaluation of literature. This major includes professional preparation for teaching of English and for other careers that demand a strong liberal arts background. Candidates who successfully complete the major are eligible to receive an Illinois Professional Educator License that is valid for teaching at the high school level (grades 9-12). An endorsement in middle grades (5 - 8) may be added with minimal additional coursework; contact the Division of Education for information.
Important note: Students may not double major in English with Secondary Education Licensure and Middle Grades English Education. The majors are too similar to constitute a double major.
Program Outcomes:
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with Secondary Education Licensure will be able to:
- teach in their respective fields
- plan, deliver and assess effective instructional experiences that align with learning standards, educational theory, and knowledge of student development
- exhibit appropriate professional dispositions that reflect the personal, professional, and practical components of teaching
- evidence Christian values in their personal and professional practice, while respecting the exercise of individual moral decisions
- address the differing needs of a diverse student population with professional competence, respect, and fairness
Additional Licensure Requirements
Candidates must pass the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency, the appropriate content area test(s), the teacher performance assessment (edTPA), and all required licensure tests in order to complete their program. Candidates are required to comply with all state requirements that are in place at the time of application for licensure. Consult the Division of Education for specific information.
Optional Additional Endorsement
A candidate may earn the Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) endorsement (an addition to the teaching license) by completing ED 330, ED 352, ED 353, and ED 354, and passing the appropriate Illinois Licensure Testing System exam. Earning this additional endorsement may be a good investment of elective credit hours for interested candidates, since LBS1 is currently a teaching shortage area throughout the state of Illinois.
Requirements total 92 hours. This includes 48 hours of English courses and 44 hours of professional education and required supporting courses.
Required English Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Theory Course | ||
| ENG 230 | Survey of Contemporary Critical Theory | 3 |
| Genre Courses | ||
| ENG 220 | Studies in Poetry | 3 |
| ENG 222 | Studies in Fiction | 3 |
| ENG 224 | Studies in Drama | 3 |
| Skill Courses | ||
| ENG 111 | Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| ENG 336 | Creative Writing | 3 |
| COM 112 | Speech | 3 |
| ENG 210X | Business Communication | 3 |
| or ENG 240X | Writing for the Media I | |
| Period Courses | ||
| ENG 306 | Renaissance Literature | 3 |
| ENG 310 | Romantic Literature | 3 |
| Period and Author Courses | ||
| Choose one of the American literature courses, plus 15 additional hours. | 18 | |
| Classical Literature | ||
| Russian Literature | ||
| American Literature I: Puritanism Through Transcendentalism | ||
| American Literature II: Civil War Through Depression | ||
| Topics in Literature | ||
| Shakespeare | ||
| Advanced Major Course | ||
| ENG 420 | Capstone Seminar in the British Novel | 3 |
| Professional Education Courses | ||
| ED 101 | Introduction to Teaching | 2 |
| ED 103 | Professional Skills for Teachers | 1 |
| ED 240 | Foundations of Education | 2 |
| ED 260X | Educational Psychology/Human Development | 3 |
| ED 306 | Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| ED 310 | General Teaching Methods | 2 |
| ED 311 | General Teaching Methods Pre-Clinical Experience | 1 |
| ED 330 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| ED 362 | Teaching English in Secondary School | 3 |
| ED 368 | Secondary Methods Pre-clinical Experience | 2 |
| ED 380 | Diversity in Education | 1 |
| ED 381 | Diversity Pre-clinical Experience | 1 |
| ED 413 | Clinical Practice in the Secondary School | 12 |
| ED 421 | Classroom Management | 1 |
| ED 422 | Advanced Seminar in Education | 2 |
| ED 430 | Educational Research and Assessment | 2 |
| PSY 337 | Psychology of Adolescence | 3 |
| Total Hours | 95 | |
