English Education (Grades 4-12) Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)

This major prepares students to become dynamic English Language Arts (ELA) teachers who can meet the needs of adolescent learners at both the middle and high school levels. English education faculty guide students through rigorous coursework in multiple fields of inquiry (including literature, writing, linguistics, and ELA pedagogy) and provide personalized mentoring throughout multiple field experience and student teaching semesters. Most importantly, English education majors who meet the necessary criteria graduate with a license to teach grades 4-12 in the state of Wisconsin—and our program has maintained an outstanding job placement rate over the past few years.

Completion of the English Education Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:

  • English and Language Arts, grades 4-12 (2300).

Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in English education (grades 4-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.

Retention and advancement

Teacher candidates may be retained in their teacher education program provided they fulfill the conditions described in the SOE Retention Policy. Students must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching as described in the Student Teaching and Internship Policy. Additional SOE program requirements, including the culminating assessment of pedagogical knowledge, are described on the SOE catalog page.

Curriculum

The English Education Program is aligned with the Wisconsin Teacher Standards (WTS) and the NCTE/NCATE Standards, and supplemented with Elementary Literacy, Journalism Educators of America, and Wisconsin Speech Educators standards.

Required general education courses (6 credits)

Besides the courses specified below, English education majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a minimum of of 41 credits.

EDS 203Foundations of Education 1, 23
EDS 206Society and Schools 1, 33
Total Credits6

Recommended general education courses (3 credits)

English literature course from the Gen Ed The Stories We Tell list 43
1

Satisfies an SOE core requirement.

2

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Social and Behavioral Studies (GEN ED 1009).

3

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Ethnic Diversity (GED ED 1005).

4

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: The Stories We Tell (GEN ED 1010).

Additional middle/high school education requirements (21 credits)

Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
EDS 309Global Perspectives in Education 53
PSY 212Lifespan Development 13
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 13
Student teaching semester
Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 6
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar1
One of the following: 111
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits21

English education requirements (46 credits)

English core6
Introduction to English Studies 7
Critical Theory 7
Language studies and linguistics
ENG 332Introduction to Linguistics: Phrases and Sentences 73
Select one of the following:3
History of the English Language
Introduction to Linguistics: Sounds and Words
Language Study for Teachers
Varieties of English
Topics in Linguistics
Literature electives
Select three of the following:9
Intermediate Topics in Literature
Literature and Culture before 1800
Literature and Culture after 1800
World Literature and Culture
Topics in Race, Gender, and Multicultural Literature
Shakespeare in the World
Shakespeare II
Literature and Environmental Action
Seminar in Literature and Culture
Literary studies3
Foundations for Literary and Cultural Studies 7
Writing and rhetoric studies
Select one of the following: 73
Writing, Genre, and Style
Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric Studies
Creative or professional writing
Select one of the following: 73
Creative Writing
Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing
English education specialization6
Capstone in English Education 8, 9, 10
Introduction to Teaching Writing
Field I block (must be taken concurrently) 8
ENG 351Workshop in Classroom Management1
ENG 355Field I Experience: English in the Middle Grades 14
Field II block (must be taken concurrently) 8
ENG 451Workshop in Curriculum & Assessment 101
ENG 455Field II Experience: Teaching and Learning English in the Secondary Classroom 1, 104
Total Credits46
5

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: The Cultures of Our World (GEN ED 1013). 

6

Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. See SOE's benchmark assessments website for information about these assessments. For more information on student teaching, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

7

Satisfies an English major core requirement.

8

Requires admission to the School of Education.

9

Taken concurrently with ENG 355 or ENG 455.

10

Included in the English education portfolio.

Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.

All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy)3CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy)3
EDS 203 (Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies)3EDS 206 (Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity)3
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics 2Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning3-4
FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar)3Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell 13
Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us3Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body3
 14 16
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENG 3003ENG 3013
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics 2ENG 3113
Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us3EDS 309 (Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World)3
Gen Ed 1008 Experiential Science4University Elective 3
University Elective3University Elective3
 15 15
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Language Studies and Linguistics Elective3ENG 3511
Creative/Professional Writing Elective3Literature elective3
Writing & Rhetoric Studies Elective3Literature elective3
PSY 2123Literature elective3
SPE 2003ENG 3554
Apply for admission to SOE2 University Elective3
Apply for Field Experience I3 Apply for Field Experience II3 
 Apply for Student Teaching4 
 15 17
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Language Studies and Linguistics Elective3All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.5 
ENG 4113EDS 4921
ENG 4333EDS 49611
ENG 4511 
ENG 4554 
University Elective2 
 16 12
Total Credits: 120
1

ENG 200ENG 201ENG 202ENG 203ENG 204ENG 205, or ENG 206 will satisfy Gen Ed 1010 The Stories We Tell requirement.

2

See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.

3

Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.

4

Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.

5

For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.