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

This major prepares students to become dynamic English Language Arts (ELA) and English as a second language (ESL) 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 English to grades 4-12 and English as a second language to English learners (ELs) in kindergarten through grade 12. Future teachers in this program learn to reach all students with curriculum relevant to their lives and to utlilize developmentally appropriate strategies based in second language acquisition theories.

Completion of the English Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching licenses:

  • English and Language Arts, grades 4-12 (2300), and
  • English as a Second Language, grades K-12 (ESL, 1395)

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) and teaching English to speakers of other languages (grades K-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.

Students majoring in English education (grades K-9) and teaching English to speakers of other languages (grades K-12) must complete the TESOL field experience component during Winter session in Puerto Rico. Costs associated with this experience are the responsibility of the student.

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.

Language proficiency program requirements

Students must complete both A and B requirements prior to student teaching.

A. Proficiency in a world language (no credits) as demonstrated by one of the following:
  • Advanced Placement (AP) world language exam score of 3 or higher
  • Placing into a 201-level or higher world language course at UWL
  • For non-native speakers of English or heritage language speakers: Consultation with the administrator of the TESOL program.
  • A grade of "B" or better in a 102-level or higher world language course (taught in the world language) taken at UWL. See world language course list below.1
World language course list: 1
CHI 102Chinese in a Global Society II4
CHI 201Chinese Language and Culture in Action I4
CHI 202Chinese Language and Culture in Action II4
CHI 301Advanced Chinese3
FRE 102French in a Global Society II3
FRE 201French Language and Cultures in Action I3
FRE 202French Language and Cultures in Action II3
FRE 300Visual Encounters3
FRE 301Sound, Speech, and Proficiency3
GCL 102Elementary Languages II4
GCL 201Intermediate Languages I4
GCL 202Intermediate Languages II4
GER 102German in a Global Society II4
GER 201German Language and Cultures in Action I4
GER 202German Language and Cultures in Action II3
GER 300Advanced German3
HMG 204Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate4
HMG 304Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced4
JPN 102Elementary Japanese II4
JPN 201Intermediate Japanese I4
JPN 202Intermediate Japanese II4
RUS 102Russian in a Global Society II4
RUS 201Russian Language and Cultures in Action I4
RUS 202Russian Language and Cultures in Action II4
SPA 102Spanish in a Global Society II4
SPA 103Spanish in a Global Society I & II4
SPA 201Spanish Language and Cultures in Action I4
SPA 202Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II4
1

World language class numbered 101-221, HMG 204, and HMG 304 also count toward the General Education Program requirement: The Cultures of Our World (GEN ED 1013).

B. Proficiency in English (no credits) as demonstrated by a grade of "B" or better in one of the following courses:
English language courses:
ENG 110College Writing II3
ENG 303Special Topics in Writing and Rhetoric Studies3
ENG 304Writing in the Arts and Humanities3
ENG 306Writing in Education3
ENG 309Writing in the Sciences3

Curriculum

The English Education (grades 4-12) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (grades K-12) Program is aligned with Wisconsin Teacher Standards 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 41 credits.

EDS 203Foundations of Education 2, 33
EDS 206Society and Schools 2, 43
Total Credits6

Recommended general education courses (3 credits)

English literature course from the Gen Ed The Stories We Tell list 53
2

Satisfies SOE core requirement.

3

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

4

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

5

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

Additional middle/high school education and TESOL content requirements (24 credits)

Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
Middle/High school program requirements:
EDS 309Global Perspectives in Education3
PSY 212Lifespan Development 23
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 23
TESOL program requirements:
TSL 250Educating Multilingual Learners3
GCL 310Theories and Research in Second Language Acquisition3
TSL 345Intercultural Interactions3
TSL 400Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Policies and Program Models3
TSL 463Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Methods 23
Total Credits24

English education content requirements (36 credits) 

EDS 308Foundations of Literacy3
English core 66
Introduction to English Studies
Critical Theory
Language studies and linguistics 66
Introduction to Linguistics: Sounds and Words
Introduction to Linguistics: Phrases and Sentences
Literary studies 63
Foundations for Literary and Cultural Studies
Writing and rhetoric studies 6
Select one of the following:3
Writing, Genre, and Style
Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric Studies
Creative or professional writing 6
Select one of the following:3
Creative Writing
Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing
Literature electives
Select two of the following:6
Intermediate Topics in Literature
World Literature and Culture
Shakespeare in the World
Literature and Environmental Action
Seminar in Literature and Culture
English education specialization6
Capstone in English Education 7, 8, 9
Introduction to Teaching Writing
Total Credits36

Courses requiring admission to the School of Education (25 credits)

Field I block courses (must be taken concurrently) 7
ENG 351Workshop in Classroom Management1
ENG 355Field I Experience: English in the Middle Grades 24
TESOL field (occurs in Puerto Rico during Winter session)
TSL 460TESOL Field Experience (TESOL Field Experience)3
Field II block courses (must be taken concurrently) 7
ENG 451Workshop in Curriculum & Assessment1
ENG 455Field II Experience: Teaching and Learning English in the Secondary Classroom 24
Student teaching semester
Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 10
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar1
A combination of the following: 211
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Student Teaching: Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits25
6

Satisfies an English core requirement.

7

Requires admissions to the School of Education.

8

Taken concurrently with ENG 355 or ENG 455.

9

Included in the English education portfolio.

10

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.

 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
FallCredits SpringCredits
ENG 110 (Gen Ed 1002 Written Literacy)3 CST 110 (Gen Ed 1003 Spoken Literacy)3
EDS 203 (Gen Ed 1009 Social and Behavioral Studies)3 EDS 206 (Gen Ed 1005 Ethnic Diversity)3
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics 2 Gen Ed 1004 Quantitative Reasoning3-4
FYS 100 (Gen Ed 1001 First-Year Seminar)3 Gen Ed 1010 Stories We Tell 13
Gen Ed 1012 Planet That Sustains Us3 Gen Ed 1006 Mind and Body3
 14   16
Year 2
FallCredits SpringCredits
ENG 3003 ENG 3013
EDS 309 (Gen Ed 1013 Cultures of Our World)3 ENG 3113
PSY 2123 TSL 3453
Gen Ed 1007 Arts and Aesthetics 2 TSL 2503
Gen Ed 1008 Experiential Science4 EDS 3083
 15   15
Year 3
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits
ENG 3313TSL 4603ENG 3323
Writing & Rhetoric Studies Elective3 ENG 3511
SPE 2003 Literature elective3
GCL 3103 Literature elective3
TSL 4633 ENG 3554
Apply for admission to SOE2  TSL 4003
Apply for Field Experience I3  Apply for Field Experience II3 
  Apply for Student Teaching4 
 15 3 17
Year 4
FallCredits SpringCredits
Creative/Professional Writing Elective3 All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.5 
ENG 4113 EDS 4921
ENG 4333 EDS 49611
ENG 4511  
ENG 4554  
Gen Ed 1011 Pasts That Define Us3  
 17   12
Total Credits: 124
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.