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 (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

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 world language course at UWL beyond the first course (e.g., placing into FRE 102 as FRE 101 is the first course; placing into SPA 201 as SPA 103 is the first course)
• 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 world language course (taught in the world language) taken at UWL or another accredited institution of higher education. See world language course list below.¹

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World language course may also count toward Core General Education Requirements (CGER).

B. Proficiency in English (no credits) as demonstrated by a grade of "B" or better in one of the following courses:

Curriculum

The English Education (grades 4-12) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (grades K-12) Programs are aligned with Wisconsin Teacher Standards and the NCTE/NCATE Standards, and supplemented with Elementary Literacy, Journalism Educators of America, and Wisconsin Speech Educators standards.

Program requirement courses that may also fulfill Core General Education Requirements (CGER) (9 credits)

English course (3 credits)

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Satisfies SOE core requirement.

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May also satisfy CGER - Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies (CGER SBS-BS).

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May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: Communities of the United States (CGER CP-CU).

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May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: The Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW).

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May also satisfy CGER - Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell (CGER CL-SWT).

Additional middle/high school education and TESOL content requirements (21 credits)

English education content requirements (36 credits)

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

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Satisfies an English core requirement

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Requires admissions to the School of Education.

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Taken concurrently with ENG 355 or ENG 455.

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Included in the English education portfolio.

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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 students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

• Core general education requirements
• School of Education requirements
• Baccalaureate degree requirements

Baccalaureate degree requirements

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

1. Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.^{1, 2}
4. 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.
5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA^{1, 2} in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
7. 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.

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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 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.

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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 their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

Core General Education Program

The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER 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 Core 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 The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or 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.

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ENG 200, ENG 201, ENG 202, ENG 203, ENG 204, ENG 205, or ENG 206 may also satisfy CGER - Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell (CGER CL-SWT).

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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.

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

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

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