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
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.
Program requirement courses that may also fulfill Core General Education Requirements (CGER) (9 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDS 203 | Foundations of Education 1, 2 | 3 |
| EDS 206 | Society and Schools 1, 3 | 3 |
| EDS 309 | Global Perspectives in Education 4 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
English course (3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one English literature course | 3 | |
| Literature and Human Experience 5 | ||
| American Literature before 1865 5 | ||
| American Literature after 1865 5 | ||
| British Literature before 1800 5 | ||
| British Literature after 1800 5 | ||
| Western Literature before 1700 5 | ||
| Western Literature after 1700 5 | ||
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Satisfies an SOE core requirement.
- 2
May also satisfy CGER - Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies (CGER SBS-BS).
- 3
May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: Communities of the United States (CGER CP-CU).
- 4
May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: The Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW).
- 5
May also satisfy CGER - Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell (CGER CL-SWT).
Additional middle/high school education requirements (18 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education | ||
| PSY 212 | Lifespan Development 1 | 3 |
| SPE 200 | Foundations of Special Education 1 | 3 |
| Student teaching semester | ||
| Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 6 | ||
| EDS 492 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| One of the following: 1 | 11 | |
| Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12) | ||
| Teaching Internship | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
English education requirements (46 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English core | 6 | |
| Introduction to English Studies 7 | ||
| Critical Theory 7 | ||
| Language studies and linguistics | ||
| ENG 332 | Introduction to Linguistics: Phrases and Sentences 7 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of the English Language | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics: Sounds and Words | ||
| Varieties of English | ||
| Literature electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Intermediate Topics in Literature | ||
| Topics in Literature and Culture before 1800 | ||
| Topics in Literature and Culture after 1800 | ||
| Topics in World Literature and Culture | ||
| Topics in Race, Gender, and Multicultural Literature | ||
| Shakespeare in the World | ||
| Literature and Environmental Action | ||
| Seminar in Literature and Culture | ||
| Literary studies | 3 | |
| Introduction to Literary and Cultural Studies 7 | ||
| Writing and rhetoric studies | ||
| Select one of the following: 7 | 3 | |
| Writing, Genre, and Style | ||
| Introduction to Writing and Rhetoric Studies | ||
| Creative or professional writing | ||
| Select one of the following: 7 | 3 | |
| Creative Writing | ||
| Introduction to Professional and Technical Writing | ||
| English education specialization | 6 | |
| Capstone in English Education 8, 9, 10 | ||
| Introduction to Teaching Writing | ||
| Field I block (must be taken concurrently) 8 | ||
| ENG 351 | Workshop in Classroom Management | 1 |
| ENG 355 | Field I Experience: English in the Middle Grades 1 | 4 |
| Field II block (must be taken concurrently) 8 | ||
| ENG 451 | Workshop in Curriculum & Assessment 10 | 1 |
| ENG 455 | Field II Experience: Teaching and Learning English in the Secondary Classroom 1, 10 | 4 |
| Total Credits | 46 | |
- 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.
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Satisfies an English major core requirement.
- 8
Requires admission to the School of Education.
- 9
- 10
Included in the English education portfolio.
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:
- Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- 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.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- 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 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 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.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy) | 3 | CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy) | 3 |
| EDS 203 (CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies) | 3 | EDS 206 (CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States) | 3 |
| CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics | 2 | CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success) | 2 | ENG 200 level (see list CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell)1 | 3 |
| CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us | 3 | CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet | 3 |
| University Elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENG 300 | 3 | ENG 301 | 3 |
| CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics | 1 | ENG 311 | 3 |
| CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science | 4 | EDS 309 (CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World ) | 3 |
| University Elective | 4 | University Elective | 4 |
| University Elective | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Language Studies and Linguistics Elective | 3 | ENG 351 | 1 |
| Creative/Professional Writing Elective | 3 | Literature elective | 3 |
| Writing & Rhetoric Studies Elective | 3 | Literature elective | 3 |
| PSY 212 | 3 | Literature elective | 3 |
| SPE 200 | 3 | ENG 355 | 4 |
| Apply for admission to SOE2 | University Elective | 1 | |
| Apply for Field Experience I3 | Apply for Field Experience II3 | ||
| Apply for Student Teaching4 | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Language Studies and Linguistics Elective | 3 | All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.5 | |
| ENG 411 | 3 | EDS 492 | 1 |
| ENG 433 | 3 | EDS 496 | 11 |
| ENG 451 | 1 | University Elective | 3 |
| ENG 455 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
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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 (CL-SWT).
- 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.