ENGLISH SECONDARY EDUCATION

Be A Teacher

Teacher Certification in Secondary English provides prospective teachers with the attitudes, content, pedagogical knowledge and skills necessary for a teaching career in middle or high school. The curriculum immerses students in the English Language Arts content area, balancing preparatory pedagogical courses with direct application of knowledge and skills through meaningful field experiences.

Students who plan to teach English in high school or middle school, can be certified through the Education department and get their major in English. The English education program is designed to give students a broad background in literature to prepare them for the praxis exam and the subjects they are likely to teach. Therefore, the secondary education program has more requirements. As part of the regular English major electives, students are required to take EN 360 African-American or EN 370 Ethnic American literature as well as EN 302 History of the English Language and EN 305 Advanced Grammar. Of all their required and elective courses, two must be in English, two in American, and two in World literature.

Students must earn a C or higher in the general education classes PSY 206 Human Growth and Development, COM 101 Oral Communications, and MA 113 College Algebra (or higher math). They must earn a C or higher in ED 200 Education as a Profession, ED 306 Introduction to Exceptional Learners, ED 452 Educational Measurement, ED 390 Classroom Management, and ED 360 Educational Psychology, and they must earn a B or higher in ED 302 Art and Science of Teaching.

Teacher Education

To be admitted to the Teacher Education program, students must pass the Praxis Core exam or earn a 21 or higher on the ACT or have a 3.0 overall GPA and complete 44 hours with a 2.75 GPA or higher, and pass a criminal background check.

Educator Preparation Program Progression

Once admitted, students will successfully complete EN 410 Methods & Materials in Secondary English, and then they qualify to begin their teacher internship semester, when they will enroll in ED 452 Educational Measurement and ED 409 Observation and Directed Teaching in Secondary Education Grades 7-12.

Advising

Because the secondary education program has additional requirements, the number of free electives in a student’s curriculum is limited. Students interested in secondary education certification should declare their major early in order to get proper advising so they progress through their curriculum in a timely fashion. Your advisor will know when required courses are usually offered and can help you decide which electives will allow you to fulfill the required distribution in American, English, and World literature. Without proper advising, you may spend more time earning your degree.

Students should complete most of their education and major requirements prior to their senior year. In the fall semester of their senior year, students must complete any remaining requirements and take EN 410 Methods and Materials of Secondary Education and EN 499 English Capstone. Then in the Spring semester students complete their degree with the Student Teaching Semester.

Alternate Route Certification

We have partnered with The W's School of Education to create a clear pathway to licensure for students who are interested in teaching, but did not start a Teacher Certification program early in their college career. The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a graduate education degree and an alternative initial licensure program which provides those who complete this program an opportunity to teach in Mississippi schools. Some students may qualify to be admitted to the Accelerated MAT program while completing their bachelor’s degree. Students who qualify may also complete a regular English degree before applying to the MAT program.

Master of Arts in Teaching Program

Eight Semester Degree Plan

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

Note: No other courses are allowed this semester without permission from the Education program

English BA, Secondary Education Certification Curriculum

This information is presented for informational purposes. In the event of a discrepancy between this page and the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Bulletin should always be used.

General Education Curriculum

In keeping with The W's Mission, the General Education Program provides students with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to become independent, productive members of society in our continually changing world.

The W's General Education Program provides a foundation in the liberal arts that includes knowledge in the historical, literary, aesthetic, scientific, and cultural traditions that shape the world, and fosters skills that allow students to become civically responsible life-long learners ready to adapt to new challenges.

All students who complete the Mississippi University for Women general education program will demonstrate:

• Critical Thinking
• Effective Communication
• Cultural Literacy
• Quantitative & Technology Skills
• Understanding of Self, Global Societies, & the Natural World
• Life-Long Learning

View General Education Requirements

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree must include the following courses (or demonstrate equivalent competency) in their academic program:

• Foreign Language 101-102 8 semester hours
• Foreign Language 201-202 6 semester hours

To fulfill the language requirement for the B.A., students must complete the 202 level or above in a foreign language. For information on foreign language placement, see the Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy section in the Bulletin. If, upon entering the University, a student already has sufficient background to be successful in 201-202, he/she does not need to enroll in 101-102. The requirement is in essence six hours credit at the 200-level or above.

Teacher Education Requirements

Teacher Education Majors are required to pass the following courses with a C or higher as part of their major and their General Education Curriculum.

• MA 113 - College Algebra or higher Math including MA 123 (3 semester hours)
• COM 101 - Oral Communication
• PSY 206 - Human Growth and Development

Major Coursework

EN 302 - History and Structure of the English Language

EN 305 - Applied Linguistics

EN 360 - African-American Literature

EN 409 - Young Adult Literature

EN 410 - Methods & Materials in Secondary English

EN 499 - English Capstone Course

*Select one full literature survey sequence: (6 Semester Hours)

EN 201 - Survey of Early English Literature

EN 232 - Survey of Late World Literature

**Select one writing course: (3 Semester Hours)

⁑Select two English, American, or World Literature Electives: (6 Semester Hours)

⁂Select one other English Elective: (3 Semester Hours) Which can be literature, writing, theory, or TESL

Note: In the English Teacher Certification Curriculum, at least six hours must be taken in each of the following areas:  American Literature, English Literature, and World Literature.

Professional Education Requirements, 7-12 (Minimum grade of C required):

Total Hours Required for a BA in English - Secondary Education Certification: 124 Semester Hours