English Major in English Language Arts High School Teaching License (9-12) / Bachelor of Arts

Total Credit Hours: 128
Major Credit Hours: 44-46

The Department of English Studies features a fully approved English Language Arts program that prepares candidates to teach grades 9-12 in Illinois public and private schools.  The program is approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education and includes all the requirements for a major in English Language Arts.  English majors specializing in Concentration One: English Language Arts must declare majors in both English and Secondary Education.  See advisors in the Department of English Studies and College of Education for specific approval and a list of required courses.

Teacher Candidates seeking a Professional Educator License with a English Language Arts Endorsement must complete all requirements of the College of Education (College of Education) and the following coursework in the content area as well as professional education courses. For a detailed description of the courses, please click on the appropriate link. Only grades of “C” and above are acceptable in professional education courses and in any courses counted toward any endorsement or certificate. A “C-” or lower grade will require that the course be repeated.

Degree Requirements

I. Core Courses in English Language Arts Teacher Licensure (44-46)

A. Required Courses in Literature

06-235U.S. Literature: Beginnings to 1865

3

06-236U.S. Literature: 1865 to Present

3

06-237British Literature: Beginnings to 1800

3

06-238British Literature: 1800 to Present

3

06-250Introduction to English Studies

3

06-338Teaching Young Adult Literature

3

06-360Shakespeare

3

B. Required Courses in Language and Writing

06-315Grammar for Teachers

2

06-316Teaching Writing

3

06-318Writing Center Practicum

1

Students may attempt to test out of 06-315.
Choose one course on the Structure of Language:
06-314Linguistics

3

21-yyy Second of two semesters of a Foreign Language

3

54-202Sign Language I

3

70-200Introduction to Computer Science

3

Second-Semester Foreign Language courses include but are not limited to 21-104 First-Year Spanish 2, 21-204 Spanish for Heritage Speakers 2, 21-108 First-Year Arabic 2, 21-112 First-Year Chinese 2, 21-114 First-Year Japanese 2, 21-118 First-Year Polish 2, 21-122 First-Year Russian 2, 21-124 First-Year French 2, 21-126 First-Year Italian 2, 21-128 First-Year German 2, and so forth.

C. Advanced Writing Requirement: choose one of the following:

06-300Introduction to Professional Writing

3

06-301Rhetoric for Writers

3

06-302Writing in the Disciplines

3

06-306Editing for Publishing

3

06-307The Electronic Word: Computers and Writing in Theory and Practice

3

06-308Technical Writing

3

06-309Topics in Writing

3

06-310Advanced Writing

3

06-311Introduction to Creative Writing

3

06-312Intermediate Workshop in Creative Writing

3

06-319Publishing Practicum: Jet Fuel Review

3

06-321Writing Digital Media

3

Courses listed above fulfill the University’s General Education advanced writing requirement for English majors.

D. Multicultural Literature: choose one of the following:

06-334Non-Western Literature

3

06-335U.S.-Latino Literature

3

06-336Latin American Literature

3

06-339Topics in World Authors

3

06-346Topics in Ethnic and Immigrant Literatures

3

06-347Native American Literature

3

06-348African American Literature

3

06-356Post-Colonial Literatures in English

3

06-376World/Ethnic Film

3

E. Advanced Study in Literature: choose one of the following:

06-341Advanced Study in Early U.S. Literature

3

06-343Advanced Study in 19th-Century U.S. Literature

3

06-345Advanced Study in Modern and Postmodern U.S. Literature

3

06-351Advanced Study in Early British Literature

3

06-353Advanced Study in 18th- and 19th-Century British Literature

3

06-355Advanced Study in Modern and Postmodern British Literature

3

06-440Seminar in U.S. Authors

3

06-450Seminar in British Authors

3

F. Required Capstone Experiences

06-380The ePortfolio Seminar

1

06-460Senior Seminar in English Studies

3

G. English Elective: choose one of the following:

06-234Introduction to Poetry

3

-
OR

06-270Introduction to Film Studies

3

-
OR

06-331 to 06-450(any course not already applied to the major)

3

H. ePortfolio

In consultation with their advisors in the Department of English Studies, majors must submit an ePortfolio of writing for review. The ePortfolio represents assignments and projects completed in courses. Students should register to take 06-380 ePortfolio during the final semester before graduation; i.e., the semester in which they plan to graduate. Further information can be obtained from the student’s advisor and the department chair.

II. Please see Secondary Education / Bachelor of Arts for required Education courses.