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English Education
If you had an English teacher who made literature, composition, or creative writing come alive, you know the power of great teaching. As an English Education major, you’ll earn either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in English Education, preparing you for an Illinois Professional Educator’s License (9-12). You can also add a middle school endorsement with an additional state test, expanding your teaching opportunities.
Experiential Learning
By the time you graduate, you’ll have hands-on teaching experience, mentorship from expert faculty, and a strong professional network. Your experiences will include:
- Specialized Teaching Methods – Learn cutting-edge techniques from faculty who are experts in teaching English. You’ll take four methods courses alongside literature, writing, and language classes to develop a well-rounded skill set.
- Early and Diverse Field Experiences – As early as your first semester, you’ll be working with secondary students in local classrooms. With over 500 hours of hands-on experience in rural, urban, and suburban schools, you’ll graduate prepared to teach in a variety of settings.
- Faculty Mentorship – You’ll be guided by both an English professor and a teacher education professor from your first year through graduation, ensuring you’re ready for the classroom.
- Professional Development – Gain an edge in your career by attending and presenting at state and national education conferences alongside faculty who have published over 30 books on education.
Program Details
Required Courses (31 hrs.)
- ENG 180: Intro to English Education (1 hr.)
- ENG 233: American Literature to 1865 (3 hrs.)
- or ENG 235: American Literature 1865 to Present (3 hrs.)
- ENG 237: English Literature to 1800 (3 hrs.)
- or ENG 239: English Literature 1800 to Present (3 hrs.)
- ENG 270: Introduction to Literary Criticism and Theory (3 hrs.)
- ENG 311: Introduction to Language (3 hrs.)
- ENG 312: Grammar for Teaching (3 hrs.)
- ENG 320: Young Adult Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 347: Shakespeare (3 hrs.)
- ENG 391: Methods of Teaching Writing (3 hrs.)
- ENG 392: Methods of Teaching Reading and Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 472: Methods of Teaching Integrated Language Arts (3 hrs.)
Required World Literature Course (choose one) (3 hrs.)
- ENG 123: European Writers (3 hrs.)
- ENG 381: Literatures of Asia (3 hrs.)
- ENG 385: Literatures of Europe (3 hrs.)
Elective Courses (choose three) (9 hrs.)
At least two of the three must be at the 300 level or above.
- ENG 207: Introduction to Creative Writing (3 hrs.)
- ENG 233: American Literature to 1865 (3 hrs.)
- ENG 235: American Literature 1865 to Present (3 hrs.)
- ENG 237: British Literature to 1800 (3 hrs.)
- ENG 239: British Literature 1800 to Present (3 hrs.)
- ENG 300: Advanced Writing—Exposition (3 hrs.)
- ENG 301: Advanced Writing—Argumentative Writing (3 hrs.)
- ENG 304: Advanced Writing—Research in Individual Disciplines (3 hrs.)
- ENG 305: Advanced Writing—Technical Writing (3 hrs.)
- ENG 306: Advanced Writing—Business Writing (3 hrs.)
- ENG 307: Intensive Poetry Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 308: Intermediate Fiction Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 313: Grammar for Writing and Speaking (3 hrs.)
- ENG 320: Young Adult Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 329: Studies in African American Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 330: Studies in Native American Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 331: Studies in Women Writers (3 hrs.)
- ENG 332: Early American Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 334: 19th-Century American Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 336: 20th-Century American Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 341: Medieval English Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 344: Renaissance English Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 358: 18th-Century British Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 361: British Romantic Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 363: British Victorian Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 364: 20th-Century British Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 365: Irish Literatures (3 hrs.)
- ENG 368: Science Fiction and Fantasy (3 hrs.)
- ENG 370: Literary Criticism and Theory (3 hrs.)
- ENG 372: Poetry as Genre (3 hrs.)
- ENG 373: Fiction as Genre (3 hrs.)
- ENG 374: Drama as Genre (3 hrs.)
- ENG 378: Individual Authors (3 hrs.)
- ENG 380: Topics in Language and Literature (3 hrs.)
- ENG 381: Literatures of Asia (3 hrs.)
- ENG 403: Advanced Creative Nonfiction Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 407: Advanced Poetry Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 408: Advanced Fiction Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 409: Advanced Screenwriting Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 492: Practicum in English (1-6 hrs.)
- ENG 495: Independent Study (1-3 hrs.)
- ENG 503: Intensive Creative Nonfiction Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 506: Writing in the Professions (3 hrs.)
- ENG 507: Intensive Poetry Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 508: Composing Hypertext (3 hrs.)
- ENG 509: Intensive Screenwriting Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 510: Intensive Fiction Workshop (3 hrs.)
- ENG 550: Language Theory (3 hrs.)
- ENG 560: Writing Theory (3 hrs.)
- ENG 570: Contemporary Literary Criticism (3 hrs.)
- ENG 580: Theories and Methods of Teaching Composition (3 hrs.)
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the English Education program are in high demand and enjoy an excellent job placement rate. Many secure teaching positions right after graduation, while others continue their education or pursue careers in related fields. Career paths include:
- Secondary English teacher (public or private schools)
- Educational leadership and administration (instructional coaching, school administration)
- Educational technology and instructional design
- Library science and literacy education
- Higher education and graduate studies
- Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL/ESL)
- Careers in business, law, social services, or entrepreneurship
Graduates have earned honors such as Teacher of the Year awards, Fulbright fellowships, and competitive positions with Teach for America. With a strong foundation in both literature and education, you’ll be ready to inspire the next generation of students.
Minors
The creative writing minor, which is open to all students, shows how you can apply your imaginative spirit to writing. You read literature to learn about the creative process. Then, you can explore literary criticism, poetry, fiction, nonfiction or screenwriting.
Courses give you opportunities to practice what you’re learning. The minor is often paired with degrees in interactive media, engineering, marketing, communication and advertising.
The professional writing minor, which is open to all students, shows how you can apply your writing skills in many professional environments. You focus on business or technical writing, then you can explore other literary styles.
You also can learn and practice expository, argumentative, travel, grant and web writing. The minor is a valuable asset to majors such as business, communication, health science and marketing.
The literature minor, which is open to all students, introduces you to a variety of writing styles, authors and cultures.
Readings give you a foundation in American and British authors, while electives allow you to explore young adult authors, Native American authors, Asian authors and a variety of other ethnic and world literature.