English Education

English Education encompasses the four Language Arts of reading, writing, speaking, and listening.  Accordingly, the English education major includes a broad range of English and professional education courses so that pre-service teachers fully understand (a) each of the arts, (b) current theories of adolescent development, and (c) current best practices in secondary instruction.  Students also apply their knowledge and build their teaching skills during multiple field experiences in local schools.

The Program

Candidates in the English education major are prepared to teach the Language Arts to students in grades 7-12 with creativity and confidence.  Our curriculum comprises a variety of courses in language/linguistics, composition/rhetoric, and literature.  Students in our British, American, World, and Young Adult literature courses explore, fiction, poetry, and non-fiction written by men, women, and minorities.  Our Professional Education courses prepare pre-service teachers to incorporate active learning strategies, to create effective methods for assessment, and to adjust instruction to accommodate multiple learning styles.

Professional Education Courses

Students may enroll in the 300-level professional education courses before their acceptance into the School of Education (SOE).  Prior to enrolling in the 400-level courses, students must complete the application for admission to the SOE; attain at least a 2.75 grade point average in their general course work and in their education courses.  Students must also pass the PraxisCore Academic Skills for Educators exam(s).  Additional requirements for admission are available on the School of Education website.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is the culmination of the teaching program.  In the semester before graduation, students apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their college courses to real-world classrooms under the supervision of experienced English teachers in middle-level or secondary schools.  Faculty members from NDSU conduct monthly on-site visits to support, encourage, and evaluate student teachers so that they gain the confidence and ability to join the teaching profession after graduation.

Student Advisement

An academic advisor works individually with English Education majors to plan their programs of study and to advise and assist them as they progress to degree completion.  Students are encouraged to seek their advisor's help whenever needed.  Appointments with advisors can be scheduled through the Navigate online system found on the Student Affairs web page, https://www.ndsu.edu/enrollmentmanagement/studentsuccess/

Certification

Upon completing this program, students are eligible for certification to teach English in most states.  Our program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Career Opportunities

Secondary English teachers are in high demand across the country, so our graduates usually obtain full-time employment in school districts shortly after graduation.  In addition to teaching careers, some English Education graduates choose to teach English abroad or seek advanced degrees in English, law, library science, and counseling.  Others obtain careers as corporate trainers or technical writers.  Many options are available because an English Education degree effectively teaches students to think critically, to synthesize information, to write and speak clearly and concisely, and to work effectively on teams.

Plan of Study

Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum.  Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study.

Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum.  Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study.