English, Literature Concentration, Teacher of English Licensure (5-12), B.A.

Westfield State University’s educator preparation programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The English Department, in collaboration with the Education Department, offers a program of study leading to licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Education as a Teacher of English. The Westfield State University program for licensure of teachers of English has been recognized by the National Council of Teachers of Education.

Requirements for Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools

Students wishing to be licensed to teach English at the Middle or High school levels must complete the following:

Requirements for all English Majors (noted below)
Course work in the Literature Concentration (noted below)
Professional Sequence, Middle and Secondary (noted below), using ENGL 0350 as the appropriate methods course and ENGL 0322 as the appropriate practicum seminar
The following core course: PSYC 0101 (as a pre-requisite for PSYC 0203)

To be recommended for ENGL 0350 , and the teaching practicum, students must have a 2.7 cumulative average in courses counting toward the Literature Concentration, 24 completed credits in Literature, and permission of the Program Director or Chair.

Students strongly are encouraged to use English department advising materials for information about recommended sequencing of required course work.

Requirements For All English Majors

A minimum of 45 credits is required within the English major.
Completion of at least two college semesters of one foreign language is required, unless during high school the student has (a) completed three years of study of one foreign language, or (b) completed two years of study in each of two foreign languages. A student may also satisfy the foreign language requirement by passing a proficiency examination designed nationally and administered locally.
Students who transfer into the English major from other institutions must complete 21 credit hours in English at Westfield State University.

Students may satisfy three of the required six credits in the Literary and Philosophical analysis area of the core with any of the courses on the following list. English Education students may satisfy all 6 of the required Literary and Philosophical analysis credits with courses from this list.

ENGL 0112 - Black American Stories Credits: 3
ENGL 0115 - Indigenous American Stories Credits: 3
ENGL 0117 - Asian American Literature and Culture Credits: 3
ENGL 0210 - British Literature to 1780 Credits: 3
ENGL 0212 - Exploring British Literature Since 1780 Credits: 3
ENGL 0216 - Exploring American Literature to 1865 Credits: 3
ENGL 0217 - Exploring American Literature since 1865 Credits: 3
ENGL 0218 - Postcolonial Literature and Theory Credits: 3

Literature Concentration, Teacher of English 5-12 Licensure, B.A. - 45 credits

*Note: The 45-credit concentration is taken in addition to the professional course sequence for teacher licensure preparation.

Literary History, Genres, and Critical Approaches - 18 credits

Four required courses:

ENGL 0210 - British Literature to 1780 Credits: 3
ENGL 0216 - Exploring American Literature to 1865 Credits: 3
ENGL 0295 - Gateway to Advanced Literary Study Credits: 3
ENGL 0317 - Shakespeare: Tragedies and Histories Credits: 3
or ENGL 0318 - Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances Credits: 3

Two additional courses from the list below:

No course can double-count for two areas in the major.

ENGL 0212 - Exploring British Literature Since 1780 Credits: 3
ENGL 0217 - Exploring American Literature since 1865 Credits: 3
ENGL 0300 - Development of the Novel Credits: 3
ENGL 0311 - The British Novel Credits: 3
ENGL 0317 - Shakespeare: Tragedies and Histories Credits: 3
ENGL 0318 - Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances Credits: 3
ENGL 0319 - Victorian Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0323 - The American Novel Credits: 3
ENGL 0330 - An Introduction to Modern Literary Criticism Credits: 3
ENGL 0332 - Romantic Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0339 - Literature of the Eighteenth Century Credits: 3
ENGL 0341 - Seminar in Major British and American Authors Credits: 3
ENGL 0348 - History of the English Language Credits: 3
ENGL 0364 - American Drama Credits: 3
ENGL 0367 - Film Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
ENGL 0365 - Dramatic Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
ENGL 0370 - Modern Drama Credits: 3
ENGL 0376 - Modern British and American Poetry Credits: 3
ENGL 0382 - Contemporary Poetry Credits: 3
ENGL 0393 - History and Development of Motion Pictures Credits: 3
ENGL 0397 - Special Topics in Literature Credits: 3 (depending on topic, with chair’s approval)

Diverse Literary Traditions Courses - 9 credits

One required course:

ENGL 0218 - Postcolonial Literature and Theory Credits: 3

Two additional courses from the list below, one of which must be at the 300-level:

ENGL 0112 - Black American Stories Credits: 3
ENGL 0115 - Indigenous American Stories Credits: 3
ENGL 0117 - Asian American Literature and Culture Credits: 3
ENGL 0221 - World Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0312 - Queer Literatures and Theory Credits: 3
ENGL 0324 - Advanced Studies in Black American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0325 - Advanced Studies in Native American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0326 - Advanced Studies in Global Women’s Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0327 - Contemporary Cross-Cultural Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0333 - Advanced Studies in Asian American Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 0397 - Special Topics in Literature Credits: 3 (depending on topic, with chair’s approval)

Writing Courses - 9 credits

Required course: ENGL 0204 Composition II: Rhetoric and Research Credits: 3

Two additional writing courses from the list below:

ENGL 0130 - Creative Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0275 - Journalism I Credits: 3
ENGL 0276 - Writing About the Arts Credits: 3
ENGL 0285 - Basics of Film Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0302 - Writing Matters: History, Theory, Technology, and Action Credits: 3
ENGL 0303 - Persuasive Communication Credits: 3
ENGL 0305 - Grant Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0331 - Special Topics in Professional Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0334 - Special Topics in Rhetoric Credits: 3
ENGL 0335 - Special Topics in Creative Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0337 - Visual Rhetoric for Publishing Professionals Credits: 3
ENGL 0241 - Creative Non-Fiction Credits: 3
ENGL 0242 - Writing Fiction Credits: 3
ENGL 0243 - Writing Poetry Credits: 3
ENGL 0347 - Advanced Critical Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0361 - Advanced Poetry Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0371 - Playwriting Credits: 3
ENGL 0375 - Journalism II Credits: 3
ENGL 0377 - Feature Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0381 - Advanced Prose Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0384 - Special Topics in Journalism Credits: 3
ENGL 0385 - Screenwriting for Feature Film Credits: 3
ENGL 0388 - Special Topics in Writing Credits: 3
ENGL 0394 - News Editing Credits: 3
ENGL 0395 - Sports Writing Credits: 3

Pedagogy Courses in English - 9 credits

Required courses:

ENGL 0206 - Principles and Applications of Grammar Credits: 3
ENGL 0338 - Young Adult Literature in the ELA Classroom Credits: 3
ENGL 0383 - Teaching Writing: Issues in Rhetoric and Composition Credits: 3
*Note: ENGL 0350 - Methods of Teaching English in the Secondary and/or Middle School is taken as part of the professional course sequence.

Professional Sequence: Middle and Secondary (Grades 5-12)

The Professional Sequence for Middle and Secondary must be completed by students intending to teach an academic subject area in the Middle or Secondary School. Students must complete an academic major in the subject area in which the licensure is sought.

Professional Sequence Core:

EDUC 0208 - Teaching in U.S. Secondary Schools Credits: 3 (preferred)
or EDUC 0220 - Schools in US Society Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0215 - Theory of Critical Multicultural Education Credits: 3

Professional Sequence Courses Middle and Secondary:

EDUC 0221 - Foundations of Special Education Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0321 - Middle School and its Students Credits: 3 (*FB)
EDUC 0341 - Field Experience 3: Advanced Theory to Practice Credits: 1 (*FB)
EDUC 0354 - Teaching Middle and High School Students Credits: 4 (*FB)
EDUC 0363 - Sheltered English Immersion Credits: 3
PSYC 0203 - Adolescent Development Credits: 3
Appropriate academic Methods course, such as the following:
BIOL 0390 - Teaching Secondary School Biology Credits: 3
ENGL 0350 - Methods of Teaching English in the Secondary and/or Middle School Credits: 4
GNSC 0371 - Methods of Science Education for the Middle School Credits: 3
GNSC 0373 - Methods of Chemistry Education Credits: 3
HIST 0432 - Methods of Teaching History: Middle and Secondary Credits: 3
Note: *FB indicates Field Based course.

Practicum

Appropriate academic Practicum and Seminar, such as the following:

ART 0451 - Practicum (Teaching Art, 5-12) Credits: 12
EDUC 0364 - Practicum: Middle School Credits: 10 *
EDUC 0369 - Practicum: Secondary School Credits: 10 *
EDUC 0372 - 5-12 Practicum: English and History Credits: 10 *
ENGL 0322 - Practicum Seminar: English Education Credits: 2 **
*Must take EDUC 0300 - Practicum Seminar (2 credits) as a co-requisite.
**Middle and Secondary education students in English must take ENGL 0322.

Note:

Students progress toward meeting Advanced Standing in Teacher Education is monitored at the end of the sophomore year (57 credits). All students must meet the requirements for Advanced Standing to achieve teacher candidacy. Please see section on Licensure for Teaching under Academic Policies.

In order to be eligible for student teaching, a student must have completed all required course and field work, have an overall GPA of 2.8 (including transfer work), a GPA of 3.0 in all pedagogy coursework, and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (i.e., Communication and Literacy and subject matter tests).

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE or Common Core .