Requirements for Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools

The Westfield State University program for licensure of teachers of English has been recognized by the National Council of Teachers of English.

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

• Requirements for all English Majors
• Course work in the Literature Concentration
• Professional Sequence, Middle and Secondary Specialist
• Core

For All English Majors

1. A minimum of 39 credits is required within the English major.
2. 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.
3. Students who transfer into the English major from other institutions must complete 21 credit hours in English at Westfield State University.

Students may satisfy 3 of the required 6 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 0210 - British Literature to 1603 Credits: 3
• ENGL 0211 - British Literature 1603-1780 Credits: 3
• ENGL 0212 - British Literature from 1780 to the Present Credits: 3
• ENGL 0216 - American Literature to 1865 Credits: 3
• ENGL 0217 - American Literature Since 1865 Credits: 3
• ENGL 0221 - World Literature I Credits: 3
• ENGL 0222 - World Literature II Credits: 3

Course work in the Major:

• ENGL 0106 - Principles and Applications of Grammar Credits: 2-3
• ENGL 0221 - World Literature I Credits: 3
• ENGL 0327 - Contemporary Cross-Cultural Literature Credits: 3 **
• ENGL 0338 - Young Adult Literature in the ELA Classroom Credits: 3
• ENGL 0383 - Teaching Writing: Issues in Rhetoric and Composition Credits: 3
• One 0200 or 0300‑level writing course Credits: 3
• One literature course in a genre, period, or author Credits: 3
• Two additional 0300-level English electives Credits: 6

Professional Sequence, Middle and Secondary Specialist:

• ENGL 0350 - Methods of Teaching English in the Secondary and/or Middle School Credits: 3
• EDUC 0220 - Schools in American Culture Credits: 3
• EDUC 0221 - Introduction to Students with Exceptional Learning Needs Credits: 3
• EDUC 0321 - The Middle School and its Students Credits: 3
• PSYC 0203 - Adolescent Development Credits: 3
• EDUC 0354 - Educational Planning and Evaluation: Middle and/or Secondary Schools Credits: 3

•  

• EDUC 0364 - Practicum: Middle School Credits: 6-12 or
• EDUC 0369 - Practicum: Secondary School Credits: 6-12 or
• EDUC 0366 - Practicum: Middle and Secondary School Credits: 6

Core:

• PSYC 0101 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3 (Prerequisite for PSYC 0203 - Adolescent Development )
• ENGL 0221 - World Literature I Credits: 3

Note:

To be recommended for ENGL 0350 - Methods of Teaching English in the Secondary and/or Middle School , 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.

Student progress toward meeting Advanced Standing in Teacher Education is monitored at the end of the sophomore year (57 credits). Please see section on Licensure for Teacher Education  .

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), and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (e.g., Communication and Literacy and subject matter test).

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

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements  and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core  .