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 (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
• The following core courses:  PSYC 0101   (as a pre-requisite for PSYC 0203) and  ENGL 0221  

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.

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 Teaching  under Academic Policies.  Student teacher placement are limited to within a 30-mile radius of campus.

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.

Requirements 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 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 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 Credits: 3 *

Requirements for the Literature Concentration

The following courses are required for English majors concentrating in Literature:

• ENGL 0210 - British Literature to 1603 Credits: 3

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• ENGL 0211 - British Literature 1603-1780 Credits: 3 or
• ENGL 0212 - British Literature from 1780 to the Present Credits: 3

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• ENGL 0216 - American Literature to 1865 Credits: 3
• ENGL 0217 - American Literature Since 1865 Credits: 3
• ENGL 0295 - Gateway to Advanced Literary Study Credits: 3
• ENGL 0300 - Development of the Novel Credits: 3

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• ENGL 0317 - Shakespeare: Tragedies and Histories Credits: 3 or
• ENGL 0318 - Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances Credits: 3

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• ENGL 0348 - History of the English Language Credits: 3

Required English Education Courses

• ENGL 0206 - Principles and Applications of Grammar Credits: 3

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• ENGL 0221 - World Literature Credits: 3 or
• ENGL 0322 - Practicum Seminar: English Education Credits: 2
• 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

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  ** For teachers of English, this course replaces EDUC 0380 for State diversity requirements in the Professional Sequence, Middle and Secondary Specialist

Professional Sequence: Middle (Grades 5-8) and Secondary (Grades 8-12)

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.

Pedagogical Coursework

A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required in pedagogical coursework specific to your licensure program prior to practicum.  Consult with the department on which courses are classified as part of the pedagogy requirements.

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  .