Requirements for Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools

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 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 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.

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 45 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 0112 - Introduction to Black American Literature Credits: 3
• ENGL 0115 - Introduction to Native American Literature Credits: 3
• ENGL 0117 - Introduction to Asian American Literature Credits: 3
• ENGL 0210 - British Literature to 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 0218 - Postcolonial Literature and Theory Credits: 3

Literature and English Education - 39 Credits

Students will take a total of thirteen courses (39 credits) required according to the following distribution:

Writing - 6 Credits

Students will take any two of the following writing courses.

• ENGL 0246 - 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 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 0340 - Creative Non-Fiction Credits: 3
• ENGL 0345 - Writing Fiction Credits: 3
• ENGL 0346 - 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

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.

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  .