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), a GPA of 3.0 for all pedagogical coursework, 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 - 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.

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.

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 .