Secondary Education – English

Ready to inspire the next generation of writers, thinkers and doers? Make it a reality with an M.A.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction with a concentration in Secondary English. Our program focuses on integrating theory, research and practice so that in one year, you’ll be ready to step into the classroom with the knowledge, skills and strategies to confidently teach diverse student populations. Get ready to unlock your potential—and that of your students.

This program is designed as a full-time, 12-month (summer, fall, spring) program in which students complete all requirements as a cohort. This model provides for an intense and rewarding experience and creates a strong network of support among students, faculty, cooperating teachers and university supervisors. 

Requirements

Graduate students in Secondary English complete a 44-semester hour program that includes educational foundations course work, methods courses in English curriculum and instruction, and student teaching experiences.

Field Experiences

In addition to your coursework, you will spend time in real classrooms throughout the program. You'll have the opportunity to observe and interact with students in a diverse range of school settings:

Fall clinical field experience: You’ll be placed in a local school with a cooperating teacher mentor to complete a minimum of 60 hours of observation and interaction. Coursework is linked to the practica experiences, with faculty supporting students as they become immersed in the classroom.

Spring student teaching: Students continue working in the same classroom for their spring student teaching experience. This full-time teaching internship provides an intensive and critical component of your preparation as a teacher.

Licensure Requirements

Students who wish to teach English in public secondary schools must have a state license to do so. To be eligible for a state license in Virginia in Secondary English, students must have successfully earned a baccalaureate degree, complete a major in English or complete the subject area requirements shown below, complete the course requirements of the Secondary English Education program, and pass all testing requirements. Students who are accepted into the M.A.Ed. program with undergraduate program deficiencies must complete course work to remove these deficiencies before they are eligible for licensure.

First Aid, CPR and AED Training
Students seeking licensure in Virginia will need to complete training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators.  Students will need to provide documentation of completion of this training, which is usually an official card.  Training courses are offered by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.
Subject Area Requirements

A major in English or a minimum of 36 semester hours distributed in the following areas:

  1. Literacy and reading - 12 semester hours with courses to include:
    1. Survey of British literature
    2. Survey of American literature
    3. World literature
    4. Literary theory and criticism
  2. Language - 3 semester hours, to include the development and nature of the English language
  3. Composition - 12 semester hours with experiences to include: 
    1. A grammar course integrating grammar and writing
    2. The teaching of writing, based on current knowledge and most effective practices, including the use of technology for this purpose
    3. An advanced composition course emphasizing rhetorical practices of expository, persuasive, argumentative, and analytical writing
    4. Teaching research including ethical accessing, evaluating, organizing, crediting, and synthesizing information
  4. Oral language - 3 semester hours, to include the teaching of public and presentation speaking, including nonverbal communication and the role of communication in small group and mass communication
  5. Electives in English - 6 semester hours
Assessments
  • Praxis Subject Assessment in English
  • Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA)
English Education Program Contact

[[lljohnson, Lindy Johnson]]
Assistant Professor
(757) 221-2333

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