English Teaching Emphasis
Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.5 USU cumulative (including courses taken for another USU major); 2.5 career total (including transfer credits) for new transfer students
Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.75 within major courses; 2.0 USU cumulative (3.0 USU cumulative required for admission to STEP); 2.75 career total (for licensure)
Minimum Grade Accepted: C (no pass/fail) in major courses; C in STEP courses (Note: C- or better in Quantitative Literacy (QL) course required by the Secondary Education Program)
Number of Required Credits: 42 (45 if required to take ENGL 1410 )
Other Requirements: STEP (typically requires 3 semesters; see TEAL website and advisors for STEP advising) required for licensure, Grammar Challenge Exam (score of at least 80 percent) or ENGL 1410
This emphasis, leading to professional licensure in the teaching of secondary-level English, prepares prospective English teachers to participate actively in the many communities related to the profession. Students become well-versed in their academic subject matter (language, writing, literature, and multimedia); skilled in the methods of teaching the various components of the English curriculum and in classroom management techniques; and committed to the achievement of all students regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or socioeconomic standing.
In addition to the required exploratory courses, students take 18 credits in literature courses in order to acquire an understanding of the traditional literary canon, literary diversity, and current theoretical approaches to understanding literature. Students take 12 credits in pedagogy to learn about curriculum, planning, instructional delivery, assessment, and related topics. Students take 3 credits of an English elective, allowing them an opportunity to explore an area of personal interest.
Students are urged to complete the required Exploratory courses and an additional 6 credits of English prior to taking ENGL 4500 and ENGL 4510 . When possible, students should complete all of their required 3000-level courses before taking 4000-level courses.
To obtain professional licensure at graduation, students must fulfill the requirements of the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) prescribed by the Secondary Education Program of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL).
A. Diversity Requirement
All English majors are required to take one course that examines the experiences, perspectives, literatures, cultures, and/or creative expressions of underrepresented and/or marginalized communities. For this requirement, the USU English department includes communities who have been underrepresented or marginalized due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability and/or the intersections of these identities in conjunction with one another and with class.
B. Exploratory Requirements (9 credits)
- Literature (3 credits)
- Culture (3 credits)
- Writing (3 credits)
C. Literature Courses (15 credits)
Select three courses from the following literary history courses: (9 credits)
Select two literature elective courses as indicated (6 credits)
- One literature course numbered 3305 or higher 3
- One literature elective numbered 4xxx or 5xxx 3
Distribution
Among the literature courses selected (here in category B or in the English elective in category D below), there must be one course in American literature and one course in world literature.
D. Shakespeare Course (3 credits)
E. English Teaching Courses (12 credits)
Select these four courses (12 credits)
F. English elective (3 credits)
- Select an English course numbered 3305 or higher (includes ENGL 4540: Teaching Creative Writing and other courses in creative writing, professional and technical writing, literature, linguistics, folklore, and American studies) 3
G. Grammar Competency
In addition to fulfilling the above requirements, students in the English Education emphasis must fulfill a grammar competency requirement. This may be accomplished either by enrolling in ENGL 1410 , or by passing a challenge exam in the English Department Writing Center (Ray B. West 104) with a score of 80 percent or better. See the English undergraduate advisor for further information.
H. Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) (up to 35 credits)
To receive a license to teach in the public school system, students in the English Teaching emphasis must complete the STEP administered through the Secondary Education Program of the School of TEAL. Students must be admitted to STEP before taking STEP courses. Among the requirements is a Criminal Background Check. See an advisor in the Secondary Education Program of the School of TEAL, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, for further information regarding this program. Prior to student teaching, students must pass the required Praxis exams.
Please note a change that went into effect in 2014. The Utah State Office of Education now requires all institutions to mandate a 3.0 minimum GPA requirement for admission. Students are also required to submit and meet the minimum ACT scores as listed below. The new admission requirements began August 1, 2014.
ACT Composite = 21
ACT Math = 19
ACT English = 20
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