English: Teaching Emphasis - BA, BS

With its small class sizes and nationally published faculty members, the English Department helps students develop skills in analysis, production, and understanding of texts in the English language. Students learn to write, think, and communicate effectively in a technologically and culturally complex world. Students develop skills in the areas most valued by employers, including critical thinking, teamwork, and oral and written communication, which will prepare them to enter into a wide range of career options.

Because the English Department is home to faculty that are heavily involved in research, students are provided with numerous opportunities to pursue undergraduate research projects and creative projects with individual attention from professors.

Students receive a by completing all required courses in the major. To receive a BA, students must also gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages.

English Teaching Emphasis: Students emphasizing in English teaching prepare to teach secondary level English in the public school system. Students take a wide range of literature, writing, and teaching courses that prepare them to teach language arts in secondary education classrooms.

• For more information about English Teaching Emphasis, see the Department of English website. As an English major with an emphasis in English Teaching, you will receive your BA/BS through the Department of English in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

• Teacher licensure is earned through the College of Education and Human Services. Please note that the English Teaching emphasis also offers three additional Composite options: American Studies, Literature, and Writing.

• Admitted and current students must meet with an academic advisor.

• Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

• The highest math requirement for this degree is Quantitative Literacy (QL) of the student’s choice. course or course or course is recommended.

• New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.

• Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU: 2.5 GPA Overall, 2.5 GPA at USU, 3.0 GPA for STEP

Additional Information

• In addition to completion of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent) OR

  • Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (course) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (course), and by passing an exit interview OR

  • Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level or higher in one language and the 2010 course level or higher in the second language (or its equivalent) OR

  • Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

  For non-native English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

  • Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students OR

  • TOEFL, IELTS, other USU approved exam, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the university admission criteria.

• 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 16 credits in pedagogy to learn about curriculum, planning, instructional delivery, assessment, and related topics. course and course require admission to the STEP program. Students also take three credits of linguistics coursework.

• Students are urged to complete the required Exploratory courses and an additional six credits of English before taking course and course. 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).

• This is for the English teaching emphasis only. To obtain a secondary teaching license for grades 6-12, students must complete the 35-credit Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP), which includes one semester of student teaching in a public school. This program is administered by USU’s School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. Students must apply to the School of TEAL the semester before taking STEP courses. This is usually the fall of their junior year. Students learn subject content through the English Department and spend the last year or two studying education techniques through the STEP program.

  Students in the English teaching program are required to select an approved teaching minor to expand their career options.

• Students in the English teaching program are required to select an approved teaching minor to expand their career options.