Undergraduate Majors
Teaching of English
The Department of English sponsors two options, a teaching education major in English, and a teacher education minor in English, and it is designed to prepare students to teach English at the secondary level. Also see English Major.
Download English Teaching Option Graduate Check-List
Teaching Education Major in English
In order to remain in good standing in this program and be recommended for certification, candidates are required to maintain UIUC, cumulative, content area, and professional education, grade-point averages of 2.5 (A= 4.0). Candidates should consult their advisor or the Council on Teacher Education for the list of courses used to compute these grade-point averages
Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equate to 48 hours
General education: The general education requirements for the teaching options of the English major will be the same as for LAS with the addition of a speech performance course, SPCM 101, or course sequence SPCM 111 and 112.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Departmental distinction: Distinction will be awarded on the basis of grade-point average and satisfactory completion of honors, individual study, and honors essay courses. See the English adviser for a detailed statement of the requirements.
Prerequisites to transfer to the Teaching Option. In addition to EPSY 201 and EPS 201, students must also complete ENGL 200 or 101 (English 200 preferred) and at least nine hours from ENGL 301, 209, 210, 255, or 256 prior to transfer into the Teaching Option.
NOTE: In addition to the requirements for the option listed below, students must complete the Teaching Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (36 hours). While it is possible to complete this program in 8 semesters, many students may require an extra semester or two.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | Introductory Literature: English 200: Intro to Literary Study |
| 15 | Core Courses (the 200-level courses in this group need not be taken strictly in the order listed, but should be taken before the 300-level coursework). At least nine hours of these core courses should be completed or in progress by the time of application to the Teaching of English program. Note the special prerequisites for these courses: |
| 3 hrs | English 209: English Lit to 1798. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and English 200. |
| 3 hrs | English 210: English Lit 1798 to Present. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and English 200. |
| 3 hrs | English 255: Survey of American Lit I. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and English 200. |
| 3 hrs | English 256: Survey of American Lit II. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and English 200. |
| 3 hrs | English 301: Critical Approaches to Lit. Prerequisite: Completion of the Comp. I requirement and English 200. |
| 24 | Distribution Requirements: Choose one course from each of the following groups: You must include 12 hours at the 300- or 400-level (at least six of these must be in literature), including a section of English 300+ (Writing about Literature) designated as fulfilling one of the distribution requirements. It is recommended that English 300+ be taken before your other 300- or 400-level coursework. |
| Note: Courses listed under more than one group can count for only one group requirement. Topics of courses marked with an asterisk (*) must be identified as satisfying the appropriate group to count. | |
| Students in the Teaching of English option are also required to include in their courses for Groups I-V at least one course in African-American, American ethnic minority, or women's literature. | |
| 3 hrs | Shakespeare: |
| 418 Shakespeare I | |
| 419 Shakespeare II | |
| 300+* | |
| 6 hrs | British Literature: Choose one course from Group I or Group II |
| Group I: British literature before 1800. | |
| 202 Medieval Lit and Culture | |
| 204 Renaissance Lit and Culture | |
| 206 Enlightenment Lit and Culture | |
| 274* Literature and Society | |
| 280* Women Writers | |
| 281* Women in the Lit Imagination | |
| 407 Introduction to Old English | |
| 415 Early Renaiss Poetry & Prose | |
| 416 Drama of Shakespeare's Contemp | |
| 421 Later Renaiss Poetry & Prose | |
| 426 Earlier 18thC Literature | |
| 427 Later 18thC Literature | |
| 428 English Drama 1660-1800 | |
| 429 18th Century Fiction | |
| 461* Topics in Literature | |
| 475 Lit and Other Disciplines | |
| 300+* Writing About Literature | |
| Group II: British literature after 1800. | |
| 207 Romantic Lit and Culture | |
| 208 Victorian Lit and Culture | |
| 247 The British Novel | |
| 274* Literature and Society | |
| 280* Women Writers | |
| 281* Women in the Lit Imagination | |
| 285 Postcolonial Lit in English | |
| 431 English Romantic Literature | |
| 434 Victorian Poetry and Prose | |
| 435 19thC British Fiction | |
| 441 British Lit 1900 - 1930 | |
| 442 British Lit Since 1930 | |
| 461* Topics in Literature | |
| 462* Topics in Modern Fiction | |
| 466* Topics in Modern Drama | |
| 475* Lit and Other Disciplines | |
| 300+* Writing About Literature | |
| 3 hrs | Group III: American literature: |
| 250 The American Novel to 1914 | |
| 251 The American Novel Since 1914 | |
| 256 Survey of American Lit II | |
| 259 Afro-American Literature I | |
| 260 Afro-American Literature II | |
| 274* Literature and Society | |
| 280* Women Writers | |
| 281* Women in the Lit Imagination | |
| 286 Asian American Literature | |
| 363 Jewish Immigrant Literature | |
| 449 American Lit 1820 - 1865 | |
| 450 American Lit 1865 - 1914 | |
| 451 American Lit 1914 - 1945 | |
| 452 American Lit 1945 - Present | |
| 460 Lit of American Minorities | |
| 461* Topics in Literature | |
| 462* Topics in Modern Fiction | |
| 466* Topics in Modern Drama | |
| 475* Lit and Other Disciplines | |
| 300+* Writing About Literature | |
| 3 hrs | Group IV: an Author-studies course: |
| 411 Chaucer | |
| 423 Milton | |
| 455 Major Authors | |
| 300+* Writing About Literature | |
| 3 hrs | Group V: Special-topics courses: Choose from one of the following groups or an English 300+ identified as a Group V topic: |
| Theme, Mode, Genre: | |
| 213 Modernist Lit and Culture | |
| 241 Beginnings of Modern Poetry | |
| 242 Poetry Since 1940 | |
| 243 Modern Drama I | |
| 244 Modern Drama II | |
| 247 The British Novel | |
| 248 Brit Amer & Contin Fiction | |
| 250 The American Novel to 1914 | |
| 251 The American Novel since 1914 | |
| 274* Literature and Society | |
| 285 Postcolonial Lit in English | |
| 416 Drama of Shakespeare's Contemp | |
| 428 English Drama 1660-1800 | |
| 429 18th Century Fiction | |
| 435 19thC British Fiction | |
| 461* Topics in Literature | |
| 462* Topics in Modern Fiction | |
| 465 Stage Comedy | |
| 466* Topics in Modern Drama | |
| 475* Lit and Other Disciplines | |
| Gender and Ethnic Studies: | |
| 211 Intro to Modern African Lit | |
| 259 Afro-American Literature I | |
| 260 Afro-American Literature II | |
| 272 Minority Images in Amer Film | |
| 280 Women Writers | |
| 281 Women in the Lit Imagination | |
| 284 Modern Jewish Literature | |
| 285 Postcolonial Lit in English | |
| 286 Asian American Literature | |
| 359 Lit Responses to the Holocaust | |
| 363 Jewish Immigrant Literature | |
| 460 Lit of American Minorities | |
| 470 Modern African Fiction | |
| Film Studies: | |
| 272 Minority Images in Amer Film | |
| 273 Intermediate Film Studies | |
| 373 Special Topics in Film Studies | |
| Critical Theory: | |
| 461* Topics in Literature | |
| 483 Lit Crit From 1800 to Present | |
| 485 Literature for the High School | |
| 3 hrs | English 402 Descriptive English Grammar (with advisor's permission, students may substitute English 404 Engl Grammar for ESL Teachers) |
| 3 hrs | English 481 Comp Theory and Practice |
| 3 hrs | Language or Writing Studies - choose one (with the permission of an advisor, students may substitute a course in Linguistics for the courses in this group): |
| 401 Intro to Study of Engl Lang | |
| 403 History of the English Lang | |
| 482 Writing Technologies | |
| BTW 490 Special Topics Prof Writing | |
| 42 | Supporting Coursework: |
| 6 hrs | Western Civilization Requirement: Choose one of the following pairs: |
| CWL 241 and 242: Masterpieces of West Culture I & II | |
| History 141: Western Civ to 1660 and 142: Western Civ Since 1660 | |
| History 171: US Hist to 1877 and 172: US Hist Since 1877 | |
| History 255: British Isles to 1688 and 256: Great Britain Since 1688 | |
| 36 hrs | Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching: |
| The professional education component of the program will be divided into two phases: | |
| Pre-education courses: | |
| EPSY 201 (prerequisite: PSYC 100) | |
| EPS 201 | |
| The professional education sequence as approved by the Council on Teacher Education: | |
| 3 semester hours in the fall of the junior year | |
| 6 in the spring of the junior year | |
| 6 in the fall of the senior year | |
| 15 in the spring of the senior year (combining courses in pedagogy and the student teaching experience) |
Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
Students must maintain a University and cumulative 2.5 grade point to remain in good standing.
