Study in a major where you’ll share a love of learning: You’ll do that here.

An English Education degree prepares you for a career teaching in K-12 classrooms. Our program includes 42 hours in English literature, language, and writing courses. We successfully prepare students to teach their content successfully.  

What  You’ll Do

As an English education major at Southeast, you’ll have a supportive climate and help to meet the rigor of teacher education. In addition to the required hours of English courses, you’ll complete 41 hours of education courses, including 19 hours of field experience, so you’re classroom-ready.

  •  Have three field experiences in secondary schools with mentor teachers before your last semester.
  • Spend 16 weeks in your student teaching field experience at one school.
  • Attend professional development events including the Southeast Missouri English Teachers Association and Write To Learn Conferences.

What Can You Do with an English Education Degree?

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.

Employment and Graduate School Opportunities of  Recent Graduates

  • Our graduates are teaching in Southeast Missouri secondary schools, including Scott County Central, Poplar Bluff, Charleston, and Sikeston. Graduates are also teaching in local high schools, including Notre Dame Catholic High, Jackson, Cape Central, and the Cape Central Academy. Ste. Genevieve, Fredericktown, and DeSoto High Schools have also recently chosen our English Education graduates. In the St. Louis area, school districts including Francis Howell, Kirkwood, and Pattonville have employed our teacher candidates.
  • One of our graduates currently teaching at Cape Central was chosen as an MACTE Outstanding Beginning Teacher in the state of Missouri.
  • In addition, our graduates have been accepted into Master’s programs, including those at St. Louis University and Southern Illinois University.
  • Some graduates choose to pursue a Master’s degree in English at Southeast and teach first-year composition courses.

 

English Education (BSED) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.

Outcomes & Careers

  • $67k

    High School Teacher 

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a high school teacher is $67,240.

  • $65k

    Elementary & Middle School Teacher

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an elementary and middle school teacher is $65,300.

  • $81k

    English Postsecondary Teacher

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a postsecondary teacher in English is $81,340.

What You'll Study

Degree Map

An English Education degree prepares you for a career teaching in K-12 classrooms. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.

Professional Education Courses

A grade of C or better is required in education courses, with the exception of ED280 which requires a grade of B or better.

  • ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession (3)
  • EF400 Student Teaching Seminar (1)
  • EX390 Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child (3)
  • PY222 Development of the Adolescent (3)
  • SE307 Content Literacy Methods for Middle and High School (3)
  • SE319 Techniques of Teaching English (3)
  • SE350 Pedagogy 1: Principles of Effective Teaching (3)
  • SE355 Field Experience II (3)
  • SE365 Pedagogy 2: Interdisciplinary Methods and Technology (4)
  • SE380 Advanced Field Experience (3)
  • SE385 Pedagogy 3: Advanced Methods of Middle and Secondary Teaching (3)
  • SE390 Instructional Interventions for Middle and Secondary Students with Special
    Literacy Needs (3)
  • SE465 Student Teaching (12)

English Courses

Required Courses:

  • EN201 Writing About Literature (3)
  • EN378 Grammars of English (3)
  • EN379 Composition in the Secondary School (3)
  • LI385 Teaching Literature and Non-Fiction Texts (3)
  • LI542 Literature for Young Adults (3)

Choose 3 hours:

  • LI211 World Literature I (3)
  • LI212 World Literature II (3)

Choose 3 hours:

  • LI260 English Literature I (3)
  • LI261 English Literature II (3)

Choose 3 hours:

  • LI270 American Literature I (3)
  • LI271 American Literature II (3)

Language Elective (Choose 3 hours):

  • EN448 Principles of Language (3)
  • EN486 Sociolinguistics (3)
  • EN500 History of English Language (3)

Writing Elective (Choose 3 hours):

  • EN275 Introduction to Creative Writing (3)
  • EN376 Advanced Composition (3)

Upper Division Electives (Choose 6 hours):

  • EN300-EN 599 English elective
  • LI300-LI 599 Literature elective
  • LI332 Images of Women in Literature (3)
  • LI341 Victorian Studies (3)
  • LI432 Shakespeare’s Comedies & Histories (3)
  • LI433 Shakespeare’s Tragedies (3)

Additional requirement:

  • LI256 Variety of Literature (3)
  • EN250 Introduction to English Education (3)

  • 42 credit hours completed
  • One of the following:
    • Composite/Superscore of 20 or higher on the ACT exam;
    • Passing scores on all sections of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA); or
    • A 4-year degree from an accredited college/university 
  • The following course requirements met:
    • A minimum grade of ‘C’ in CF/PY120 The Child (Elementary, Early, and Exceptional) or PY222 Development of the Adolescent (Middle and Secondary)
    • A minimum grade of ‘B’ in ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession or ME222 Principles of Teaching Music
  • Internation al Students must also meet the following requirements:
    • C1 (CEFR) level
    • IELTS minimum score of 7.0 or TOEFL minimum score of 95
    • Note: This policy is for non-United States citizens who are not native Englishspeakers. Students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are exempt from English proficiency verification

Additional Information 

The state of Missouri has high expectations for future educators. Students matriculating into education programs must meet the following standards to be recommended for licensure following degree completion.  

 Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in both the area of content expertise and pedagogy courses. In addition, students must pass the MO Content Exam and the MO Educator Evaluation System for recommendation for licensure. Students must also fulfill other assessments such as a dispositions profile and be cleared through an FBI background check. 

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

Freshman Year    

Fall Semester (16 Hours)     

  • UI100 (1)
  • EN100 (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)

Spring Semester (18 Hours)     

  • EN140 (3)
  • EN250 (3)
  • LI256 (3)
  • PY222 (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)

Milestone: maintain 2.75 cumulative GPA, Complete MEP

Sophomore Year    

Fall Semester (15 Hours)  

  • ED280 (3)
  • EN201 (3) 
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3) 

Spring Semester (15 Hours)    

  • EN275/EN376 (3) 
  • EN378 (3)
  • LI270/LI271 (3)
  • LI385 (3)
  • General Education (3) 

Milestone: maintain 2.75 cumulative GPA, Passing score MoGEA

Junior Year    

Fall Semester (18 Hours)    

  • EN379 (3) 
  • EN448/EN486/EN500 (3)
  • EX390 (3)
  • LI260/LI261 (3)
  • LI542 (3)
  • SE350 (3)

Spring Semester (16 Hours)     

  • EN/LIxxx (3)
  • LI211/LI212 (3)
  • SE307 (3)
  • SE355 (3)
  • SE365 (4)

Milestone: maintain 2.75 cumulative GPA, 3.0 GPA in Ed. courses

Senior Year    

Fall Semester (15 Hours)     

  • EN/LIxxx (3) 
  • SE319 (3) 
  • SE380 (3)
  • SE385 (3)
  • SE390 (3)

Spring Semester (13 Hours)  

  • EF400 (1)
  • SE465 (12) 

Milestone: Passing score Mo Content Exam, MoPTA, 2.75 cumulative GPA, 3.0 GPA in Ed. courses

A “Milestone” signifies a significant stage for a student in the completion of a degree.

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

Get Funding for Your Education

Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.

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