English, Theatre, and Speech Communication

B.A. Degree with a Major in English Education with Secondary Teaching Certification, Grades 8-12

A major in English Education with Secondary Teaching Certification, Grades 8-12, is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:

Required Core Courses—ENG 122, 130, 223, 242, 312, and 387; and either ENG 364 or 138

Required Capstone Course—ENG 485

Required Literature Surveys—A minimum of three (3) additional courses, one chosen from at least three of the following five periods in literature: 1) Classical and Biblical (ENG 350 or 381); 2) Medieval (ENG 351 or 360);
3) Eighteenth-Century (ENG 343 or 353); 4) Nineteenth-Century (ENG 344 or 354); and 5) Twentieth-Century (ENG 355 or 356)

Experiential Requirements—One (1) course from each of these four options or listed alternatives: 1) COM 100 or COM 103 (a 1/4 credit course, taken four terms); 2) THR 218 or theatre-related practicum; 3) ENG 201 or a one-year labor experience (five to ten hours per week working as a consultant at the Center for Learning, Teaching, Communication, and Research at Berea College); 4) ENG 202 or a one-year labor experience with the school newspaper, The Pinnacle, or a comparable media experience
Required Collateral Courses—A foreign language to one term beyond the third (103) level or a foreign language through the 103 level and ENG 345. Courses taught primarily in English do not meet this requirement.

ENG 345 would not count in the 21 courses outside the major.

Required Education Courses—EDS 150, 228, 349, 355, 479, 480, 481, and 482

Required Major Portfolio—A Major Portfolio of course work and study, keyed to the English Major Reading List, reflecting the student’s progress through the six areas of knowledge and with written and oral communication. Students electing to pursue this major also will include samples of their own writing from each of the four writing courses within this portfolio. The Major Portfolio should include assigned papers, tests or quizzes, and journals of reading, along with any independent-study projects or other writings pertaining to Major Reading List work. This portfolio should be maintained throughout the major and evaluated regularly by the Academic Adviser in the major and/or other Department faculty prior to the final regular term of the senior year. A final review occurs in the last term of the senior year when the entire project should be completed.

Exploring the Major—Students interested in this major should take ENG 122 and 130 during the first two years and seek out the English Education Adviser as soon as possible. Also see Teacher Education Program information below.

Admission to the Major—For admission to the English major, applicants must have completed 15 course credits and have: 1) satisfactorily completed two ENG courses, at least one in literature; 2) earned a minimum 2.0 GPA; and 3) earned a combined minimum 2.3 GPA in English courses, GSTR 110, and GSTR 210. See the “Requirements for Admission to the Teacher Education Program” under Education Studies for that program’s admission requirements, including the minimum overall GPA of 2.5.

Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within nine terms)—Students need to complete or be enrolled in ENG 122 and 130 by their 5th term. ENG 485 must be taken in the senior year. Also see Teacher Education Program sequencing recommendations below.

Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major—Majors also must satisfy departmental standards for effective oral and written communication. An integral part of the fulfillment of these standards will involve the student’s satisfactory and complete response to the English Major Reading List. As an ongoing project for English majors, the list is designed to stimulate students to read beyond assignments of particular classes; to encourage students to discuss literature with each other and with faculty in various settings; to expose students to some of the most important literature in Western and, to a lesser degree, international culture; to display the varieties of periods, authors, and genres; and to develop students’ abilities to explore and analyze what they read. Students also must demonstrate appropriate qualities of judgment, disposition, and temperament in classroom and field settings.

Admission to and Completion of the Teacher Education Program—Students interested in the teacher certification program are encouraged strongly to take EDS 150 in the second term of the first year, but no later than the first term of the sophomore year. (Multiple sections of EDS 150 are offered each Fall and Spring term.) Those students past their first year (including transfers) will be given priority for registration in EDS 150. Prior to the first day of the EDS 150 class, students must have completed a state criminal records clearance, which takes 6-8 weeks to be processed. Students will learn about this procedure during pre-registration. While taking EDS 150, students will be assigned an Education Adviser. ENG 312 must be completed either prior to or in the eighth term. EDS 228, 349, and 355 (or approved alternative) must be completed prior to the eighth term. EDS 479 and 480, together with a school practicum of 3-4 hours daily, must be taken in the eighth term. Up to two additional course credits may be taken in the eighth term. Only EDS 481 (1 credit) and 482 (3 credits) may be taken in the ninth term. Throughout their preparation, students seeking teacher certification are encouraged to seek out rich and substantive experiences with students of the ages they plan to teach beyond those associated with EDS courses. Such activities include SFA-related service work (e.g., One-on-One Tutoring), working with after-school programs, summer camp experiences, and the like. Completion of teacher certification requires nine terms. For further information about the Teacher Education Program, Student Teaching, and Recommendation for Certification, see “Requirements for all Students Seeking Certification” under the Education Studies section of this Catalog.

Other Considerations or Recommendations—ENG 140, 141, or 237 is strongly recommended as an elective for this major. Majors must satisfy departmental standards for effective written and oral communication.

Curriculum Guide

B.A. English Education with Secondary Teaching Certification, Grades 8-12, 2008-2009