BA in the Teaching of English
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of English degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of English degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Core Requirements | 9 | |
| English Electives | 9 | |
| Required Methods Courses | 12 | |
| Collateral Courses | 12 | |
| Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure | 13 | |
| General Education and Electives to reach the minimum Total Hours | 65 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Students must complete the following courses with a grade of C or better: | ||
| ENGL 207 | Interpretation and Critical Analysis a | 3 |
| ENGL 208 | English Studies I: Beginnings to the 17th Century | 3 |
| ENGL 209 | English Studies II: 17th Century to Today | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
- a
ENGL 207 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
English Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
| Three courses at the 200 level or above. a,b | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
- a
ENGL 158 may be applied to the elective requirement for the BA in the Teaching of English. Note: ENGL 158 will be renumbered as ENGL 153 effective Spring 2023.
- b
Preferred electives for the Teaching of English are ENGL 153, ENGL 158, ENGL 236, ENGL 237, ENGL 238, ENGL 258, ENGL 282, and ENGL 213 or ENGL 313
Required Methods Courses
Recommended to be taken in consecutive semesters.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 480 | Introduction to the Teaching of English in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 486 | The Teaching of Writing in Middle and Secondary Schools a | 3 |
| ENGL 487 | The Teaching of Reading and Literature in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| ENGL 488 | Methods of Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- a
ENGL 486 is also listed under the Selective Upper-Level Writing requirement within the Major in English.
Collateral Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ENGL 498 | Educational Practice with Seminar I | 6 |
| ENGL 499 | Educational Practice with Seminar II | 6 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ED 200 | Education Policy Foundations | 3 |
| ED 210 | Principles of Learning and Instruction Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| ED 425 | Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Urban Secondary Classroom | 4 |
| SPED 410 | Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
To be recommended for student teaching, ENGL 498 and ENGL 499, a student must complete all program course requirements (general requirements for the major, the Core courses, Methods courses, and courses in Professional Education) with a minimum grade point average of 3.00/4.00 in English courses taken at UIC. Students intending to complete student teaching must obtain the provisional approval of the director of English education in the academic year preceding the academic year in which student teaching is to be done.
In addition to specified course work in the major field, the teacher education student must fulfill certain other requirements as well as maintain a minimum major GPA of 3.00/4.00, a cumulative GPA of 2.50/4.00, and a minimum GPA of 3.00/4.00 in education courses. For detailed information, see the Program Guide for Teacher Education in English, available from the secondary education coordinator in the Department of English.
The teaching license is not automatically awarded upon successful completion of licensure and degree requirements. Before the license is issued, the candidate must file an application for the Illinois teaching license with the Council on Teacher Education. The candidate must also pass a series of examinations required by the Illinois State Board of Education. The Content Area Test must be passed before the candidate is allowed to student teach. The Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) must be passed prior to licensure. For information on application procedures, contact the Council on Teacher Education located at 1333 South Halsted Street. See the Council on Teacher Education section of the catalog.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| Declare Secondary Education Curriculum | ||
| Take General Education/Curriculum courses | 16-18 | |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Take General Education/Curriculum courses | 16-18 | |
| (Meet with Program Advisor) a | ||
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Take General Education/Curriculum courses | 16-18 | |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ED 200 | Education Policy Foundations | 3 |
| ED 210 | Principles of Learning and Instruction Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Complete Application to Candidacy b | ||
| Take General Education/Curriculum courses (e.g., ENGL 480) | 10-12 | |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPED 410 | Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| CI 414 | Middle and High School Literacy | 3 |
| Complete Application to Candidacy b | ||
| Take General Education/Curriculum courses (e.g., ENGL 486) | ||
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Request Approval for: | ||
| Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Urban Secondary Classroom (March 15) d | ||
| Complete Application to Student Teach b | ||
| Take Content Area Test by Deadline b,c | ||
| Take General Education/Curriculum courses (e.g., ENGL 487) | 16-18 | |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ED 425 | Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Urban Secondary Classroom | 4 |
| ENGL 488 | Methods of Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools | 3 |
| Complete General Education courses | 5 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| File Intent to Graduate Form (No later than the 3rd week of the semester in which student plans to graduate) | ||
| Complete Student Teaching | 12 | |
| Take edTPA c | ||
| Complete Entitlement Application | ||
| Complete and Pass edTPA Assessment | ||
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
- b
Consult program advisor or CTE website for deadline.
- c
- d
Only for Teaching of History and Mathematics