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English Education Major

Become a high school English teacher

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Do you love reading and discussing literature? Do you enjoy writing and understanding the English language? Are you passionate about teaching and working with young adults? Become an English teacher and share your passions with others.

SBU's English education major will equip you with an in-depth study of literature, writing, and language, combined with excellent training for teaching on the high school level, preparing you for leadership in a 21st-century language arts classroom.

Graduates from SBU's English education degree are serving as secondary school teachers across Missouri and the U.S., are teaching abroad, and are teaching English as a foreign language. Becoming an English teacher with an education from SBU will open the door to many opportunities for you!

The English Education degree is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences. 

Resources

Degree Plan

95%
Job
placement
rate

(Average job placement for English education graduates within 3 months of graduation, 3-year aggregate)

Female students in homecoming parade

The SBU Advantage

  • Classroom field experiences start as early as your freshman year and culminate in a semester-long student teaching experience your senior year, providing valuable real-world experiences and networking opportunities.
  • Learn from highly qualified and dedicated faculty in both the division of language and communication and the division of education.
  • Discuss topics within language and literature from the perspective of Christian beliefs and values.
  • Benefit from faculty connections — Our English education majors are highly sought after following graduation due to SBU's connections with numerous secondary schools.

Faith Integration

Faculty in the department of language and literature intentionally integrate the Christian faith into classroom instruction by showing how Scriptural truths are foundational to educational practices and theoretical understandings. Classroom discussions of literature occur within the context of a Christian worldview. You will be challenged to consider how your faith affects your literary analysis and your writing.

Laura Latall
"SBU gave me a solid foundation in understanding both the literature and language that I teach and effective methods for teaching it. The rigor of the classroom helped me learn deeply and the commitment of my professors helped me achieve more than I thought I could. I wouldn't be who I am today if I had not been so poured into by mentors at SBU."
Laura Latall '10
English teacher at Lebanon High School (Mo.)

University Writing Center

Put your learning into action by working as a tutor in the University Writing Center and working with other students one-on-one to provide individualized help and feedback on writing assignments and projects.

Writing Contests

Be recognized for your writing abilities by participating in annual writing contests. Selected entries are published in the department's literary journal.

Barnett-Padgett Literary Artist Series

Meet regionally and nationally recognized literary artists who visit campus to read from their original works as part of the Barnett-Padgett Literary Artist Series. Authors also lead seminars for students particularly interested in the creative process. Past guest authors include Robin Jones Gunn, Marilyn Nelson, Ted Kooser and Naomi Shihab Nye.

Author Unknown

Join Author Unknown, SBU's campus poetry society open to any SBU student. Weekly meetings provide opportunities for you to express creativity by reading and critiquing original poems while spending time with students and faculty who share a passion for poetry.

Celebrations of Creative Works

Share your creative writing and join SBU’s writing community by attending readings.  Each semester, students and faculty celebrate their own original creative works by participating in a reading of poetry, fiction, song, and other genres.

Full-Time Faculty

Autumn Finley

Dr. Autumn Finley, Associate Professor
Carla Kirchner

Dr. Carla Kirchner, Associate Professor

Sigma Tau Delta

The SBU chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, is open to English and writing majors who maintain a 3.0 GPA and rank in the top third of their class.

Student Missouri State Teachers Association

As an English education major, you are encouraged to join SBU's chapter of Student Missouri State Teachers Association (SMSTA) to benefit from professional development and networking opportunities as you prepare for your future teaching career.

Scholarships

As a student in SBU's division of language and communication, you will have the opportunity to apply for several privately funded scholarship awards available to English and writing students.

SCOP Journal

SBU students have the opportunity to submit their original works and be published in SCOP, the literary journal of SBU's Division of Language and Communication. Students also receive valuable experience with editing and publishing the journal.

Download SCOP 2021

Download SCOP 2019

Download SCOP 2018

English Education FOUR YEAR PLAN

Discover Core Curriculum