Program Overview

English — Literature Emphasis, BA, with Teaching Endorsement Option

Introduction

English is one of the central liberal arts degrees. A background in English provides graduates with a sound basis for pursuing a variety of careers, including law, business, education, publishing, and government, as well as graduate work in creative writing, language, literary and cultural studies, and critical writing. English engages students in diverse literary heritages as well as fosters the development of sophisticated abilities in critical analysis, creative inquiry, reflective reading, and effective communication and expression.

Why Consider a Literature Emphasis with Teaching Endorsement Option Major?

The English - Literature Emphasis with Teaching Endorsement Option major focuses on the study of literatures in historical and cultural contexts and includes course work in English language and linguistics, literary theory, and composition and rhetoric, and creative writing. Students in the writing studies, creative writing, and most literature courses are expected to write thoughtful, organized, and clear essays that are free of mechanical errors.

The English - Literature Emphasis with Teaching Endorsement Option offers students the opportunity for both breadth and depth in the study of literature and culture. In the “Literature and Culture” courses, which are the core of the major, students gain a sense of historical scope as they explore literatures from a range of periods. In addition, majors take required courses in critical and cultural theory, writing, and the history and theory of language. All of these courses provide a solid foundation for intensive study of specialized topics in the upper-level electives and in the senior seminar.

The English – Literature Emphasis with Teaching Endorsement Option major leads to a baccalaureate degree without teacher certification. To receive a recommendation for state of Washington teacher certification with an English Language Arts endorsement, students must complete courses within the English – Literature Emphasis with Teaching Endorsement Option major as specified herein, and the teacher certification program offered by the Department of Secondary Education.

Student Resources

• Department advising: See the department’s advising webpage for more information
• Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
• Sample Careers: Education (teaching or administrating), Graduate work in Literature and Creative Writing, Graduate work in Composition and Language

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process)

• Schedule an online appointment with the English Department’s Undergraduate Program Coordinator to declare this major.
• The prerequisites for declaring the major are 60 credits completed and ENG 202.

Advising Tips

• Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an English Education Advisor early in their careers at Western.
• Students should declare their major by the start of their junior year.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors. Courses required for a state teaching endorsement must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Requirements (65 credits)

• One course from:
  • ENG 301 - Writing and the Public
  • ENG 302 - Technical Writing
  • ENG 371 - Rhetorical Theory
• Two courses from:
  • ENG 313 - Critical Theories and Practices: Pre-Socratic to 19th Century
  • ENG 314 - Critical Theories and Practices: 19th Century to Present
  • ENG 364 - Introduction to Film Studies
  • ENG 442 - Topics in Literacy
• Four literature and culture courses consisting of two seminars and two surveys. Combined, the literature and culture courses must cover four different historical periods. Historical periods should not be repeated.
  • Two literature culture seminars from:
    • ENG 307 - Seminar in Literature & Culture: Medieval
    • ENG 308 - Seminar in Literature & Culture: Early Modern
    • ENG 309 - Seminar in Literature & Culture: The Long 18th Century
    • ENG 310 - Seminar in Literature & Culture: The Long 19th Century
    • ENG 311 - Seminar in Literature & Culture: The 20-21st Century
  • Two literature and culture surveys from:
    • ENG 317 - Survey in Literature & Culture: Medieval
    • ENG 318 - Survey in Literature & Culture: Early Modern
    • ENG 319 - Survey in Literature & Culture: The Long 18th Century
    • ENG 320 - Survey in Literature & Culture: The Long 19th Century
    • ENG 321 - Survey in Literature & Culture: The 20-21st Centuries
• ENG 347 - Studies in Young Adult Literature
• ENG 350 - Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENG 418 - Senior Seminar
• ENG 441 - Language and the Secondary Classroom
• ENG 443 - Teaching English Language Arts in the Secondary Schools I
• ENG 444 - Teaching English Language Arts in the Secondary Schools II

Optional Requirements

Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program (59 credits)

• SEC 303 - Teaching Adolescents: Development and Identity
• SEC 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity
• SEC 410 - Dynamics of Teaching
• SEC 411 - Philosophical Foundations of Education
• SEC 425 - Developmental Reading, Writing and Learning in Secondary Schools
• SEC 430 - Secondary School Methods I - Instructional Strategies, Daily Planning, and Standards
• SEC 431 - Secondary School Methods II-Assessment and Long Term Planning
• SEC 432 - Secondary School Methods III - Management, Motivation and Discipline
• SEC 433 - Teaching and Learning Laboratory
• SEC 435 - Secondary Practicum I
• SEC 436 - Secondary Practicum II
• I T 444 - Classroom Use of Instructional Technology (Secondary)
• SEC 495 - Internship - Secondary
• SPED 363 - Secondary Students With Special Needs

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement