English Teacher Education

The English Teacher Education program (ETE) is an English Studies sequence in the Department of English (College of Arts and Sciences) at Illinois State University. Admitted teacher candidates will prepare to become effective secondary (grades 9-12) English Language Arts (ELA) teachers in diverse classrooms. Coursework in the 46-hour major develops content knowledge and discipline-specific methods by addressing how theory and research support best practices in integrated language arts skills pedagogy.

Teacher candidates develop and apply instructional delivery skills through clinical experiences conducted at University High School (Illinois State's on-campus laboratory school) and a variety of public school classrooms: rural, suburban, and urban.

Why Study English Teacher Education?

The program emphasizes a critical literacy practices framework valuing language arts skills for life-long learning with these core values:

• Teaching and learning for democracy and social justice
• Respect for the diversity of learners
• Writing as a rhetorical process
• Reading as a strategic process
• Multiple perspective taking
• Meeting student needs through differentiation
• Teaching speaking, listening, and language skills for students to become advocates

Related Fields

Education

• Teaching: teaching assistant, alternative education instruction, international teaching, Montessori instruction
• Administration
• Higher education
• Tutoring
• Coaching, camp director
• Head start programs, before/after school mentoring programs, child development centers, daycare centers
• Child welfare/case management
• Research

Employers

• Public and private elementary and secondary schools
• Colleges and universities
• Museums
• Parks and recreation
• Private learning centers/tutoring services/test preparation organizations
• Language institutes, local and abroad
• Nonprofit organizations focused on child development and child welfare

Strategies

• Obtain appropriate state certification for public school teaching.
• Earn certification to teach multiple subjects or age groups for increased job opportunities.
• Earn a master's or doctorate degree for post-secondary teaching.
• Plan to attend graduate school in college student personnel or information science if those are areas of interest.
• Gain volunteer experience working with children through Big Brother/Sister programs, tutoring, summer camps, YMCAs, etc.
• Participate in school activities such as debate or literary clubs, campus publications, or student government.
• Get involved in roles of leadership such as resident advisor, peer mentor, student advisor, etc.
• Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations for graduate school applications.

Career Industry Liaison

Applying to Illinois State

For new transfer and readmitted students only. New freshmen may apply for admission to the English Teacher Education sequence at a later date. 

Applying to Illinois State

Applying by our priority deadline is encouraged for best consideration for your academic program and for scholarships. Start your application today!

Minimum GPA

2.50

Middle 50% GPA

3.10 - 3.84

Required Courses

Students must have 30 or more hours at time of enrollment for major admission. 

• Students with 30 or more hours at time of enrollment must complete either Introductory-level Composition (ENG 101) or Introductory-level Speech (COM 110) with a C or better.
• Students with fewer than 30 hours at time of enrollment who have 2.0 GPA or higher will be reviewed for General English admission.

Recommended Courses

To find the course equivalencies at an Illinois community college, please review our Course Articulation Guides.

• Foreign language equivalent to Illinois State’s 115 level
• American, British, and Non-Western literature courses
• Fundamentals of Psychology (PSY 110)
• Educational Psychology (PSY 215)

It takes five semesters at Illinois State University to complete this degree. Students should transfer after three semesters at the community college.

Academic Advising

Minimum GPA

2.50

Middle 50% GPA

3.10 - 3.84

Application Period

Applications are always accepted, but reviewed during September and February.

Application Information

Current students can use the Apply to Your Program tool on My.IllinoisState.edu.

Major Requirements

Applications will be reviewed based on GPA, performance in English courses at time of application and a well-written persuasive personal statement. Admission is competitive.

Academic Advising