English Education

About this Composite Major

The English Education degree involves the completion of three components—the General Education Core of courses, a Professional Education Sequence for Secondary Education majors, and a mix of required and elective courses in the Major that prepare students for both the certification exams required for teacher licensure, and for the demands of their future classrooms.

Students work closely with advisors in determining which General Education courses best fit their interests as well as determining when to take required courses and professional education courses. Additionally, offerings in Literature, Writing, and Communication and Media Studies present a variety of choices for students as they develop preferences and grow more savvy about what will help them reach their goals.

VCSU English Education majors often combine their learning with certificates, endorsements, and minors in Teaching English Learners, Spanish, Library Media and Information Science, and STEM Education, and some even go on to pursue graduate school to build upon their qualifications, to broaden their knowledge base, or both.

Career Opportunities

In your career as an English Language Arts Teacher, you will need skills in many different areas. Some of those skill areas include:

• Teaching
• Instructional Design
• Assessment
• Unit Planning
• Project Management
• Classroom Management

Meet an English Education Student

"After visiting the VCSU campus, I was completely sold. There’s something about VCSU that just feels like home. From the moment I stepped on campus, I could feel the sense of community and how much the professors genuinely care about their students. What really sealed the deal for me was how welcoming everyone is. The smaller class sizes really make a difference at VCSU. I’ve been able to build relationships with my professors, ask questions, and get personalized support that I wouldn’t have received at a larger school. In classes, my English professors foster open, respectful conversations where everyone’s voice is valued. They actively encourage participation, which makes our discussions rich and engaging, not just about absorbing information, but about sharing ideas and learning from one another; and through my membership on the Teacher Education Committee, I’ve gained insight into how the Education program is structured and how VCSU’s commitment to shaping future educators continues to guide and inspire me." - Alliana Freund, Cando, ND - 2026 English Education major

"Transferring as a college student is a difficult and stressful process as many college grads transfer programs leave students in the dark on advising and class scheduling. This was not the case for VCSU. I was consistently backed and reassured on my transferring process and received consistent help with registering for classes and preparing for my English Education Major and History Minor. Every VCSU professor in this college cares for their students and wants them to succeed. In the English and History departments, students are called by their name and receive personal one on one feedback no matter if they are a major, minor, or simply taking a class for general education. For me, I plan to student teach in the spring of 26 with graduation that May, and hopefully, I will be teaching in my own high school English classroom in fall 26." -Landen Eback, Devils Lake, ND - 2026 English Education major

“I transferred from a two-year community college to VCSU because I wanted that small, supportive community that encouraged me to grow as a person and future educator. During my first semester, I was unsure which major I wanted to pursue, but by the spring semester, I discovered English Education was the right place for me because I love to read and I love to write. The English faculty and my English courses have so far supported my growth as a secondary English teacher, and I’m excited to start my senior year and end with my student teaching field experience.” - Cherokee Warneke, New England, ND - 2026 English Education major

Get Involved in your Major

English Club — A lively group of majors, minors, and aficionados, English Club often brings literary experiences to campus and/or hits the road to find them.

Sigma Tau Delta — Our local chapter of the International Honor Society for English majors provides another avenue for seeking scholarships, a venue for publishing scholarship, and a vehicle for recognizing academic achievement.

The Forge — an NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) REALM First Class award-winning campus literary, academic, and arts journal, hosted by the Language and Literature Department and staffed by student editors in ENGL 213: Literary Publications, publishes and offers awards for original student work on an annual basis.

National Day on Writing — Each fall, the Language and Literature department celebrates the National Day on Writing.  Sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), this campus-wide event allows faculty, staff, and students to share meaningful insights on how and why writing is a vital part of human expression. 

Teacher Education Requirements

Students are typically admitted into Teacher Education during their sophomore year or beginning of their junior year of college. This program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and successful completion of the Praxis Core tests. Criteria for Admission to Teacher Education can be found at website: www.onestop.vcsu.edu.

Accreditations

• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) 

Department Chair and Faculty Contact