Secondary Language Arts (BS Ed)

Degree and Certification

This degree is a bachelor of science in education in secondary education with an emphasis in language arts.

Additionally, upon successfully completing the initial teacher-certification process, the state grants you certification in secondary language arts (grades 9 through 12).

Program of Study

This program encompasses three areas of study:

Phase I: Freshman – Sophomore Year

Course Work

The majority of your time in Phase I is spent completing your general-education requirements. Additionally, you start language arts content courses such as writing about literature and intermediate composition.

Course work through the College of Education focuses on facilitating learning at all levels of development. Consideration is given to the influences of cultural, political, historical and economic factors on students, teachers and schools.

Field Experiences

Field experiences in Phase I include:

  • Sixteen hours in a language arts classroom (if available) tutoring and working with students in small groups under teacher supervision, and supervising and interacting with small groups and individual students.
  • Twenty hours in a service-learning environment serving in community organizations (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Granny’s House).

Phase II: Junior Year – First Semester Senior year

You must apply for admittance into Phase II in the spring of your sophomore year.  For more information about the application process, please consult your adviser.

Course Work

Course work in secondary English Education focuses on research based methods for teaching the broad subject of English.  Methods classes weave together the multiple strands of English including reading and writing, the study of literature, the study of the English language, and media studies.

Field Experiences:

You will spend approximately 24 hours per semester in learning labs or language arts classrooms. Your responsibilities will include:

  • Engaging in observations of classrooms;
  • Co-teaching lessons with your supervising teacher;
  • Creating and teaching mini-lessons on your own;
  • Leading small-group instruction;
  • Tutoring individual students;
  • Assisting with responding to student writing.

Phase III: Second Semester Senior Year

You will be assigned to a high school language arts classroom for a 16-week, full-time internship under the mentorship of an experienced high school language arts teacher. Your responsibilities will include:

  • Co-planning and co-teaching lessons;
  • Creating and teaching lessons;
  • Evaluating student work;
  • Supervising small groups of students;
  • Attending department, school and district meetings.