English and Education

Students planning to teach English in secondary schools must complete the requirements for the major in English and gain admission to the Teacher Education Program. Contact the College of Education Office of Teacher Education and Student Services for application forms and information.

By the end of the program, students must have completed the following courses.

English (part of the undergraduate major)

One Shakespeare course
Three American literature courses
One British literature course
08N:141 / 07S:155 Approaches to Teaching Writing (area: nonfiction and creative writing) 3 s.h.
08P:182 / 07S:182 Language and Learning (area: literary theory and interdisciplinary studies) 2-3 s.h.
08P:198 / 07S:193 Reading and Teaching Adolescent Literature (area: literary theory and interdisciplinary studies) 3 s.h.

One nonfiction or creative writing course (in addition to 08N:141)

Education

07B:180 Human Relations for the Classroom Teacher 3 s.h.
07E:102 / 07S:102 Technology in the Classroom 2 s.h.
07P:075 Educational Psychology and Measurement 3 s.h.
07S:100 Foundations of Education 3 s.h.
07S:114 Introduction and Practicum: English/Speech 3 s.h.
07S:115 Methods: English 3 s.h.
07S:187 Seminar: Curriculum and Student Teaching 1-3 s.h.
07S:190 Orientation to Secondary Education 0-1 s.h.
07S:191 Observation and Laboratory Practice in the Secondary School 6 s.h.
07S:192 Observation and Laboratory Practice in the Secondary School 6 s.h.
07S:194 Methods: High School Reading 2-3 s.h.
07U:100 Foundations of Special Education 3 s.h.

One college-level mathematics or statistics course

Admission

Applicants to the Teacher Education Program in English must have completed a minimum of 40 s.h., including at least 12 s.h. in English before they can be admitted (the following courses do not count toward the 12 s.h.: all 08G courses, 08N:141, 08P:182, and 08P:198). Applicants must have a University of Iowa g.p.a. and a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.70 as well as an English major g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Applicants must submit an application to the College of Education, including PRAXIS I scores, an Iowa criminal history check, letters of recommendation, and proof of a 10-hour preadmission volunteer field experience.

Minor Licensure in English

Students who seek licensure for secondary teaching in fields other than English may seek minor licensure in English. First-year courses in rhetoric, speech, or writing do not count toward this requirement.

The English minor licensure program includes the following course work.

An American literature course
A British literature course
A course in creative or nonfiction writing
An additional English course
07S:115 Methods: English 3 s.h.
07S:194 Methods: High School Reading 2-3 s.h.
08N:141 / 07S:155 Approaches to Teaching Writing 3 s.h.
08P:182 / 07S:182 Language and Learning 2-3 s.h.
08P:198 / 07S:193 Reading and Teaching Adolescent Literature 3 s.h.

While this program meets minimum requirements for licensure, the department recommends that students who want to teach English have considerably more training in the field.