Post-baccalaureate Certification in English
Any student with a Bachelor's Degree with at least a 2.70 GPA is eligible to apply for the Certification Program in Secondary English. Steps that need to be taken:
- Apply to the Graduate School and check off Certification Program, Secondary English. Applications are available in Graduate Studies.
- Your transcripts will be reviewed in the Department of English to determine if additional undergraduate English courses must be taken. (See below.)
- Your transcripts will be reviewed in the School of Education to determine if additional general education courses must be taken.
- You will be sent a letter that informs you whether or not you have been accepted into the Graduate School. This step makes you eligible to apply specifically to the Certification Program in Secondary English.
- If you have been accepted to the Graduate School, you will be assigned an advisor. It is strongly recommended that you immediately contact your advisor to establish a program that will result in your certification candidacy. Your advisor can help you choose the appropriate classes as you progress through the program.
- You and your advisor will determine when you apply to the Certification Program, but generally this occurs once the majority of your English and general education courses are completed. In order to do so, you must open a TaskStream account. Directions for this as well as the application for the program can be found on the School of Education website. Part of your application process involves an interview with English faculty, which is scheduled once your other materials are reviewed favorably.
- Once accepted into the Professional Program, most students complete the remaining required coursework in three to four semesters, which includes the student teaching semester. Students who require significant prerequisite English and/or general education courses and those who elect to attend part-time prior to their student teaching semester adjust their timelines accordingly.
Typical English coursework required prior to or during application to the Professional Program.
- British, American and World Literature survey courses
- Shakespeare
- Linguistics
- Introduction to Literary Studies
- Upper level and American and British literature courses
- Young Adult Literature
- Major American Author course
Required Professional Program in English Courses (English/Language Arts Pedagogy)
- ENG 402 Advanced Composition and Technology in the English Classroom
- ENG 406 Teaching the Mechanics of Writing
- ENG 407 Literature for Teachers
- ENG 408 Teaching Writing in Middle and Secondary Schools
- ENG 420 Teaching English in Secondary Schools
- ENG 421 Field Work in Secondary English Education
Additional School of Education Professional Program Course Requirements
- EDTE 316 Principles of Learning in Diverse Settings
- SPED 315 Introduction to Educating Learners with Exceptionalities
- EDSC 425 Multicultural, Interdisciplinary Teaching at the Secondary Level
- LLA 440 Literacy Instruction in Secondary Schools
- EDSC 435 Student teaching
- ENG 435 Student teaching seminar
Several of the courses above involve field experiences in relation to their course content. Central places you in Connecticut public middle and high schools for all field work, both before and during student teaching. Student teaching is a semester-long immersive experience that follows a full-time secondary teaching schedule.
Last Revised: Fall 2021