Students pursuing a career in secondary education teaching must apply to the College of Education at the beginning of their sophomore year. Before being accepted into that program, students can pursue an English major, but their access to four required courses for teacher certification is restricted until they are admitted into the College of Education. Students in this program begin with the foundational courses required of all majors, and then add four foundational courses in pedagogy, teaching methods, and reading theory. That leaves them with only a few electives . . . but time enough to explore subjects and topics that will prove helpful to them as middle or high school teachers, such as creative writing, American literature, Shakespeare, and film studies. Students interested in completing the teacher certification requirements should contact their advisor.

Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2022 will find their degree requirements here.

The Current Requirements for the English Education Program (36-40 credits) include:

  • AL 250: Career Exploration Strategies for Arts and Letters Students (1 credit)
  • AL 460: Advanced Career Strategies (1 credit)
  • ENG 210: Introduction to Literary Studies (3 credits)
    • Writing-intensive course in close reading, with substantial attention to poetry, drama, and narrative prose, drawing broadly on texts taken from more than one century and more than one national literature.
  • ENG 280: Introduction to Literary Theories (3 credits) OR FLM 230: Introduction to Film (4 credits)
    • ENG 280: Literary and critical theory. How literature is constituted and how representation works. Assumptions behind and limits of a range of theoretical approaches. Application of theory to literary texts.
    • FLM 230: Basic concepts and techniques of film analysis and criticism. (Given as an option because a knowledge of the analysis and criticism of film/media is useful for future high school teachers.) 
  • ENG 360 Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 362 Studies in Modern/Contemporary Literature (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 364 Studies in 18th-/19th-Century Literature (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 368 Studies in Medieval/Early Modern Literature (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 413 Critical Questions in Language and Composition (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 499 Senior Thesis Research (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 350: Readings in African, African American, or African Diaspora Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 351: Readings in Chicano and Latino Literatures (3 credits)
  • ENG 352: Readings in Asian or Asian American Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 353: Readings in Women Writers (3 credits)
  • ENG 354: Readings in Native American Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 355: Readings in Sexuality and Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 356: Readings in Jewish Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 360: Studies in Postcolonial and Diaspora Literature (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 448: Seminar in Gender and Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 449: Seminar in Race, Ethnicity, Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 450 Seminar in African American Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 460: Seminar in Global and Postcolonial Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 466: Seminar in Literatures of the Pacific Rim (3 credits)
  • ENG 482: Seminar in Feminist Literary and Cultural Theory (3 credits)
  • FLM 450: Studies in Ethnic Film (3 credits)
  • FLM 451: Studies in Postcolonial Cinema (3 credits)
  • FLM 452: Studies in Film, Gender, and Sexuality (3 credits)
    *If ENG 360, 450, or 460 is used to fulfill this requirement it may not be used to fulfill the Tier II Writing requirement.
  • ENG 318: Readings in Shakespeare (3 credits)
  • ENG 324: Readings in Epic (3 credits)
  • ENG 368: Studies in Medieval/Early Modern Literature (W) (3 credits)
  • ENG 441: Seminar in Early American Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 454: Seminar in Medieval Literature and Culture (3 credits)
  • ENG 455: Seminar in Early Modern Literature (3 credits)
  • ENG 457: Seminar in 18th Century British Literature (3 credits)
    *If ENG 368 is used to fulfill this requirement it may not be used to fulfill the Tier II Writing requirement.
  •  
  • ENG 302: Introduction to English Language Studies (3 credits)
  • ENG 308: Readings in Literature for Young Adults (3 credits)
  • ENG 408: Critical Literacies and Communities (4 credits)
  • ENG 413: Critical Questions in Language and Composition (W) (3 credits)
  • Additional credits in English courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 36, but not more than 40, credits in courses in the major, including no more than 4 credits in a 100-level English course.

See the “Undergraduate Courses” page for more information and examples of specific English courses.

Alongside the requirements for the major, students must complete requirements for the University, the College of Arts & Letters, and the College of Education:

  • Tier 1 Writing (4 credits)
    • WRA 101
  • Mathematics (1-2 courses, credits vary, see math website for more details)
  • Integrative Studies in Arts and Humanities (IAH)*:
    • 1 course IAH 201-210 (4 credits)
    • 1 course IAH 211 or higher (4 credits)
  • Integrative Studies in Social Sciences (ISS)*:
    • 1 course ISS 200-level (4 credits)
    • 1 course ISS 300-level (4 credits)
  • Integrative Studies in Natural Sciences (ISB/ISP):
    • ISB 200-level (3 credits)
    • ISP 200-level (3 credits)
    • ISB or ISP lab (2 credits)

*At least one IAH/ISS course must have an international focus (I), and one must have a national focus (D) as marked on the schedule of courses.

  • Foreign Language Requirement (credits variable)
    • Must demonstrate Second-Year Competency through “202” level
    • Certain AP credit, tested proficiency, transfer credit at the appropriate level, or MSU coursework can fulfill this requirement
    • Some languages have online placements tests
    • See your advisor for more information
  • Cognate (15 credits minimum, at least three at the 300/400-level)
    •     Fulfilled by Teacher Education courses in the College of Education (see below)
  • Experiential Learning Requirement
    •    Fulfilled by Teacher Education courses in the College of Education (see below) 
    •    ENG 408 used as a substitute in ‘Academic Requirements’ in SIS

Most students are left with room for general electives, and 120 total credits minimum are needed to graduate.

For more information about the program and/or your progress, speak with an advisor in English and in the College of Education, visit Academic Programs, and review your information on student information systems.