Overview
The purpose of the Secondary Education English Language Art (ELA) program at North Greenville University is to offer a liberal arts-based curriculum that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language Arts Secondary Education. Secondary Ed ELA majors who wish to be certified to teach English on the secondary level must enroll in the English Language Arts Secondary Education program, which differs from the BA in English degree program. In addition to the changes in the curriculum, students who wish to become candidates in the English Language Arts Secondary Education program must also adhere to the following admission, progress, and exit requirements.
Admission Requirements:
Students must complete the following:
- Pass all required portions of PRAXIS CORE or SAT/ACT equivalency taken during the sophomore year. (Old SAT: 1100; New SAT: 1650; ACT: 24)
- Pass all parts of PRAXIS CORE by March 1 of their sophomore year to be admitted to the Teacher Education Program for fall course enrollment in teacher education courses. Failure to pass all parts of PRAXIS CORE will result in a delay of entrance into the Teacher Education Program.
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 with grades of C or higher in all required English and Education courses.
- Complete thirty (30) semester hours of undergraduate studies including at least eighteen (18) hours of English courses with a C or higher grade earned in those courses.
- Demonstrate minimum competency in oral and written communication skills by earning a C or higher in ENGL-1310, ENGL-1320, and COMM-2300.
- Complete the twenty (20) hours of field observations required in EDUC-1210.
- Follow the prescribed curriculum.
- Submit an application for admission along with the required paperwork/forms as described in the Teacher Education Handbook. The candidates will be selected based on these criteria and an affirmative vote of the Secondary Education Program Committee and the Teacher Education Committee.
Progression Requirements:
Furthermore, candidates must continue to maintain an overall GPA of 2.75, complete all required program courses in Education and English with a C or higher, and pass the Praxis II exams (specifically English Language Arts: Content Knowledge [5038] or English Language Arts: Content and Analysis [5039] as well as the PLT [Principles of Learning and Teaching] prior to directed student teaching. Successful candidates will meet the requirements for directed student teaching as outlined in the NGU Student Teaching Handbook. Program completers will meet all of the requirements satisfactorily as delineated in the handbook and upon graduation will seek accreditation from the state in which they plan to teach.
Extracurricular Activities during Student Teaching:
No extracurricular activities, including athletic practices, games, and musical performances, are to interfere with the student teaching period.
Exit Requirements:
To graduate from this program, students must have . . .
- Earned a 2.75 Cumulative GPA.
- Completed 100 hours of field experience.
- Earned a C or higher in all English and Education courses.
- Earned a score of 70 or higher on the English Department’s Grammar Exam and Literary Terms Exam administered during the freshman and sophomore required English courses.
- Maintained a writing portfolio with an average score of C or higher.
- Completed and presented the Senior Thesis English Senior Seminar.
- Passed the twelve hours of directed student teaching experience, meeting all requirements of the College of Education and College of Humanities and Department of English.
- Received Acceptable or Target scores on the NCTE/NCATE Performance Assessments.
- Met the state-required scores on Praxis II (taken prior to student teaching).
- Applied for state certification and completed the finger printing requirements.
Add-On Middle Grades Education State Certification Course Requirements:
Students majoring in English Language Arts Secondary Education who are interested in pursuing the coursework that leads to an add-on certification after graduation in Middle Grades Education should take the following course:
EDSE-3310
|
Middle School Curriculum and Organization
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3 hours
|
|
Total Add-On Requirements |
3 hours
|
Students must also pass the required certification exams offered by the state after graduation and complete 20 hours of field placement in a middle grade’s classroom (grades 6, 7, 8).
NOTE: These courses may be changed by the SC State Department of Education at any time.
Degree Requirements
Core Curriculum
Required Courses
Communication
Choose one from the list below.
Fine Arts
Choose one from the list below.
Civic Awareness
Choose one from the list below.
Mathematics
Choose one from the list below.
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| Any 1000-level math course 1310 or higher | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 44 |
Major Requirements
English Disciplinary Core
| ENGL-2310 | British Literature to 1785 | 3 |
| ENGL-2330 | American Literature to 1865 | 3 |
| ENGL-2340 | American Literature Since 1865 | 3 |
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| Foreign Language | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
English Major Requirements
Secondary Education Core
Major Electives
English Electives
Choose one course from the list below.
Cultural Identity Courses
Choose one course from the list below.
Literary Masterpieces Courses
Choose one course from the list below.
| Total Degree Requirements |
137 |
Mission Statement and Outcomes
Mission Statement:
In keeping with the university’s Statement of Purpose, the Secondary Education English Language Arts degree prepares students to read diverse literature with insight and pleasure and to write with critical facility and imagination. At the time of graduation, a Secondary Education English Language Arts major should be able to write clear expository prose, to think and read critically, and to demonstrate an understanding of different literary genres and the scope of literature in a Christian context.
SLOs:
- Graduating Secondary Education English Language Arts majors will understand and apply discipline-specific research and documentation techniques, using Modern Language Association (MLA) standards.
- Graduating Secondary Education English Language Arts majors will apply their Christian faith and a Biblical worldview to the critical reading and study of literature.
- Graduating Secondary Education English Language Arts majors will demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of the English language through oral presentation.
- Graduating Secondary Education English Language Arts majors will compose and edit a range of literary and nonliterary texts, demonstrating an effective writing process and evidence of critical thinking.