The English/Language Arts Teaching Major, in combination with the Professional Education Program, prepares you for a teaching career at the middle school, junior high, and high school levels. Our program blends knowledge of English Studies with methods of teaching Language Arts, including courses on teaching multicultural literature, young adult literature, and writing.

Before you declare the major:

Complete your general education Composition and Literature requirements. These courses are not pre-requisites, but we strongly recommended them as preparation. Community college students planning to transfer to CWU can take equivalent courses.

• Academic Writing I 
• Academic Writing II 
• Humanities Knowledge Area 

Please note: Completing these courses does not guarantee admission to Central Washington University or to the degree program.

Applying for the major:

Please apply to the major here. Then, meet with our English/Language Arts Teaching advisor, Dr. Bobby Cummings, to confirm your application and develop a plan for completing your program. You will also need contact Debbie Strand, in Curriculum, Supervision, and Educational Leadership Department at Deborah.Strand@cwu.edu.

Completing the English/Language Arts Teaching Major

Since the English/Language Arts Teaching Major and the Professional Education Program require a combined 120 credits, you will likely need more than two years to complete the program.

Take these courses early in your program:

• ENG 302 Poetry and Poetics
• ENG 303 Principles of English Studies
• ENG 222 Multicultural Literature for Teachers

Take these courses near the end of your program, prior to student teaching:

• ENG 422 Teaching Young Adult Literature
• ENG 430 Teaching Writing in the Secondary School
• ENG 488 Teaching Portfolio
• ENG 492 Practicum

English 422, 430, and 492 are required prior to student teaching. English 430 and 492 must be taken concurrently. All other major requirements must be completed before or be completed concurrently with enrollment in ENG 488. Enrollment in ENG 488 is by permission.

Two-year Schedule

Required Courses (45 credits)

Select two courses in Literature, History, & Culture (10 credits)

Select one Literary Forms course (5 credits)

Select one Writing course (5 credits)

Select one Critical Studies course (5 credits)

Total: 70 credits