What Does a Career in English Education Entail?
A career in English education is a tightly focused career path. Once you have a bachelor’s degree in education and English, which you can earn through an online degree program, and finish your student teaching you will be able to gain your initial teacher licensure and teach English in any format up to high school. With some extra credentials you could also teach English as a second language (TESOL) to immigrants or in other countries. English education professionals teach at levels from elementary through post-doctoral research. Education and tutoring are the essential mission of English educators, though they may also engage in professional writing through technical writing or creative writing, using critical thinking and the skills they have learned while earning their degrees. Whether as a teacher, researcher, or practitioner of many language-based fields of endeavor, English education can offer prospective students and English majors a meaningful challenge and a rewarding career path teaching elementary or high school students or focusing on new teacher education degree programs after earning a graduate degree.
Components of A Successful Career In English Education
English education places a premium on the power of language to carry ideas and to make change. English education teaches a necessary element of many other fields such as law, communications, business, technology, and nearly every other human endeavor that depends on language. Some components of a successful career include the below-described traits and abilities.
Creativity is a key to success in English language education. Educators may have a deep immersion in the literature and history of given periods such as African-American literature, world literature, British literature, American literature, contemporary literature, Renaissance literature, etc. They must discover and translate ideas and values into relatable messages that can apply to today and tomorrow . Communication skills and writing skills gained through an English program can help college students express those ideas.
Critical analysis is a type of critical thinking that involves insight, abstract reasoning, and expression. Texts can be complex and contain many value beneath the printed or spoken words. Beyond English language and professional writing courses, many literature courses exist to help students learn to analyze texts, which can be applied to old and new texts alike. This might also be apply to literary criticism.
The imagination contained in the rich history of literature forms a basis of study and practice in creative processes. The human imagination is the engine of literature and writing of nearly every kind and application.
Communication skills, especially written communication skills, are a difference maker and a distinguishing factor in the world of business and nearly all other employment, and is a reliable predictor of career success in nearly every field.
Typical English Education Degree Requirements
The typical degrees in English Education are the Associate of Arts, the Bachelor of Arts, and the Master of Arts. These are available from community colleges, colleges, and universities across the US and are the main way for education students to complete a teacher education program and gain a teaching license. Some of these include online courses or online programs and all include student teaching. Online English degree programs are very accessible for all kinds of students, but you should ensure that you only consider accredited schools.
An online associate degree is a two-year degree that requires about 60 semester hours of education. This is an entry-level degree for a career in English education, though those who complete only this degree will never be high school English teachers in the US. An associate degree would allow you to move to another country and teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) if you’re looking for something exciting. However, most jobs in the US require a Bachelor of Arts in English or Bachelor of Science in English and/or Education and a full teaching license for you to work as a preschool through high school English teacher. You could work as a teacher’s assistant or in a preschool, but you will not be able to work in a public middle or high school. Only a bachelor’s or master’s can open the full range of English education career opportunities and allow you to begin teaching English and teach students at nearly any level. An online bachelor's degree in English is just as respected as an in-person degree, so there's no worry there.
A bachelor’s degree usually requires about 120 semester hours of coursework. The on-time completion time is eight semesters or four years. To teach students English with this degree you’ll need to acquire a bachelor’s in elementary or secondary education, or you might get a bachelor’s in English with a minor in Education. If you’re hoping to work in a specific state, check their usual requirements for English teachers in early childhood education, elementary, middle, or high school. There are additional options in federal financial aid for teachers earning degrees at this level, as well, though you may lose this funding if you shift into degrees for media and communications occupations.
A Master’s requires a bachelor’s degree from an English program, a teaching degree program, or another related field and about 30 semester hours of graduate education. If the bachelor’s degree is in an unrelated field, schools may ask for additional coursework beyond the usual 30 hours of graduate study.
Typical English Education Certifications Needed
Many fields do not require certifications, but the teaching discipline often requires licensing and certification at the state level after you earn your teaching or English degree. Public schools require licensed teachers at the elementary and secondary education levels. Some disciplines such as TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) may require certifications regarding English comprehension, vocabulary, and language competence.
Academic Standards for an English Education Degree
The academic standards for English Education vary from traditional approaches. They emphasize English literature as the hub to more modern concepts that revolve around composition and rhetoric. Modern genres can be multimedia or internet-based and are designed to meet more global standards for language and usages.
Most importantly, any degree in education will require an internship-style period of time spent teaching at a school under the supervision of a licensed teaching professional. This is called student teaching, during which those who wish to be high school teachers will teach high school students under supervision of secondary teachers who already have their license. A degree in English education is no different. You will spend up to several months engaged in your student teaching experience, teaching English to your chosen grade level, either while you complete your college-level degree (such as a Bachelor of Arts) or just after.
Exam/Experience Needed for an English Education Degree
As previously stated, there is an internship-style experience necessary to gain your teaching license. You will also need to be credentialed by whatever state you plan to teach in. A TESOL position will require accreditation as well. It can take up to 12 months to earn your TESOL credentials. However, experience is not a prerequisite to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. High school students can have an advantage if they have a strong background in literature, critical thinking, speech, and debate.
Important Questions to Ask (FAQ)
How long does it take to earn an English Education bachelor's degree online?
The typical timeframe is four years of full-time attendance. The degree usually completes in eight semesters. The trend across the nation and all degrees is towards a longer time for completing the bachelors. Most students complete in the range of six years. Online education works well for students that have jobs or businesses that require their time and effort. When attending part-time, the degree completion is typically five to six years.
Keep in mind that a bachelor’s degree will allow you to teach, but only up to a certain point. In order to teach English in a middle school or high school, you will need to either double major in English and Education, earning two degrees, or you could minor in one depending on the requirements of your state. A double major can often be completed within four years as long as you take a full load each semester (15 credit hours). However, if you want to teach at any higher level, such as college, you will likely need to go back to school and earn your masters.
How much does an online English Education bachelor’s degree cost?
The costs ranges for a bachelor’s degree in English Education depend on the field and the type of school, college, or university. The four-year totals are described in the below-listed items.
- The average total cost range for private four-year tuition and living expenses is about $192,000.
- The average four-year total coast range for public school charging in-state rates is about $85,000.
- The average cost range for four-year public schools charging out-of-state rates is $145,000.
Does the school have the online major(s) you’re considering?
University HQ recommends strongly that students align their career goals with their majors. You should take the time to carefully assess your career objectives and the majors offered by the schools you’re considering. Once you’ve determined what degree you are going for, Education and English, English with an Education minor, etc.; then you need to make sure that any school you’re thinking of attending has those options available to you.
How many students graduate “on time,” in four years?
In public schools, the on-time rate is about 35%. In private schools, the on-time rate is about 53%. At the six-year mark, the private school rate is about 68%, and the public rate is about 63%. While the trend does not mean much about the quality of education, it can have a big impact on costs. Each additional year adds to the tuition and expenses needed to complete the degree. Each additional year increases the costs of the degree by about 25% or more.
What kind of accreditation does the online program hold? How is it regarded in the field?
Accreditation is an essential part of selecting a school because it affects the value of a degree. The best type of accreditation is regional accreditation. Regional accreditation comes in the form of institution-wide and program-specific accreditation. Students must carefully examine the kind of accreditation a school has and make sure that it has approval from the US Department of Education. Schools must have accreditation to participate in the federal student loan program, and many scholarships require attendance at an accredited school. The strongest accreditation is regional accreditation for both the school and the online program.
Professional Organizations
RSA
Rhetoric Society of America
The society gathers and disseminates current knowledge of the Field of Rhetoric. They identify new areas in the field of Rhetoric that require research and act to stimulate such research. The organization provides a framework for ideas and discussion and it sponsors findings and materials dealing with rhetoric. The society gathers topics from all fields of study to encourage experimentation among teachers of rhetoric. They facilitate cooperation among members and have meetings and conferences. There are reduced membership fees for students; students will benefit from information and opportunities to interact and network.
CEA
College English Association
This association focuses on college and graduate level teaching in the field of English. The subject matter is broad and includes studies, including literature, popular culture, women's studies, creative writing, and technical communication. The association has diverse membership and leadership. Students can benefit from the broad set of interests including composition, minority studies, film studies, speech, and ESL.
LSA
Linguistic Society of America
This association was founded in 1924 and it has functioned since that time to promote the study of language. They publish two scholarly journals which are titled Language and Semantics and Pragmatics. Students can benefit from the educational resources and opportunities for networking with active members of the linguistics educational community.
MLA
Modern Language Association of America
This association positions itself as the principal group for language and literature scholars. The MLA style and style guide is popular for college writing. For example, it offers a standard style for footnotes and other attributes of formal writing. Students can benefit from the information and education resources. The association offers an opportunity for thought leadership in an evolving field.
NCA
National Communication Association
This non-profit membership organization defines communication as the broad discipline that includes all forms, modes, media, and types of communications. The association works on the principle that communications and its consequence have a priority in global society and is a worthy subject of scientific, humanistic, and spiritual inquiry. The NCA publishes 11 academic journals that present a range of perspectives and talents. Students can benefit from the opportunities to exchange with leaders of the professions and network with the members through many events, conferences, and conventions.
AWP
Association of Writers and Writing Programs
This organization provides educational and information resources for writers. It undertakes advocacy for writers to develop opportunities for writing, education, and leadership. The association fosters conferences, organizational development at local levels, and achievement. The overall goal is to promote English teaching and serve the interests of all facets of English including teachers, students, and consumers of contemporary writing in its many forms.