English, Secondary Education
Inspire high school learners through literature and writing, gain early classroom experience and graduate with dual degrees through our Bachelor of Science (BS) in English education.
English, Secondary Education Program Overview
Do you have dreams of empowering generations of high school English students? Would you like to join an active group of students who care about literature and writing?
Our students graduate with two degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BS) in English education and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English. They begin their school experiences in the sophomore year, allowing them significant time in a variety of high school classrooms before they begin a full-time internship in the second half of the senior year. Our focus on technology allows us to produce teachers with 21st-century skills to meet the needs of the modern ninth- to 12th-grade student.
As a result, the English education major at ECU attracts people who want to focus their cognitive, social and emotional gifts on helping students successfully understand themselves and others through trans-literacy: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working with multiple tools and technological platforms.
ECU Advantage
Among the most exciting aspects of the English education program at ECU are the students who populate it. Hailing from nearby rural towns and different states, our graduates find jobs all over the world: Turkey, South Korea, England, different regions of the United States, and right here in the coastal plain of North Carolina.
During their time at ECU, students and faculty publish professional articles in journals, volunteer in schools, give presentations at national conferences, study abroad, post presentations to YouTube and teleconference with researchers. Your professors and your classmates will ensure that you live up to your highest aspirations. We’d like you to join us!
What You Will Study
Note: This program is not accepting new students. Please contact the program coordinator to discuss a fall 2026 alternative option for students whose career goals are teaching English in secondary schools.
Program Coordinator: Todd Finley (132 Ragsdale Hall; 252-328-6695; finleyt@ecu.edu)
A minimum GPA of 2.7 is required for admission to the English, Secondary Education, BS program. Majors must have a minimum grade of C (2.0) in EDTC 4001; EDUC 4400 or PSYC 4305; ENED 2123, ENED 3018, ENED 3815, ENED 4010, ENED 4323, ENED 4960; ENGL 2000, LING 2700, LING 2710, ENGL 3000, ENGL 3010, ENGL 3020; PSYC 1000 or PSYC 1060; any GE:SO designated course; READ 3990 or READ 5317; and SPED 4010. For information about NC teacher licensure requirements see Licensure.
The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. General education and special requirements for licensure, including those listed below - 40 s.h.
(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)
- ENGL 2000 - Interpreting Literature
- PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology OR
- PSYC 1060 - Honors Introduction to Psychology
- Any GE:SO designated course
2. Core - 51 s.h.
(Exclusive of the required written communication general education competency area course - ENGL 1100 or ENGL 2201.)
- ENED 3018 - Introduction to the High School English Curriculum
- ENED 3815 - Composition Instruction in Grades 9-12
- ENED 4010 - Assessment, Management and Instruction in High School English
- ENED 4323 - The Teaching of English in High School
- ENED 4960 - Literature for High School
- ENGL 3000 - History of British Literature to 1700
- ENGL 3010 - History of British Literature, 1700-1900
- ENGL 3020 - History of American Literature to 1900
- LING 2700 - Introduction to Language Studies
- LING 2710 - English Grammar
Choose 3 s.h. from:
- ENGL 3070 - Shakespeare: The Histories
- ENGL 3080 - Shakespeare: The Comedies
- ENGL 3090 - Shakespeare: The Tragedies
Choose 3 s.h. from:
- ENGL 2400 - World Literature in English
- ENGL 3240 - US Latinx Literature
- ENGL 3250 - Native American Literatures
- ENGL 3260 - History of African American Literature
- ENGL 3300 - Women and Literature
- ENGL 4340 - Ethnic American Literature
Choose 3 s.h. from:
- CLAS 1500 - Classical Mythology
- CLAS 2000 - Introduction to Classics (Humanities)
- CLAS 2220 - Great Works of Ancient Literature I: Greece
- CLAS 2500 - Greek Tragedy in Translation
- ENGL 3460 - Topics in Literature and Mythology
- ENGL 3600 - Classics from Homer to Dante
Additional requirements:
3. Professional courses - 21-22 s.h.
- EDTC 4001 - Technology in Education
- EDUC 3200 - Foundations of American Education
- ENED 2123 - Early Experiences for the Prospective Teacher
- ENED 4324 - Internship in English
- ENED 4325 - Internship Seminar: Issues in English Secondary Education
- READ 3990 - Teaching Reading in the Content Areas in the Secondary School OR
- READ 5317 - Adolescent Literacy in the Content Areas
- SPED 4010 - Effective Instruction in Inclusive Classrooms
4. General electives to complete requirements for graduation.
Licensure/Certification Requirements in North Carolina
The curriculum for all ECU Certificates, Degrees, and Minors have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in North Carolina. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state. Other states have their own requirements, and you'll want to make sure your program meets criteria in your home state (or state where you intend to work) before you apply.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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