Why study English : English Education?

Do you want a career as a high school or middle school English teacher? This track of the English major, coupled with a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Secondary Education, trains you to enter the teaching profession in English Language Arts at the secondary level and makes you more competitive on the job market. The courses you take provide a thorough knowledge of literature and approaches to literary and cultural analysis, as well as instruction in effective stylistic, analytic, and creative writing. Through the Secondary Education major, students also have opportunities to study drama and/or journalism, because Secondary English teachers are often asked to supervise a school’s drama program or to advise the school newspaper or yearbook. This track has been specially designed to align with a major in Secondary Education through UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services (CECH) so that you don't have to take many extra classes to achieve a double major. 

This Baccalaureate program is designed for students who wish to earn a Bachelor's degree in English with a track in English Education and then, following graduation, enter UC’s Secondary Education graduate program to receive a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction plus licensure to teach. Students will fulfill the requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences. Please note: Students who wish to double major in English and in Secondary Education with a concentration in English Language Arts should declare English Education as a second major (MAJ-ENGL) and Secondary Education (in the College of Education) as the first major. 

Career Possibilities

If you want to join a profession in which jobs are plentiful and you can make a real difference in young people’s lives, by cultivating a love of reading and helping to develop their skills as critical thinkers and writers, this track is for you!

English majors enjoy satisfying careers and admission to graduate programs due to their ability to read closely, write clearly, research thoroughly, and think critically. From first-year composition through senior capstone courses, English students engage a wide range of historical and contemporary texts and subject matter, including global, ethnic, minority, and popular literatures; film and visual media; and scientific and professional writing. Our majors are known and respected for their ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and find success in such diverse fields as law, business, media, education, publishing, and science. A major in English Education will complement your major in Secondary Education, taking you more deeply into English Studies and making you more appealing to potential employers.

Minoring in English : English Education

Minoring in English

A minor in English complements any major, and offers students from other disciplines the opportunity to develop the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that employers seek in college graduates. Students choose courses from Creative Writing, Literary & Cultural Studies, and Rhetoric & Professional Writing, and may focus on one particular area of study or take courses from two or all three tracks in order to explore different areas of English. 

Certificates in English

The department of English offers three certificate programs: Professional Writing, Creative Writing (Poetry, Fiction, and Literary Nonfiction), and Copyediting & Publishing; we also offer a certificate in Literary Journalism jointly with the Department of Journalism and English courses play a pivotal role in the certificate in Medical Humanities. Certificate programs provide more focus and less time commitment than a minor, and provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to more fully develop skills in reading, writing, and analysis in their chosen area of interest.

Major Maps

The curriculum for a major in English Education is designed to align with the curriculum for Secondary Education in Language Arts. Students should consult advisors in both programs prior to registering for classes. 

• Guide: English (BA) - English Education

Advising

Students will complete the requirements for the major in English Education as they complete the degree in Secondary Education with a concentration on Language Arts. Consult the advisors in Secondary Education to ensure that you take the correct courses at the appropriate point in your academic career. 

UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

Students in UC's College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

University of Cincinnati 3 + 3 Law School Admissions

This major welcomes eligible students who would like to earn a bachelor’s degree and a UC law degree in just six years, saving a year of tuition and time over the traditional path to becoming a lawyer. Students will receive careful advising to complete their major and A&S core degree requirements in 3 years. More information is available here.

Special Programs

Publications and Organizations

English is home to an undergraduate journal, Short Vine, and the nationally prominent literary journal The Cincinnati Review. English majors in the experiential course Creative Writing & Literary Publishing edit and publish Short Vine. English majors also have opportunities to join the Undergraduate English Society (UES); events include roundtable discussions on graduate school, job fairs, film screenings, and outings to plays and readings. 

Events

English majors enjoy opportunities to hear a number of distinguished authors read their work through our Visiting Writers Series. Likewise, the biennial Emerging Fiction Writers Festival brings four writers to campus for two days of readings and panels. Past visiting writers have included Rita Dove and Colson Whitehead.

Experiential learning

English students can intern with local businesses, nonprofits, university offices, state agencies, media outlets, museums, and more, and earn college credit while developing reading and writing skills. Students can also gain valuable experience by taking research-intensive or service learning courses, by studying abroad, and by entering their work in the department’s writing contest each year.

Renowned faculty

English faculty are active scholars who publish and present in their field. Many teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, and develop strong relationships with their students.

Admission Requirements

Freshman applicants, please visit the Admission Requirements page for more information.

Transferring to UC Requirements

Students who were not admissible directly from high school must have:

• 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
• at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 at most recent institution
• successfully completed one semester of English composition or its equivalent
• successfully completed one semester of math with a grade of C- or higher that minimally meets on of the following:
  • Mathematical Literacy (MATH 0029)
  • Intermediate Algebra (MATH 0034)
  • Algebra for College (MATH 0039)
  • Students may also take the UC Math Placement exam, but must score an MPT of 420 or higher

University transfer scholarships are available to those who meet specific requirements and ANY admitted A&S transfer student might qualify for an A&S transfer scholarship. Deadlines and eligibility criteria are online via the previous links.

Changing Majors within UC Requirements

Admission to A&S is generally available for University of Cincinnati students enrolled in other colleges if they were admissible directly from high school, have a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 in their most recent UC college.

Students who were not admissible directly from high school must have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions)
• successfully completed one semester of English composition or its equivalent
• successfully completed one semester of math with a grade of C- or higher that minimally meets on of the following:
  • Mathematical Literacy (MATH 0029)
  • Intermediate Algebra (MATH 0034)
  • Algebra for College (MATH 0039)
  • Students may also take the UC Math Placement exam, but must score an MPT of 420 or higher

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the UC College of Arts and Sciences, students must:

• Earn at least 120 credits. This can include transfer credit, AP credit and free electives, but does not include preparatory coursework. Students who have met all other degree requirements must continue earning credit until the total number of their earned hours comes to at least 120.
• Attain a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
• Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic probation or disciplinary probation or suspension.
• Complete the residency requirement by earning at least 30 credits after matriculating into the college.
• Complete all of the requirements of at least one major (see major requirements above).
• Complete the College Core Requirements.
• Submit an application for graduation to the registrar's office by their posted deadline.

Application Deadlines

While midyear admission is possible, fall semester is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that semester. Applicants to the UC College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in French West, 2nd Floor). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).

Accreditation