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What you will study

Your journey to become an English teacher will begin in classes held on our Warrensburg campus. You’ll complete half of your coursework in UCM’s College of Education, where you’ll be established as a student of our Secondary Education program. The other half will be specific to the English concentration and fall under UCM’s School of English and Philosophy.

Popular courses for UCM’s English Teacher degree

Among the wide variety of topics you’ll explore, students often tell us they enjoy these UCM English Education courses:

• Classroom Management in Secondary English/Language Arts and Assessment in Secondary English/Language Arts: These classes will help you develop strategies for teaching students, as well as provide strategies for assessing their learning. 
• Composition and Evaluation: This undergraduate class provides opportunities to practice teaching, issue assignments and evaluate student work.
• Literature for Adolescents: In this course, plan to read contemporary and classic young adult literature. Then, we’ll explore ways to bring those texts into the classroom.

All courses are taught by current and former English teachers who understand the challenges and triumphs ahead of you. After completing your English Teacher degree from UCM, you’ll be ready to take the state certification exam for teaching grades 9 through 12.

 

 

Unique learning opportunities for English Teacher degree students

Your coursework to become an English teacher will offer hands-on experience in multiple aspects of teaching and classroom management. Still, at the University of Central Missouri, we know a sizable portion of your learning happens outside of our classrooms. Your opportunities include:

• Field experiences: Expect to complete three field experiences in a high school classroom. You’ll plan and teach multiple mini-lessons within these placements. You’ll also get feedback from your instructors and cooperating teachers to help prepare you for student teaching in your final semester.
• Student organizations: Consider joining one of UCM’s student associations for additional learning opportunities and fun. Among them are the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society and Student Missouri State Teachers Association.

 

What can you do with an English Teacher degree from UCM?

Because English courses are required for high school students, English teachers are always in demand. In fact, the recent job placement rate has been 100% for students who graduated with UCM’s Secondary Education degree for English Education.

UCM’s proximity to Kansas City means that many graduates teach grades 9 to 12 there, or you may prefer one of Missouri’s smaller school districts.

Understanding your opportunities as an English teacher

To get a head start in understanding what the current job market offers, we’ve provided the interactive tool below.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your English Teacher degree

The University of Central Missouri is committed to maintaining affordable rates for our students. Our average tuition cost is less than many other four-year colleges across the country. Still, investing in your education is an investment in your future as an English teacher. 

What resources are available to you?

To help finance your education, UCM offers information on loans, grants and work study opportunities. Scholarships are also available to students pursuing an English Teacher degree. These include:

• G.B. Crump Scholarship in English
• Hazel D. Book Memorial Scholarship
• Mary Ruth Scott Memorial Scholarship
• McKean Family Scholarship
• Robert J. Greef Award

Learn more about these program scholarships, as well as those available through UCM or its College of Education, using the .