English Education (6-12, Licensure)
Offered in partnership with CBU’s Department of Education, the English Education major will not just prepare you for initial teacher licensure but for changing the world.
When you choose to major in English Education, you’ll be making a commitment to not only yourself but to all those students you’ll be able to reach over your career. You’re committing to follow in the footsteps of our own founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, who is the patron saint of teachers. Over 300 years ago, he committed to bringing education to everyone, and today, our world still needs people like you who want to develop young people and help give them a bright future.
It’s a big task, but don’t worry, we’ll be right here with you as you take on your first classroom teaching assignments, prepare for licensure exams, and bring together materials and knowledge that you’ll draw from throughout your teaching career.
And if you do decide that teaching isn’t the career for you, we’ll still be there helping you find your path with your highly developed critical thinking and creative problem solving skills.
What You Will Learn
The BA in English Education combines English literature, composition, and language arts pedagogy with the education theory and classroom practice required for Tennessee licensure.
Courses are drawn from two tracks, English content and professional education, and culminate in a student teaching experience.
English and Literacy Courses. Selected from Major Requirements
- Writing and Critical Literacy. Foundations of composition and critical reading
- Writing and Critical Research. Research methods and argumentative writing
- Survey of British Literature I and II. British literary history from the medieval period through the modern era
- American Literature. American literary traditions before and after 1865
- Speech Communication. Oral communication and public presentation skills
- Young Adult Literature. Literature for adolescent readers across genres
- Literacy Across the Curriculum. Reading and writing strategies across subject areas
- Educational Psychology. How students learn and how instruction supports development
300+ Level Writing Electives (choose 6 credits)
- Topics in Rhetorical Theory
- Topics in Cultural Rhetorics
- Topics in Media and Rhetoric
- Professional Communications
- Advanced Composition
Licensure Sequence. Education Courses
- Introduction to Education
- Education as a Profession
- Survey of Exceptional Learners. Understanding students with disabilities and diverse learning needs
- Classroom Management and Methods
- Teaching English/Language Arts, 6–12. Subject-specific pedagogy for English teachers
- Curriculum and Assessment in Secondary Schools
- EdTPA Preparation. Preparation for the Tennessee teacher performance assessment
- Practicum I, II, and III + Student Teaching. Supervised classroom experience across multiple school placements
English Education Program Highlights
The English Education major requires 125 credit hours:
- 25 credits: General education. Math, English, religious studies, social science or history, natural or physical science
- 33 credits: Liberal arts. Foreign language, the humanities and social sciences
- 47 credits: Major requirements. English composition, literature, and speech communication courses
- 33 credits: Licensure. Education courses, practicum, student teaching, portfolio
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for licensure, per Tennessee Department of Education requirements.
Minors
English Education majors at CBU can complement their degree with a minor in English, Creative Writing, or a foreign language, each of which deepens the content expertise that strengthens both classroom instruction and non-teaching career options.
- English — 18 credits in upper level English courses
- Creative Writing — 18 credits in English and creating writing courses. These courses also contribute to interdisciplinary minors in American Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Sustainability Studies, and Peace Studies.
- Foreign Language — 12 credits in Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, Russian, or Spanish
Professional Writing Certificate
CBU offers a Professional Writing Certificate that allows students from majors across the university to combine four courses to add to their credentials as proficient and career-ready communicators. Courses include business communications, advanced composition, creative writing, art, and creative nonfiction.
Tennessee Teacher Licensure
The BA in English Education (6–12) leads to initial teacher licensure in Tennessee, issued by the Tennessee Department of Education. Licensure authorizes graduates to teach English Language Arts in grades 6 through 12 in Tennessee public schools.
To qualify for licensure, students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA, complete all required practicum hours and student teaching, and pass the required state assessments. Students complete the EdTPA, a performance-based teaching assessment, as part of the senior-year licensure sequence.
CBU’s program includes dedicated EdTPA preparation through EDUC 476, ensuring students don’t have to navigate the assessment independently. The practicum sequence builds supervised classroom experience across three stages before student teaching begins.
View Tennessee Licensure Requirements | Teacher Education Program Application
Career Outcomes
English Education graduates are prepared for careers in secondary education and a wide range of communication-intensive fields.
The skills built in this program – close reading, argument, oral communication, writing at multiple levels, and working with diverse learners –transfer directly into publishing, content, corporate communications, and instructional design.
Teaching Careers
The median annual wage for high school teachers was $72,040 in May 2025, with about 63,500 openings projected each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Graduates who teach in grades 6 through 8 enter the middle school market, where the median annual wage was $62,970 in May 2024, with approximately 40,500 openings projected each year.
- High School English Teacher: $72,040 median annual wage (May 2025) | ~63,500 openings/year
- Middle School English Teacher: $62,970 median annual wage (May 2024) | ~40,500 openings/year
Beyond the Classroom
Students who complete the English Education major but choose not to enter teaching graduate with strong writing, communication, and critical thinking skills relevant across multiple fields. Career paths include:
- Technical writer or content strategist
- Corporate communications specialist
- Instructional designer or curriculum developer
- Editor or publishing professional
- Grant writer or nonprofit communications
The Professional Writing Certificate, available alongside the major, makes this transition more direct by adding four applied writing courses to the degree.
Meet the Faculty
Frequently Asked Questions – English Education
What does the BA in English Education prepare me to do?
The BA in English Education at CBU leads to initial teacher licensure in Tennessee, qualifying graduates to teach English Language Arts in grades 6 through 12 in Tennessee public schools. The degree also builds writing, critical thinking, and communication skills applicable in corporate communications, publishing, instructional design, and other fields.
What grade levels does this licensure cover?
The program leads to Tennessee teaching licensure for grades 6 through 12, covering both middle school and high school English Language Arts instruction.
What GPA do I need to earn teacher licensure?
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for licensure, per Tennessee Department of Education requirements. A 2.0 GPA in major coursework is required to remain in the major.
What is EdTPA, and do students get support preparing for it?
EdTPA is a performance-based assessment required for teacher licensure in Tennessee. It requires candidates to submit a portfolio demonstrating lesson planning, classroom instruction, and student assessment.
CBU includes a dedicated EdTPA Preparation course (EDUC 476) in the licensure sequence so students can complete the assessment with structured faculty support.
What is the student teaching experience like?
The licensure sequence includes three practicum stages (EDUC 350, 420, and 475) before student teaching begins. Practicum placements put students in real classrooms with cooperating teachers from the early stages of the program. The final student teaching experience is a supervised, full-time classroom placement in a Memphis-area school.
Can I use this degree for a career outside of teaching?
Yes. The skills developed in an English Education major –composition, rhetoric, literary analysis, oral communication, and critical thinking –transfer directly to careers in content strategy, corporate communications, technical writing, editorial work, instructional design, and grant writing. The Professional Writing Certificate available alongside the major formalizes those skills for non-teaching career paths.
Is the program offered at CBU’s Memphis campus?
Yes. The BA in English Education is offered at CBU’s main campus at 650 East Parkway South, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, as part of the Rosa Deal School of Arts.
