The English and Language Arts, 4-12 Education certification is available for students who plan to teach English to students in middle and high school. English Education candidates participate in hands-on, classroom-based field and student teaching experiences in urban area middle and high schools. Candidates who satisfactorily complete the program requirements also meet the Wisconsin teacher certification requirements for teaching English subject areas in grades 4-12.

Requirements

General Education Requirements (GERs)

UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some of the requirements of your program may fulfill the campus GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.  

Program Admission Requirements

Program Core

CURRINS 300Introduction to Teaching: Colloquium and Fieldwork (fulfilled prior to program admission)3
Choose one: 13
American Indian Peoples of Wisconsin (GER-CD, GER-SS)
Introduction to American Indian Literature: (GER-CD, GER-HU)
Western Great Lakes American Indian Community Life of the Past (GER-CD, GER-SS)
North American Indian History Since 1887 (GER-CD, GER-SS)
Total Credits6
1

Non-Western History or Contemporary Culture and Minority Group Relations (Act 31) statutory requirements can both be met by taking one class. Program may allow fulfillment of Act 31 with a 1-day workshop.

Content Area

CURRINS 234Teachers as Writers (GER-OWCB, HU)3
ENGLISH 212Grammar and Usage3
ENGLISH 215Introduction to English Studies (OWC-B, GER-HU)3
ENGLISH 233Introduction to Creative Writing (GER-A)3
or JAMS 201 Media Writing
COMMUN 103Public Speaking3
CURRINS 233Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature (GER-HU, highly recommended)3
ENGLISH 276Introduction to American Indian Literature: (GER-CD, GER-HU)3
Advanced Writing, Journalism, and the Composing Process
ENGLISH 430Advanced Writing Workshop (GER-OWCB)3
CURRINS 547Curricular Applications of the Internet3
JAMS 306Feature and Magazine Article Writing: (journalism focused topic)3
Advanced Language, Speech Communication, and Linguistics
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to English Linguistics 2
Introduction to Linguistics
History of the English Language
Survey of Modern English Grammar
Critical Analysis of Communication
Language, Power, and Identity 2
History and Politics of Second Language Education 2
Developing Biliteracy 2
Advanced Literature
Survey I: Periodization/Historical, Genre, Focus
Select one of the following:3
Survey of English Literature, Beginnings to 1500
Survey of English Literature, 1500-1660
Survey of English Literature, 1660-1798
Survey of English Literature, 1798-1900
Survey of English Literature: 1900 to the Present
Survey of Irish Literature
Survey of American Literature to 1865
Survey of American Literature, 1865-1965
Survey of Contemporary American Literature
The Development of the Novel:
The Development of the Short Story
Film and Literature
The Development of Drama:
The Development of Poetry:
Shakespeare
Milton
Writers in English Literature, 1500-1660:
Writers in English Literature, 1660-1798:
Writers in English Literature, 1798-1900:
Writers in English Literature, 1900 to the Present:
Writers in American Literature, 1500-1900:
Writers in American Literature, 1900 to the Present:
Studies in Literature, 1660-1800:
Studies in Literature, 1800-1900:
Seminar in American Literature:
Seminar in Modern Literature:
Seminar in Literary History:
Honors Seminar:
Survey II: Literature and Culture
Select one of the following:3
LGBTQ+ Literature: (GER-HU)
Survey of American Indian Literature (GER-CD, GER-HU)
Survey of Ethnic Minority Literature (GER-CD, GER-HU)
Survey of U.S. Latino/a Literature (GER-CD)
Survey of Asian American Literature (GER-CD)
Survey of African-American Literature to 1930 (GER-CD)
Survey of African-American Literature, 1930 to the Present (GER-CD)
World Literatures Written in English:
Writers in African-American Literature: (GER-CD)
Women Writers:
Literature in Context:
Literature and the Other Arts:
Studies in African-American Literature:
Studies in Irish Literature:
Studies in American Indian Literature:
Studies in World Literature Written in English:
Studies in U.S. Latino/a Literature:
Studies in Asian-American Literature:
Seminar in Literature and Culture:
Seminar in Literature by Women:
Seminar in Literature and Sexuality:
Seminar in Literature and the Other Arts:
Seminar in African-American Literature:
Seminar in American Indian Literature:
Young Adult Literature 3
CURRINS 650Reading Interests of Adolescents3
Literary Critical Theory
Select one of the following:3
Survey of Current Literary and Cultural Theory
Studies in Theory and Criticism:
Seminar in Critical Theory:
Total Credits48
2

Meets Reading Teacher Proficiency 3.

3

Meets Reading Teacher Proficiency 6.

Professional Education Requirements

ED POL 375Cultural Foundations of Education3
or ED POL 530 Urban Education: Foundations
ED PSY 330Introduction to Learning and Development3
The following courses will be taken in a sequenced 3 semesters starting after admission to the program.
Semester 1 (Spring)
CURRINS 547Curricular Applications of the Internet3
CURRINS 630Methods for Teaching, Managing, and Assessing English and Language Arts I 4, 56
CURRINS 650Reading Interests of Adolescents3
EXCEDUC 531Inclusion for Secondary Educators: Humanities, the Arts, Foreign Language 63
Semester 2 (Fall)
CURRINS 545Reading in the Content Areas: Middle, Junior, and Senior High School 73
CURRINS 631Methods for Teaching, Managing, and Assessing English and Language Arts II6
CURRINS 632Fieldwork in English and the Language Arts5
Semester 3 (Spring)
CURRINS 452Student Teaching in English 82-6
CURRINS 633English and Language Arts Student Teaching Seminar3
Total Credits40-44
4

Meets Reading Teacher Proficiency 1.

5

Meets Reading Teacher research requirement with an additional 1 credit of independent study.

6

Meets Reading Teacher Proficiency 4.

7

Meets Reading Teacher Proficiency 5.

8

Students must complete paperwork in order to be assigned a student teaching placement. To be approved for placement, additional criteria must be met. See Benchmarks for details.

Additional Requirements for Graduation

  • Completion of University GER;
  • Completion of CURRINS 452 with a C+ or better;
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all professional education courses. This includes any transfer coursework that is counted towards certification at UWM, as well as grades earned in student teaching or field experiences;
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.75;
  • Satisfactory completion of a minimum 120 credits; and
  • Completion of the last year of coursework (30 credits) in residence at UW-Milwaukee.

Advance to Major

Program Admission Requirements

Application to the English Education program requires satisfactory completion of the requirements listed below. For more information about the application process, visit our website.

  • English Composition: Achieve a placement level of 4 or higher on the English Placement Test, or complete ENGLISH 102 or equivalent with a grade of C or better.
  • Completion of CURRINS 300  with a grade of C or better.
  • A 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA in all UWM and transfer courses at the time of admission application.
  • A 2.75 cumulative GPA in all English content courses.
  • A minimum of 58 credits (UWM and transfer credits) at the time of admission application. It is not required to have all the Core Curriculum courses completed at the time of application.
  • Meeting with faculty advisor to review admission application. Faculty signature required on application.

Benchmarks

Student Teaching

Students must complete paperwork in order to be assigned a student teaching placement. To determine your deadline (February or April), visit the Office of Clinical Experiences website.

To be approved for placement, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be admitted to the School of Education.
  • Completion of all required coursework.
  • Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
  • Minimum of 2.75 GPA in all content area and professional education courses.
  • Have a GPA of 3.0 or better in the major, OR Pass the Praxis Subject Assessment exam: English Language Art: Content Knowledge #5038, OR Have a Passing Score on content area Portfolio.
  • Removal of all F or I (incomplete) grades.
  • TB test results submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences.
  • Criminal Background Check submitted to the Office of Clinical Experiences.
  • Completion of CURRINS 630, CURRINS 631, CURRINS 632, CURRINS 633, and CURRINS 650  with a C+ or better.

Undergraduate Advising

Our purpose is to provide collaborative, mentoring relationships which promote educational, career, and professional development. We value a student-centered, holistic, and ethical approach to advising based on strong partnerships with students, faculty and staff, and the larger campus community. We are committed to creating a respectful and supportive environment. We encourage students to be self-reliant through informed decisions and choices based upon dissemination of accurate information. We value our own continuous professional development to enhance the quality of the advising experience.

How to Prepare for an Advising Meeting

  • Review your Advisement Report in PAWS.
  • Come prepared with questions or topics for discussion.
  • Make a list of courses you think you should take.
  • Investigate opportunities to prepare for the job you want.
  • Keep a record of your academic progress.
  • Understand you are ultimately responsible for creating your educational, life, and career plans.
  • Maintain honest and open communication with your advisor.
  • Take responsibility for choices you make as a student and member of the UW-Milwaukee community.

Scheduling an Appointment

Office of Student Services
Enderis Hall, Room 209
(414) 229-4721
soeinfo@uwm.edu

Graduate Advising

If you are a School of Education graduate student, you may schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor by contacting your faculty advisor directly. Faculty contact information can be found in the Directory. Your faculty advisor will be listed in your PAWS account. 

Honors in the Department of Teaching and Learning

Departmental Honors are granted to students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester.

College of Community Engagement and Professions Dean's Honor List

GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.

Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction

Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.

Commencement Honors

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).

Final Honors

Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.