English Education (B.S.Ed.) & English Studies Pedagogy (B.A.)

Make a difference by teaching! WCU graduates become award-winning teachers ranked among the best in the state. Our B.A./B.S.Ed. program gives students the necessary skills through thorough academic preparation, hands-on experience, and dedicated professors. Best of all, graduates of Western's English Education program earn two degrees, making them incredibly competitive for teaching jobs and leading to plenty of choices after graduation that go beyond teaching.

“Nationally Recognized”

Western Carolina University’s Secondary English Education Program has met requirements for “National Recognition” status by the National Council for Teachers of English and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation ― the only such program to do so in North Carolina. . . . Learn more

School principals and administrators from across North Carolina are well aware of this exceptional distinction, making our graduates enviable candidates for teaching positions. This designation is yet another reason that job placement rates continue to remain at 100% after students graduate from our program.

Dual Degree Program

Although students pursuing a B.S.Ed. in Secondary and Special Subject Teaching in English may choose any English concentration as their coordinate degree, the vast majority of them choose the B.A. in English Studies Pedagogy because of the distinct professional advantage it gives them.

Minor in TESOL

Consider adding a minor in TESOL for preparation in teaching English to students for whom it is a second language and add on a second license in ESL. NC is a state designated with a critcal need for teachers with TESOL skills.

What Will I Learn?

We'll arm you with these skills:

• Strong preparation in literature, writing, and grammar to help prepare you for the classroom.
• Knowledge of language development as well as teaching methods, research, and theory in the English Studies field.
• A firm grounding in technology, media, posting lessons and units online via portfolio software, and creating your own interactive websites. You'll produce and update your own individual growth plan, to which you can add work samples and lesson plans.
• An understanding of the diverse nature of your students (their abilities, race, culture, gender, socioeconomic status, sexuality, and religion) through coursework, case studies, hands-on classroom experience, and such initiatives as WCU's Transformative Rural-Urban Exchange.

Our goal is to foster dedicated teachers with strong content knowledge who balance pragmatism and passion with the knowledge, values and experience articulated by the College of Education’s Conceptual Framework.

8-Semester Plan for Dual BA/BSEd Program and 4-Semester Plan for Transfer Students