Best Master's IN English Education Degrees

One common undergraduate degree for those wishing to pursue a master's in English education is a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English. This will equip learners with the necessary skills in English in order to further pursue an educating degree. In addition to teaching, however, there are many other jobs for an English major. Another common undergraduate degree would be a BA in Education. This will provide students with necessary classroom and curriculum skills needed before narrowing their degree to a Master's in English Education. Another option for undergraduate degree programs is acquiring a double major in English and Psychology. This program will help provide both the required English skills and knowledge in human behavior needed to continue into English education.

Admission requirements for an English education master's program is fairly simple in that most institutions require just a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Many schools often have a minimum GPA requirement of around 2.5 to 3.0, so it is important to check with individual schools. It is also important to check with individual schools because additional information, such as letters of recommendation may also be required.

Students who enjoy working with children in grades 7-12, or enjoy English as a subject, should highly consider a master's degree in English Education. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that some important qualities or strengths to exhibit are communication skills, resourcefulness, patience, and physical stamina. All states require at least a bachelor's degree; however, some states also require a master's level degree. Additionally, if there is an interest to teach at the post-secondary level, it is necessary to first acquire a master's degree in a related field. If you are still unsure about whether or not you want to teach but enjoy the English subject area, it is also common to get a master's degree in English.

The first thing necessary in choosing the right Master's in English Education program is determining whether or not an online or on-campus option is right for specific learning needs. Depending on the institution, it may be important to find an area of concentration. For example, creative writing, and British or American literature are all common concentrations for those studying English. Additionally, it is important to consider internship opportunities because it is often required to have student-teaching experience in order to gain a position in an education career. Other factors to consider would be rolling admissions versus admission deadlines and program rankings. Finally, if the student is considering education, it is important to decide which state to teach in. If the student wishes to teach in Arizona, a degree from an Arizona University should be considered as not all state teaching requirements translate to other states.

Receiving a degree in English Education means taking the basic graduate English courses as well as basic graduate-level courses for becoming an educator. Students in these programs will gain a deeper understanding in language and literature and learn how to analyze their students' work. It can lead to either teaching, pursuing a PhD, or both.

English Education Foundational Courses

Some foundational courses in English Education are methods of teaching and theory of English and literature. Methods of teaching goes through the most effective ways of integrating literature and language arts into a curriculum. It also goes through different teaching strategies. Theory courses describe the character of genres and critical perspectives on instruction. Another important foundational course is Advanced Studies in English Education, which is commonly a seminar course on a particular topic. This provides a deeper look into the details of educating within the area of English.

English Education Specialist & Elective Courses

There are a number of specialist courses that can be taken into more specific areas of literature. For example, a common specialist or elective course is young adult/adolescent literature. This course covers young adult literature and discusses issues that adolescents may face, like gender and urban issues, as well as discussing how to effectively teach young adults. Another common elective course is diversity and cultural perspectives. This utilizes contemporary literature to discuss different cultural contexts, such as race, gender, or ethnicity.

Licensure & Certification in English Education

In addition to a minimum of a bachelor's degree, every state requires a different set of licensing and certification tests. One common state test is the Praxis, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). This test equips the future educator with the necessary credentials to teach within any school district in the state in which they are becoming certified. Another common certification for English Education degree holders is the TEFL, which stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This adds on the ability to instruct non-native speakers in the English language.

In order to be able to teach, a number of work experience hours, commonly known as student teaching, must be completed. Depending on the institution, some student-teaching may be completed as part of an internship program; however, this is not always required. Regardless of degree requirements, student teaching is required to be licensed in any state. Each school will have different opportunities for student-teaching to be able to complete your licensing requirements along with your degree. While this may vary by state and school, anywhere from 100-600 hours over a number of weeks is required for student-teaching. This will provide the learner with the necessary hands-on experience needed to work with children of most ages.

Upon graduating with a master's degree in English Education, there are a number of options for continuing education. For example, there are many PhD programs available. One option is getting a PhD in English to become an English professor at a university. Another option is receiving a PhD in History, as there are many jobs that involve history and English.

With an English Education master's degree, you can educate at a secondary level throughout the country, and a postsecondary level at certain institutions. There are many options between public or private schools, middle grade or high school, a year-round school year or traditional 10-month school year. You can choose the work environment that is most suited to your needs.

Postsecondary educators often work part-time with flexible schedules for the purpose of maintaining another full-time job as well. For example, an author may choose to teach a class during the week as well. There are many jobs involving English literature, such as a journalist or a librarian, that may interest those wishing to teach as well.

Job Outlook for a Master's in English Education

Those seeking a master's in English Education have may job opportunities with this degree. The BLS states that middle and high school teachers have a projected job growth rate of 4 percent from 2019 to 2029. This is about average with other job opportunities. However, postsecondary teachers have a projected job growth rate of 9 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is much higher than average.

How to Become a High School English Teacher

The first step to becoming a high school English teacher is to receive a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. All states require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and most states require the degree in the subject area English. However, if a student has received a bachelor's degree in Education, it may be insightful to receive an online graduate certificate in English as well. In addition to a bachelor's degree, a number of student-teaching hours as well as meeting additional state requirements. Some states require a master's degree be obtained after certification and acquiring a teaching job. Finally, it will be important to be able to pass a background check.

In order to become a high school English teacher at a private school, the student does not need to meet state requirements; however, most private schools also require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in the subject area as well as passing a background check.

How to Become a Postsecondary English Teacher

Students interested in a master's in English Education may also be wondering how to become an English professor. Similarly to any teaching job, the first step is to obtain a bachelor's degree in the subject area. The next step is to enroll in a graduate level course, such as a master's in English Education. It is important to begin looking for teacher's assistant jobs to gain the necessary work experience. Some community colleges may employ teachers with just a masters degree. However, most universities also require a PhD in the subject area. After obtaining a job as a postsecondary teacher it is a common goal to receive "tenure," which means you cannot be let go from the institution without just cause.

There are a number of financial aid options available to graduate students seeking an English education degree. One opportunity is applying for the FAFSA, which gives students need-based grants and student loans. A grant is money that does not need to be repaid, whereas a loan is money that will need to be repaid. The deadlines for FAFSA applications are around June prior to the academic year, and September for any corrections or updates.

If you qualify for and need to accept loans, there is also a student loan forgiveness option for those who are teaching, known as the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. Under this program, you may be eligible for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness, which means you do not have to pay the loan back. There are a number of eligibility requirements, such as teaching full-time for five consecutive years in a low-income institution, and be considered a highly qualified teacher. It is important to discuss options with a loan servicer for more information.