Want to change the world? Become a teacher. All professions— doctors, lawyers, mechanics, you name it—have one thing in common: at some point, they were influenced by a good teacher. The English Education program at University of Jamestown will help you become the kind of teacher who impacts not only the present, but the future for generations to come.
As a student studying English Education at UJ, you’ll dissect poetry, prose, and everything in between. You’ll learn from both English professors who represent a range of approaches to writing and literary study, as well as Teacher Education faculty who’ve gained extensive experience as k-12 classroom teachers prior to moving into higher education.
As a result, you’ll be able to explore many subjects – academic, creative, and professional writing; English grammar and the history of the English language; British, American, and world literature of various periods and genres – while still gaining the knowledge it takes to teach grades 5-12.
Candidates must be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program in order to enroll in most education courses. Typically, candidates apply for admission to the program while enrolled in EDUC 201: Introduction to Teaching.
To apply, candidates must complete the application form and submit it to the Teacher Education Department by November 1 for spring admission or April 1 for fall admission. Applications are not reviewed during the summer.
Admission Criteria
The University of Jamestown Teacher Education Program is fully accredited by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices. It is aligned with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and with InTasc standards and professions.
Evidence of program effectiveness, as well as Teacher Education program resources (like applications and handbooks), can be found on the Teacher Education Program page.
Our program prepares you to gain Secondary Licensure to teach English for grades five through twelve. Candidates who display satisfactory progression in Teacher Education, complete all course requirements, and pass the required Praxis exams are eligible for licensure in the state of North Dakota.
Candidates who plan to teach in states other than North Dakota should review this document, and then discuss licensure requirements with the department chair.
For more information on what it means to satisfactorily progress in the Teacher Education program, praxis exams, and license eligibility, please refer to the Teacher Education Program page.
UJ is the only higher education institution to have a SmartLab. That means our Teacher Education students get valuable training in SmartLab lessons and facilitation before they enter their profession.
For two semesters prior to student teaching, our students spend two full weeks in a teaching field-experience. These experiences occur in multiple settings, giving candidates the opportunity to interact with a variety of students and experience diversity across environments—all so they can enter Student Teaching confidently and well prepared. For more information on Field Experiences, please refer to the Teacher Education Program page.
The final stage of the Teacher Education program is a semester-long student teaching experience in an accredited classroom of the candidate’s licensure area. For more information on Student Teaching, please refer to the Teacher Education Program page.
UJ also has a partnership with the Woodstock International school located in Mussoorie, India. Interested students can conduct their semester of student teaching on the footsteps of the Himalayan Mountains. Room/board is provided by the Woodstock school, and—thanks to a generous donor—airfare for interested students is covered.
Publish fiction, non-fiction, and poetry in Plainsong, UJ’s annual literary journal. For those who are more journalism oriented, UJ’s student newspaper, The Collegian, is always looking for fresh writers.
“It can be difficult to accommodate a classroom with a variety of learning styles and abilities, but I have never felt incapable of doing so thanks to my time in the University of Jamestown English department. I was given me a well-rounded, engaging education in English that has allowed me the versatility of knowledge needed in an ever-changing classroom.”
“My English classes at UJ helped instill in me a love of literature. As an English teacher, I now have the meaningful opportunity to pass that love on to others.”
“My English degree enables me to articulate a vision for the implementation of successful programs in my professional organizations. From strategic planning and grant writing to program evaluation and public speaking, I utilize the writing skills UJ taught me to make sure that I am coherent and clear when sharing information.”
“I think studying literature is significant for anyone because it is a subject that at once teaches practical skills that are useful in everyday life and in any given job, such as critical thinking and clear expression in writing, and it makes us unfold as humans because it teaches us empathy, to be open to new ideas we might otherwise have never considered, and to keep asking more and better questions. The professors at UJ and the courses offered allowed me to do all that.”
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Educ 100 |
Praxis Preparation |
0 |
Math 102 |
Intermediate Algebra Or higher level |
3 |
Educ 201 |
Introduction to Teaching |
3 |
Engl 201 |
Introduction to Literary Study and Analysis |
3 |
Psyc 203 |
Developmental Psychology |
3 |
Educ 209 |
Principles/Practices of Teaching in Middle & Secondary Schools |
3 |
Engl 210 |
World Literature to 1500 |
3 |
Educ 219 |
Instructional Media and Technology |
2 |
Engl 230 |
English Literature to 1785 |
3 |
Engl 231 |
English Literature since 1785 |
3 |
Engl 250 |
American Literature to 1865 |
3 |
Educ 253 |
Applied Cognitive Theories |
3 |
Engl 251 |
American Literature since 1865 |
3 |
Educ 303 |
Introduction to Teaching Students with Exceptionalities |
3 |
Educ 305 |
Managing and Monitoring the Learning Environment |
3 |
Educ 306 |
Multicultural Education |
3 |
Educ 308 |
Curriculum & Teaching in Secondary Schools |
3 |
Educ 310 |
Reading Methods: Middle and Secondary Schools |
3 |
Engl 314 |
Advanced Expository Writing |
3 |
Educ 316 |
Assessment/Evaluation |
3 |
Engl 331 |
Shakespeare |
3 |
Educ 344 |
Young Adult Literature |
3 |
Engl 351 |
History of the English Language |
3 |
Educ 398 |
TED Seminar I |
1 |
Educ 399 |
TED Seminar II |
1 |
Engl 401 |
English Grammar |
3 |
Engl 414 |
Advanced Multi-Genre Writing |
3 |
Educ 408 |
Methods: Secondary English |
3 |
Engl 497 |
Writing Portfolio |
1 |
Engl |
English Elective |
3 |
Educ 498 |
Student Teaching Seminar |
1 |
Educ 499 |
Student Teaching |
12 |
Sulinke van den Berg, an elementary education major at University of Jamestown, helps students with an electrical circuits lesson during a STEM event for children from area schools. UJ…
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