A Secondary English major requires 36 hours of course work in English. This includes required courses in Literary Theory and Criticism, Linguistics, Shakespeare, and Literature and Related Media for Adolescents. Students must take at least one course in British literature, one in American literature, and one in world literature. Two required English courses that focus on pedagogy are Teaching English in the Middle and Secondary School and Practicum of Teaching English Composition. All of this prepares you for a semester of supervised student teaching in a secondary school.
You will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Many English majors enhance their writing skills by writing for The Spectator, the campus newspaper. You may also submit your creative writing to Motif, Concordia's annual creative arts journal. The English Club sponsors trips to plays or readings in Chicago, as well as on-campus events and post-show discussions.
Many students who are preparing to be English teachers take a job as a tutor in the campus Writing Center. Other upper-level students serve as supplemental instructors in a section of College Writing or as peer mentors for the Noetic Experience, CUC's freshmen experience courses.
