What you will study
Your journey to become an English teacher will begin in classes held on our Warrensburg
campus. You’ll complete half of your coursework in UCM’s College of Education, where
you’ll be established as a student of our Secondary Education program. The other half
will be specific to the English concentration and fall under UCM’s School of English
and Philosophy.
Popular courses for UCM’s English Teacher degree
Among the wide variety of topics you’ll explore, students often tell us they enjoy
these UCM English Education courses:
- Classroom Management in Secondary English/Language Arts and Assessment in Secondary
English/Language Arts: These classes will help you develop strategies for teaching students, as well as provide
strategies for assessing their learning.
- Composition and Evaluation: This undergraduate class provides opportunities to practice teaching, issue assignments
and evaluate student work.
- Literature for Adolescents: In this course, plan to read contemporary and classic young adult literature. Then,
we’ll explore ways to bring those texts into the classroom.
All courses are taught by current and former English teachers who understand the challenges
and triumphs ahead of you. After completing your English Teacher degree from UCM,
you’ll be ready to take the state certification exam for teaching grades 9 through
12.
Excellence in Secondary Education
- Missouri school administrators consistently rank UCM graduates and first-year secondary
education teachers better prepared than the state average. Get an accredited and well-recognized
English Teacher degree from the University of Central Missouri.
- UCM has held accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
(CAEP) longer than any other Missouri public institution. Through our commitment to
research and development of our Secondary Education program, you can be confident
in the quality of your English teacher degree.
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Focused Bachelor's Degree College for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Focused College for Secondary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 4.5%: Most Popular Colleges for Secondary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 5%: Most Popular Bachelor' Degree Colleges for Secondary Education (College Factual,
2022)
- Top 10%: Best Value in Education (College Factual, 2021)
Unique learning opportunities for English Teacher degree students
Your coursework to become an English teacher will offer hands-on experience in multiple
aspects of teaching and classroom management. Still, at the University of Central
Missouri, we know a sizable portion of your learning happens outside of our classrooms.
Your opportunities include:
- Field experiences: Expect to complete three field experiences in a high school classroom. You’ll plan
and teach multiple mini-lessons within these placements. You’ll also get feedback
from your instructors and cooperating teachers to help prepare you for student teaching
in your final semester.
- Student organizations: Consider joining one of UCM’s student associations for additional learning opportunities
and fun. Among them are the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society and Student Missouri
State Teachers Association.
What can you do with an English Teacher degree from UCM?
Because English courses are required for high school students, English teachers are
always in demand. In fact, the recent job placement rate has been 100% for students
who graduated with UCM’s Secondary Education degree for English Education.
UCM’s proximity to Kansas City means that many graduates teach grades 9 to 12 there,
or you may prefer one of Missouri’s smaller school districts.
Understanding your opportunities as an English teacher
To get a head start in understanding what the current job market offers, we’ve provided
the interactive tool below.
Financial assistance options for your English Teacher degree
The University of Central Missouri is committed to maintaining affordable rates for
our students. Our average tuition cost is less than many other four-year colleges
across the country. Still, investing in your education is an investment in your future
as an English teacher.
What resources are available to you?
To help finance your education, UCM offers information on loans, grants and work study opportunities. Scholarships
are also available to students pursuing an English Teacher degree. These include:
- G.B. Crump Scholarship in English
- Hazel D. Book Memorial Scholarship
- Mary Ruth Scott Memorial Scholarship
- McKean Family Scholarship
- Robert J. Greef Award
Learn more about these program scholarships, as well as those available through UCM
or its College of Education, using the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Get Involved
Join UCM student organizations
Earn membership to UCM’s chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society, which
actively hosts events for networking. You can also meet other Education majors when
you join the Student Missouri State Teacher Association. Enhance your college experience
through SMSTA’s educational opportunities and fun activities.
Meet Our Program Coordinator
Dr. Amanda Brewer
As a secondary education teacher, Dr. Brewer taught in a public school district for
13 years. Today, she is committed to helping UCM students see literacy in fresh ways
and to grow as educators. Dr. Brewer is active in the National Council of Teachers
of English and the National Writing Project. Her research interests include secondary
student writing and critical global literacies.
Contact Dr. Brewer
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