In conjunction with the Department of Teaching and Learning, the English Department supports two pathways leading to teacher certification. Students should understand the differences between them.
I. FOR THOSE STUDENTS PURSUING DEGREE PROGRAMS AT SMU:
Secondary Certification (Grades 7-12): the English major (33 hours).
NOTE: Only courses that normally satisfy major requirements will be counted toward certification.
II. FOR THOSE STUDENTS SEEKING CERTIFICATION BY SMU WHO HAVE RECEIVED DEGREES IN ENGLISH AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS:
A transcript must be submitted to the English Department at SMU for approval. Those degrees must include a minimum of 33 hours of literature courses, excluding first-year composition and most Communications courses.
All teaching certificate candidates should consult with an adviser in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education concerning entry into the program and further professional requirements for the Educational Studies major. This process requires SMU to present candidates to the state for certification; students need to be aware that they must meet state requirements as well as SMU and English Department requirements.
III. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE IN TEACHER PREPARATION
Those with an interest in teaching elementary school might wish to enroll in “Ethical Implications of Children’s Literature.”
Those interested in Secondary education should strongly consider taking Shakespeare and one term each of American and British literary history and one or more terms of American literature.
Teacher Certification candidates should be advised by Professor Michael Holahan; the Coordinator for Teacher Preparation in English. Leslie Reid, Room 5, will assign students to him. Students should discuss with their advisers, at Department of Teaching and Learning and in the English Department, what constitutes an effective program of preparation for a career in teaching.