Syracuse University
ENGLISH EDUCATION
Information for Undergraduates
The undergraduate program in English Education is offered dually by the College of Arts and Sciences
and the School of Education. The English Education major cannot be completed without this dual enrollment. In
addition, students formally declare a major in English and Textual Studies (ETS), which would also be listed on the
transcript. Students earn one diploma granted by both colleges.
ADMISSIONS:
Undergraduate students are admitted to the English Education program one of three ways:
 as a freshman, applying through the Office of Admissions.
 as a transfer from another institution, applying through the Office of Admissions.
 as an intra-university transfer (IUT) from another SU college. Students who are already in the College of
Arts and Sciences apply for IUT through the School of Education Academic Services Office, 111 Waverly
Avenue, Suite 230. Students who are entering from another SU college would apply to both colleges, but
obtain approval from the College of Arts and Sciences first.
The admissions process should be completed as early as possible, to achieve ideal course sequencing
and completion of the program within four years. Admission and good standing in the program require a minimum
of 2.8 cumulative grade point average, a 3.0 in ETS and writing courses, and 3.0 in required education courses
taken to date. Additional requirements for admission to professional semesters are described below.
ADVISING: In addition to their Arts and Sciences advisor, English Education students are advised by either Dr.
Kelly Chandler-Olcott, (200 Huntington Hall, 443-5183, kpchandl@syr.edu ) or Dr. Marcelle Haddix, (200
Huntington Hall, 443-7642, mhaddix@syr.edu). The School of Education’s Academic and Student Services Office ,
111 Waverly, Suite 230, and the Arts and Sciences Advising and Academic Support Office, 323 Hall of Languages,
also assists students, and participates in the monitoring of progress toward meeting general degree requirements.
English Education freshmen (or transfers, when new) should meet with Marie Sarno (Program Specialist, Teaching
and Leadership Programs, 173 Huntington Hall – 443-2685 for appointment) to complete a plan of their upcoming
semesters. During this time, students will be assigned to particular semesters for professional courses.
TEACHER CERTIFICATION: The English Education program currently meets the academic requirements
for New York State initial teacher certification to teach English in grades 7-12.
Other requirements for initial certification include:
 Completion of an application satisfactory to NY State; submission of fees and transcripts; and
fingerprints.
Passing scores on the edTPA, Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST), Educating All Students Test (EAS), Content
Specialty Test (English Language Arts for English Education students) (CST), For more information, go to
http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/NY_annProgramUpdate.asp Please note that information about completion of the
requirements for edTPA, and the opportunity to meet them will be given to you during your program.
Additional requirements for New York State professional certification must be met within five years of the date of
the initial certificate. Currently these include:
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an appropriate master's degree defined as one in a new area of certification; or one registered by the state as
leading to professional certification in the same content area as the initial certificate; or a masters in any area
as long as 12 graduate credits are completed in the content area.
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency;
three years of teaching experience. Unless two years of teaching experience have been completed before the
first teaching position in New York, the first year of teaching experience in New York must be an appropriate
mentorship.
New York State is part of an interstate certification compact with several other states, a fact that helps
graduates of approved New York programs qualify for certification in other states. However, even some of the
reciprocal states may have additional test or other requirements that need to be met. Students are advised to
contact their states of interest as early as possible to find out about requirements, and keep abreast of changes, so
that differing requirements can be met in a timely manner. Links to various state’s websites are available at
http://education.uky.edu/AcadServ/content/50-states-certification-requirements (courtesy of the University of
Kentucky. But, don’t read the rest of their certification information, as it doesn’t apply to you!)
Additional information about the New York State tests:
 The written tests are offered only a few times per year. Advanced registration (several weeks) is required.
 Registration booklets are available in 111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230. Fees are charged. Information can
also be found at http://www.nystce.nesinc.com/
 The web site gives information about preparation materials.
 LAST may be taken as early as the latter part of the sophomore year. We recommend it be taken no later
than the junior year.
 The other tests may be best taken in the senior year, or when most of the professional education study is
complete; students should discuss this with advisors. It is not necessarily advisable to wait until the last
available test before the application for certification.
Additional information about applying for certification:
 Applications (with instructions) are available from 111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230, to be picked up just before
graduation.
 Successful completion of this program qualifies a student for institutional recommendation for English 7-12
certification. An institutional recommendation application form is used, and submitted through Academic
Services, 111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230, at the time of the graduation date.
 Fees are charged.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Requirements:
Note: Monitoring of completion of degree requirements is a joint effort of the students, the English Education
advisor, the Arts and Sciences Advising and Academic Support Office, and the School of Education Academic and
Student Services Office. Students may need to consult more than one advising source for information.
1. completion of at least 126 credits.
2. completion of a minimum of 90 arts and sciences credits. Note: Professional education are considered
non-Arts and Sciences, except for EDU 310, which counts as Arts and Sciences credit. Also, all CRS
course options are considered non-Arts and Sciences.
3. completion of the College of Arts and Sciences liberal arts core, keeping in mind that some courses may
meet more than one requirement at the same time. For example, an appropriate 100 level ETS course,
ETS 242, and ETS 305 will meet both ETS major requirements and humanities group requirements. At the
same time, depending on the course chosen, your 100 level ETS course might also meet a writing
intensive requirement. Achieving overlap may be important to keeping program credits reasonable or
freeing up room for program courses and arts and sciences electives.
English Education majors must include certain courses not required of non-education students, either
within the liberal arts core or liberal arts electives. These are:
 Humanities group: In addition to using three ETS courses as part of this group, the fourth course
should bean HOA or HOM course, or an AAS course on art or music. .
 Social Science group: one HST course must be taken.
 Social Science group: one course that is not HST or PSY must be taken.
 Mathematics: Students who are completing skills in foreign language for the liberal arts core must
also complete one mathematics course numbered 117 or above.
 Foreign Language: See No. 7 below.
4.
completion of an English and Textual Studies major. In addition to meeting requirements for this 30 credit
major that all majors in ETS must complete, English Education students must include ETS 325 (currently
offered fall only); a Shakespeare course at either the 100- or 300-level; WRT 301, 303, 307 or 428; and at
least one course that is considered multicultural. Multicultural in this case is defined as nonwestern,
representative of minorities in American schools. A list of approved courses is distributed by email during each
registration period.
5.
completion of one appropriate communication and rhetorical studies course, from CRS 225 (Public Advocacy),
CRS 325 (Presentational Speaking); CRS 331 (Interpersonal Communication); and CRS 333 (Small Group
Communication).
6.
completion of a minimum of 36 English and writing credits. This is typically fulfilled by the 30 credit ETS major
as mentioned in number 4 (above), including 24 upper division credits, and WRT 105 and 205 (or their
equivalents). Other courses are occasionally included. Because a certain amount of content must be
completed before the Candidacy and Standard Student Teaching semesters (see below), content must be
begun early in the programs, with the majority taken by the end of the junior year. This may mean careful
planning, and the delay of some Liberal Arts Core requirements or electives.
7.
completion of one college course in a language other than English (including American Sign Language), or
equivalent,. by appropriate testing of those with previous competency; or by completion of high school study
through level three. (This equivalency applies to the School of Education language requirement only;
additional language credits must be taken by those who choose to complete the foreign language skill
requirement for the Liberal Arts Core.)
participation in the Academy of English Educators and development of an acceptable professional portfolio.
Information about the Academy and portfolio is available from the undergraduate English Education advisor.
8.
9.
completion of the professional education sequence listed on the following pages.
Study Abroad
Because electives in the English Education program are limited, planning ahead for possible study abroad is
important. Please note that study abroad in the spring of the junior year or fall of the senior year is not possible
because of professional semesters requiring you to be in Syracuse.
Professional Education requirements:
1.
EDU 204 Principles of Learning in Inclusive Classrooms
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Ideally, should be taken first. May be taken as early as the second
semester Freshman year. Offered both semesters. 2.5 – 3 hours of field
experience per week for 10 weeks (total of at least 25 hours) is required.
2.
EDU 304 Study of Teaching
May be taken as early as the first semester sophomore year. Should be taken
after EDU 204, if possible. Offered both semesters. 2.5 – 3 hours of field
experience per week for 10 weeks (total of at least 25 hours) is required.
3.
EDU 310 American School
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May be taken as early as the sophomore year. Does not need to be taken before
student teaching. Offered both semesters.
4.
SED 340 Participation in the Professional Development School/English
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Begins no later than the first semester after taking EDU 204; may begin earlier.
Participation in the Academy of English Educators, and registration for 0 credits
each semester is required. General written information about the Academy of
Educators and additional details about the Academy of English Educators and
portfolios are available from the English Education advisor.
5.
RED 326 Literacy Across the Curriculum.
Will be taken in the sophomore year or first semester junior year (after EDU 204 or 304).
Includes at least 25 hours of literacy tutoring.
6.
A workshop on identifying and reporting child abuse; drugs, alcohol and tobacco;
violence prevention; fire safety; and other issues teachers may face, and training related
to the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Details of this are in transition. However, this
requirement must be completed before the first student teaching semester.
6.
Candidacy semester (spring only):
SED 413 Methods and Curriculum in Teaching/English
SPE 412 Adapting Instruction for Diverse Student Needs
EDU 508 Student Teaching/English/Candidacy (graded P/F)
Prerequisites to the Candidacy semester include: a minimum 2.8 cumulative
GPA, and 3.0 in both required education and English courses; completion of a
minimum of 21 English/writing credits; completion of the EDU 204, 304, RED
326, and WRT 205; and successful review of all appropriate student assessment
proficiencies (see other documents for details.
The nine credits listed must be taken as a block, and students must be available
M-F morning for some classes and student teaching.
During the Candidacy semester, students will also be expected to student
teach full time during the Syracuse University Spring Break.
An application for student teaching must be completed no later than the previous
May 1st (available from the English Education advisor, and to be turned in at 172
Huntington Hall). The student teaching placement will be at either the 7-9 or the
10-12 level. Students should request the level of least interest, and request the
other level for the longer, fall Standard student teaching semester. Although
there is no guarantee, preferences for level will be considered.
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Student teaching begins with a few early visits to the placement, followed by an
approximately six-week, every-morning experience. Other Candidacy semester
morning courses do not meet regularly during this six-week period so that the
early morning time can be used for student teaching. For some students, this
experience may start before 8:30 a.m. and, depending on both the school's and
the student's schedule, transportation, etc., could end at various times.
Students who successfully complete the candidacy student teaching experience
earn a "V" (variable length course in progress) grade until after successful
completion of the Standard student teaching semester (fall). One student
teaching experience must be within grades 7-9, and one within grades 10-12.
One must be in a high needs setting.
8.
Standard student teaching semester (fall only):
SED 415 Teacher Development/English
EDU 508 Student Teaching/English/Standard (EDU 508 is graded pass/fail.)
Prerequisites includesuccessful completion of the Candidacy semester, 3.0
cumulative average and 3.0 minimum averages in both English content and
education courses; a minimum of 27 credits in English and writing; successful
review of all appropriate student assessment proficiencies.
Ideally, students should plan to take only the above 12 credits in this semester, to
be able to give full attention to student teaching. Those who cannot do this
should plan to take no more than 15 credits in this semester, remembering that
courses other than those above must meet after public school hours (4:00 p.m. or
later), and must not conflict with SED 415.
The student teaching placement is for the full school day, for a minimum of 10-11
weeks. Students should plan to follow the teacher (not student) schedule for
arrival and departure.
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