Communication Arts and Literature Education, English

About the Program

The English Program at Southwest Minnesota State University offers the Communication Arts & Literature Education, English major leading to Minnesota licensure to teach English. The program also offers majors in Literature, Creative Writing, and Professional Writing & Communication. Courses in the English education major are intended to prepare students to teach English and Speech in grades 5-12. Courses offered by the English Program focus on preparation for the effective teaching of language arts, literature, and composition.

Education

SMSU believes that experiencing the classroom is an important part of every Education major. As freshmen, students take an introductory education class where they experience being in the middle school or secondary classroom right away. This class helps students experience the classroom before they delve into the major.

Literature

The English Program offers a wide range of classes that prepares students for teaching their own classes someday.

A CAED Major Should...

• possess strong grammar, writing, and reading skills;
• have taken college prep courses in writing and reading;
• have been involved in the high school newspaper, drama, forensics, and/or the yearbook;
• have a wide background in reading, especially in the classics, such as Shakespeare and more contemporary American and British writers.

Activities

The English Program provides many opportunities for students to gain additional experience outside the classroom. SMSU’s student literary and arts journal ( Perceptions) and the student newspaper ( The Spur) provide practice and expertise for students interested in participating in such activities as part of their teaching careers. Many nationally known writers visit SMSU for readings and events such as Marshall Festival and the Visiting Writers Series.

Students also have the opportunity to work in the Writing Center, where they tutor other students on their writing, and in the process sharpen their own communication and teaching skills.

Mentorships allow students to work one-on-one with faculty on writing, teaching, and research projects. Students who intend to become teachers participate in numerous regional middle school or high school related activities under the auspices of the Education Program. Student teaching placement may be local, but for those who are interested, opportunities to student teach in metropolitan or suburban areas are also possible. International student teaching is an option.

Clubs & Organizations

• The Spur (SMSU student newspaper)
• Perceptions Literary and Arts Journal
• The English Club
• Forensics
• Education Minnesota Student Program (EMSP)

Visit Catalog

• Major - Bachelor of Science: Communication Arts & Lit/Secondary Educ-English (CAED)

Career Opportunities

What Can I Do with This major?

• Throughout Minnesota where the demand for teachers continues.
• Throughout the country where our graduates have found jobs in Chicago, New Orleans, Colorado, California, Boston, even in Berlin, Germany, and Halmstad, Sweden.
• Other paths are also open;
  • Graduate school
  • Overseas teaching

"I love the English program because it gave me diverse opportunities to explore different aspects of English and Literature. I get the help I need promptly from the teachers who make learning fun, yet challenging as well."

Contact Information

English Program - Office

BA 221, Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State St.
Marshall, MN 56258

• Telephone: 507-537-7155
• Fax: 507-537-6815
• Email: epshdept@smsu.edu