This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The purpose of the B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education and Teaching with a concentration in English education is to prepare students to serve as initially licensed teachers in grades six through 12, as well as to serve as educators and leaders in schools and community-based settings. Students enrolled in the program will be required to declare a double major in the Bachelor of Arts in English. The program will focus on providing students with a solid foundation in secondary education and English content. Through the core education curriculum, students will become knowledgeable about professional roles and workplace responsibilities while learning basic abilities in the planning and implementation of English lessons for students in grades six through 12. The core curriculum instills fundamental knowledge and skills, with opportunities for observation and application in a variety of settings. Through the core English curriculum, students will develop the content knowledge and skills in order to deliver relevant and rigorous lessons in English education. Graduates will be prepared to work in public and private middle and high schools across Virginia, with particular focus in urban and other high-need areas. Graduates will be capable of working with diverse learners and adapting instructional programs based on the needs of their students and clients. Successful completion of the program will result in licensure in secondary English education (grades six through 12).
Student learning outcomes
- Learner and learning: Students will understand human development and learning theories appropriate to the age group they will teach and acquire an awareness of the diversity of the school-age populations’ cultural backgrounds, learning strengths and needs.
- Content: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they will teach.
- Instructional practice: Students will demonstrate an ability to plan and implement effective teaching and measure student learning in ways that lead to sustained development and learning.
- Professional responsibility: Students will develop an understanding of purposes for education and a defensible philosophical approach toward teaching and demonstrate professional dispositions.
English education concentration-specific outcome
- Content: Demonstrate knowledge of the subjects they will teach as English educators.
Special requirements
- Students must successfully complete all initial licensure milestone requirements.
- Students enrolled in this program are required to declare a second major in their content area
Degree requirements for Secondary Education and Teaching, Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) with a concentration in English education
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| EDUS 202 | Diversity, Democracy and Ethics | 3 |
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| SEDP 405 | Collaborative Practices to Support Inclusion for Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
| SEDP 452 | Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities | 1 |
| TEDU 412 | Curriculum and Assessment: ____ | 3 |
| TEDU 452 | Teaching Multilingual Learners | 2 |
| TEDU 510 | Instructional Technology in PK-12 Environments | 2 |
| TEDU 588 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| TEDU 562 | Reading Instruction in the Content Areas | 3 |
| Secondary education | ||
| TEDU 311 | Middle School Practicum | 2 |
| TEDU 312 | High School Practicum | 1 |
| TEDU 469 | Secondary Internship I | 4 |
| TEDU 470 | Secondary Internship II | 4 |
| TEDU 548 | Teaching Secondary School English | 3 |
| Concentration requirements | ||
| TEDU 415 | Literature for Young Adults | 3 |
| English/double major | ||
| ENGL 301 | Introduction to the English Major | 3 |
| ENGL 499 | Senior Seminar in English | 3 |
| Linguistics, writing, criticism: | ||
| ENGL 304 | Persuasive Writing | 3 |
| or ENGL 390 | Introduction to Linguistics | |
| Additional linguistics, writing, criticism course 1 | 3 | |
| Literature, pre-1700: | ||
| ENGL 320 | Early Literary Traditions | 3 |
| or ENGL 326 | Shakespeare in Context | |
| Additional literature, pre-1700 course 1 | 3 | |
| Literature, 1700-1945: | ||
| ENGL 336 | 19th-century British Novels and Narratives 1 | 3 |
| or ENGL 374 | U.S. Literature: Modernism | |
| Additional literature, 1700-1945 course 1 | 3 | |
| Literature, diversity: | 3 | |
| African-American Literature: Beginnings Through the Harlem Renaissance | ||
or ENGL 381 | Multiethnic Literature | |
| Restricted electives 1 | 6 | |
| English additional requirements | ||
| Experiential Fine Arts 2 | 1-3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) | 0-6 | |
| Literary contexts: select a foreign language course through the 202 or 205 level (by course or placement) or six credits from the list below. | 0-6 | |
| Western World Literature I | ||
| Western World Literature II | ||
| British Literature I | ||
| British Literature II | ||
| American Literature I | ||
| American Literature II | ||
| Contemporary World Literature | ||
| Women in Literature | ||
| Topics in Literature | ||
| Persuasive Writing | ||
| Early German Literature | ||
| Modern German Literature | ||
| Topics in Foreign Literature in English Translation | ||
| Open electives | 2-17 | |
| B.S.Ed. open electives will be fulfilled by double major/endorsement courses. | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
See B.A. in English major requirements lists.
Course offered by the School of the Arts.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| MATH 131 or STAT 208 | Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (both courses satisfy general education quantitative foundations) or Statistical Thinking | 3 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | |
| General education course (select BOK for humanities/fine arts and AOI for creativity, innovation and aesthetic inquiry) | 3 | |
| General education course (select BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in human experience) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Experiential fine arts | 3 | |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| General education course (select AOI for global perspectives) | 3 | |
| General education course (select BOK for natural science and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| EDUS 202 | Diversity, Democracy and Ethics | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education courses (select any AOI) | 6 | |
| Literary contexts course or foreign language 201 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| EDUS 301 | Human Development and Learning | 3 |
| ENGL 301 | Introduction to the English Major | 3 |
| ENGL 304 or ENGL 390 | Persuasive Writing or Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| ENGL 336 or ENGL 374 | 19th-century British Novels and Narratives or U.S. Literature: Modernism | 3 |
| Literary contexts course or foreign language 202 or 205 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ENGL 320 or ENGL 326 | Early Literary Traditions or Shakespeare in Context | 3 |
| ENGL 379 or ENGL 381 | African-American Literature: Beginnings Through the Harlem Renaissance or Multiethnic Literature | 3 |
| SEDP 405 | Collaborative Practices to Support Inclusion for Children and Youth with Disabilities | 3 |
| TEDU 510 | Instructional Technology in PK-12 Environments | 2 |
| Linguistics, writing, criticism course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| TEDU 311 | Middle School Practicum | 2 |
| TEDU 562 | Reading Instruction in the Content Areas | 3 |
| TEDU 588 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| ENGL 300- or 400-level elective | 3 | |
| Literature, pre-1700 course 1 | 3 | |
| Literature, 1700-1945 course 1 | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ENGL 499 | Senior Seminar in English | 3 |
| TEDU 312 | High School Practicum | 1 |
| TEDU 415 | Literature for Young Adults (satisfies a restricted elective) | 3 |
| TEDU 548 | Teaching Secondary School English | 3 |
| ENGL 300- or 400-level elective | 3 | |
| Open electives | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SEDP 452 | Supporting Multilingual Learners With Disabilities | 1 |
| TEDU 412 | Curriculum and Assessment: ____ | 3 |
| TEDU 452 | Teaching Multilingual Learners | 2 |
| TEDU 469 | Secondary Internship I | 4 |
| TEDU 470 | Secondary Internship II | 4 |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
See B.A. in English major requirements lists.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.