If you love to read and write, you may enjoy pursuing an English teaching degree. In this bachelors program, you can get the chance to develop valuable writing and teaching skills to help prepare you for a career in this arena.
Middle school and high school students rely on English teachers for a quality education in English literature and writing.
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Children, teenagers, and adults who are learning English as a second language also need qualified English teaching professionals to learn from.
Online English Teaching Degrees
Students in online English teaching bachelor programs typically spend a lot of time reading exemplary works of literature and analyzing the techniques and themes deployed in them. They may also do quite a bit of their own writing, which can be critiqued by their peers.
While in a bachelors program in English teaching, you may study topics like the following:
- Grammar
- Shakespeare
- Creative writing
- Teaching
- Building lesson plans
- Colonial literature
- Personal essay writing
- Fiction writing
- Famous writers
- Rhetoric
- Public speaking
- Editing
These types of online bachelors in education programs usually have a variety of ways where students can practically apply their knowledge and, in some cases, graduate with a portfolio. Students may get the chance to participate in internships, workshops, capstone projects, and more.
Graduates tend to pursue careers in education, where they can teach their students English speaking and writing skills. They may work as middle school or high school teachers, instructional coordinators, tutors, and more.
Professionals may also work in jobs where they can help teach English to people who are learning it as a second language. ESL teachers may work in schools, colleges, and community centers, or they may be self-employed and work with their students one-on-one.
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Graduates may also pursue relevant career paths that don’t include teaching, such as being an author, editor, technical writer, or copywriter. These types of jobs generally involve writing, reading, and analyzing text every day, expanding upon the skills you could learn in your degree program.
After graduating with an undergraduate degree in English teaching, some choose to pursue further education. They might apply to masters programs in a subject like teaching, English literature, creative writing, communications, and more.
English Careers & Salaries
Students who major in English or pursue an English language learning degree are often skilled in reading and writing. Many graduates go on to pursue roles that involve reading or writing or that involve teaching others how to successfully read and write in English.
Professionals in the field may work in schools as middle school teachers, high school teachers, instructional coordinators, or teacher assistants with a focus on teaching English. Public school teachers are often required to obtain a teaching license. Some English teaching programs are designed to prepare students for licensure.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, below are the median salaries of potential career paths that are related with English teaching studies. Some of these careers may require additional education, skills, or training, depending on the industry and employer.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Technical Writers | $79,960 |
| Writers and Authors | $73,150 |
| Editors | $73,080 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $66,490 |
| High School Teachers | $62,360 |
| Middle School Teachers | $61,810 |
| Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers | $58,590 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $55,960 |
| Tutors | $36,680 |
| Teacher Assistants | $30,920 |
English teaching graduates may also work as ESL teachers, where they can help people learn English if they are not fluent. Some of these professionals may find roles teaching English abroad as well as in the US. Other graduates may pursue roles outside the education arena that involve plenty of reading and writing as part of their everyday tasks. These roles can include technical writers, authors, and editors.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that many of these roles will experience steady job growth over the next ten years. For instance, high school teachers and middle school teachers are expected to see 5% job growth and 4% job growth, respectively.
English Teaching Bachelor’s Curriculum & Courses
The coursework in English teacher degree programs will vary, but here are some examples of classes you may end up taking:
- Shakespeare: You’ll read Shakespeare’s plays to learn about the type of literature that was prevalent during his lifetime.
- Interpretive Theory: This course teaches you different lenses through which to interpret works of literature.
- Modern Grammar: You’ll learn various elements of modern-day grammar, such as how to structure sentences and make edits.
- Rhetoric for Writers: This class covers different ideologies surrounding rhetoric so you can learn new ways of analyzing literature.
- The Short Story: You’ll learn about the history of the short story and look at key themes and techniques involved in writing one.
- Analysis of Modern English: This course covers different elements of grammar, looking at dialect and phonology in particular.
- Writing About Place: You’ll read works centered around a specific place, and you’ll learn how to incorporate a setting into your own writing.
- American Women Novelists: This class studies the history of women fiction writers and delves into the cultural issues they address through their books.
- Etymology: You’ll learn about the history of the English language and what elements have transformed over the years.
- Personal and Reflective Writing: This course teaches students to critique others’ work and generate discussion about their own writing.
In addition to classes like these, you may get the opportunity to participate in internships, workshops, and capstone projects. Some students may be able to build a portfolio of their work by the time they graduate.
Admissions Requirements
The admissions requirements for an online bachelors in English teaching vary by school, but here are a few common ones:
- High school diploma
- High school transcripts
- SAT or ACT scores (only some schools require them)
- Personal statement
Some schools may require proof of English proficiency for non-native English-speaking applicants. Many programs also want to see your high school transcripts to see which English classes you have taken in high school as well as to verify your GPA if they have a minimum GPA requirement.
Accreditation
Before you pick a school for your undergraduate English teaching degree, it’s strategic to make sure the school is regionally accredited. When a school has this status, a third-party accrediting organization has verified that it meets a series of academic quality standards.
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When applying for jobs after graduation, employers may want to see that you have attended a regionally accredited school. Plus, if you hope to apply for federal financial aid, you’re typically required to attend an accredited school to do so. To learn more, you can visit the US Department of Education’s website.
English Education Majors Financial Aid and Scholarships
The different types of financial aid include student loans, grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and more. If you are interested in applying for government aid, you can explore all the various options available to qualifying students at the Federal Student Aid website.
In a work-study program, students hold a part-time job while they’re in school, earning at least the current federal minimum wage. Prospective undergraduate students may also be able to apply for direct subsidized loans, in which their school determines how much they can borrow.
What Can You Do with an English Teaching Degree?
An English teaching degree can help you prepare for a number of career paths in education and communication. Graduates in the fieldwork in a variety of English teaching jobs. These can include middle school English teachers, high school English teachers, instructional coordinators, and teacher assistants.
English teaching professionals may also work as English tutors or ESL teachers for teenagers or adults. Some graduates choose to pursue jobs outside of education that involve a lot of reading and writing. For example, they might work as authors, writers, editors, and technical writers.
Others decide to continue their educations and enroll in graduate programs, such as one leading to an online masters in TESOL, for example.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Online English Education Degree?
The timeframe for completing an online English education degree depends on a few different factors, such as your program enrollment status and semester length. If your school follows a 16 week semester and you attend classes full-time, it typically takes 4 years to graduate.
If your online program has 8 week semesters and you enroll year-round, you may be able to graduate sooner. This would assume you are taking classes during the summer as well and attending full-time.
Is an Online English Teaching Degree Worth It?
Yes, an online English teaching degree is worth it for many students. If you love reading and writing, you may enjoy having a career where you get to do just that every day. If you also enjoy teaching others, you could pursue secondary teaching licensure to teach English at the middle school and high school level in public schools.
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Some English teaching majors go on to become ESL teachers and tutors. Others use their writing skills to pursue work in writing, journalism, and publishing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7% job growth for education, training, and library occupations over the next ten years, which is as fast as the average for all occupations.
Universities Offering Online Bachelors in English Education Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Arizona Christian University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English Language Arts. Potential coursework includes Introduction to the Exceptional Child, Educational Psychology, and Curriculum and Instruction. Classes are typically small and feature a Bible-based curriculum. The program aims to teach both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Arizona Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Arkansas Tech University offers a Bachelor of Arts in English Education program online or in a hybrid format. The program aims to provide hands-on learning opportunities through internships and practicums. The program is designed to lead to licensure to teach English to grades 7 to 12.
Arkansas Tech University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Drury University offers a BS in English and Writing with a focus on Secondary Education. Potential courses include Psychology of Human Growth, Teaching in Diverse Classrooms, Student Assessment and Data Analysis, and Collaborative Classroom Environments. The program typically features hands-on learning experiences, which usually start during the first year.
Drury University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Grand Canyon University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Arts in English with a focus on Secondary Education. The program aims to teach the skills needed to enter positions such as middle school English teacher, high school English teacher, and English as a second language (ESL) teacher. Courses typically run for 8 weeks.
Grand Canyon is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Liberty University offers a BS in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) program online. Courses are typically 8 weeks long and the average time to complete the program is 3.5 years. Up to 75 percent of qualified credits earned at other accredited institutions may be transferred in to help satisfy the 120 required credits.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Louisiana State University–Alexandria offers a Bachelor of Arts in English program online. Courses commonly feature synchronous live meetings via video conferencing but still aim to provide scheduling flexibility. They tend to last 7 weeks each. The program’s goal is to help develop general critical thinking and analytical skills that are useful for a variety of career paths in teaching.
Louisiana State University at Alexandria is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Maryville State University offers a B.S.Ed. in English Education program online. Class sizes are commonly kept small so as to encourage an interactive learning environment. A paid internship program often provides hands-on work experience in a school setting. The program is designed to lead to teacher licensure in the state of North Dakota.
Mayville State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Midway University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education program online. The program aims to provide qualifications to teach grades 8 to 12 in the state of Kentucky. The average class size is about 17 students, with the aim of enabling personalized attention from faculty.
Midway University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Ottawa University offers an online program for a BA in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English. The program offers participation in a variety of in-classroom, hands-on experiences, and courses such as Foundations of School in a Diverse Society, Introduction to Literature and Film, Creative Writing, Shakespeare Seminar, and more. Courses typically run 8 weeks each.
Ottawa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Salem University offers a program online or in a hybrid format for a Bachelor of Science in Education with a specialization in English Education. Potential courses include Foundations of Education, Human Development, and Educational Psychology. The program is intended to lead to licensure to teach English Language Arts in grades 5 to 12. Courses typically run 4 weeks each.
Salem University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
South Carolina State University offers an online or hybrid program for a Bachelor of Science in English Education. The program aims for a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1, helping to facilitate personalized attention and mentorship from instructors. Opportunities to participate in real-world field experiences are commonly offered.
South Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University offers a bachelor’s degree program online in English, language arts, and reading (middle and secondary education). The program is designed to help prepare to teach grades 7 to 12. Class sizes are typically small so as to facilitate 1 on 1 attention and to provide access to a range of resources such as career services and counseling.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Maine–Presque Isle offers an online Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Professional Communication and Journalism. Potential courses include Introduction to Creative Writing, Introduction to Literature, and Contemporary World Literature. Courses tend to run 8 weeks each, and there are typically no weekly deadlines for classwork.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of Kentucky offers a BA in Secondary English Education program online or in a hybrid format. The program is designed to prepare for enrollment in the university’s Master’s with Initial Certification Program, which typically leads to teacher certification. The program typically provides opportunities to work with real students in public school classrooms to gain hands-on experience.
The University of Kentucky is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Valley City State University offers a hybrid program for a major in English Education. Potential courses include Grammatical Analysis, Educating Exceptional Students, Linguistics and Language Acquisition, and more. The program is designed to help prepare for teacher licensure exams, and to offer the opportunity to earn various certificates and endorsements along with a degree.
Valley City State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Getting Your Bachelor’s Degree in English Education Online
If you have a passion for reading, writing, and literature, you may enjoy getting your bachelor degree in English education online. An online degree program may provide additional flexibility in your schedule.
English teaching majors typically get to read a wide variety of literature, analyze it with their peers, and write works of their own. You may also have the opportunity to pursue internships, apprenticeships, part-time jobs, and other ways to apply your English teaching knowledge while still in school.
You could get started on your journey toward an online English teaching degree today by exploring available programs from accredited universities.
