English Teacher Education, B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English (Licensure) at Governors State University prepares future educators with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to teach English language arts in K–12 classrooms and earn state teaching licensure.

Alongside coursework, you’ll engage in field experiences and student teaching placements that provide hands-on classroom practice under the mentorship of experienced educators. These experiences help you build confidence, refine your teaching style, and apply research-based strategies in real school settings. Graduates are prepared to pursue Illinois state licensure to teach English language arts in grades K–12 and enter careers in education, curriculum development, tutoring, or educational leadership — or continue on to graduate study in teaching or educational policy.

The Teaching English (Licensure) BA at Governors State University blends in-depth study of English language and literature with professional preparation for effective classroom instruction. This program emphasizes language development, literacy theory, child and adolescent literature, instructional design, and culturally responsive teaching practices.

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Career Outcomes

You can get a lot of jobs with an English teacher education degree in Chicago, IL. Though some might be more obvious than others, there's a diverse list when you take the time to discover your options. Some options include:

Middle-School English Teacher - Currently, the average salary of a middle school English teacher is $46,677.
Homeschool Consultant - Some homeschool consultants make up to $64,000 each year.
Curriculum Designer - Curriculum designers make on average about $62,000 per year.
Author - Your education will prepare you to portray your message so that others will understand and be entertained. Authors average a salary of $61,240 per year.
Educational Researcher - The average yearly salary for educational researchers sits above $100,000.
Adult Educator - As an adult educator, you could make around $51,000 each year.

What You'll Study

Our academic catalog has detailed information about what you'll study, like courses, hours needed for completion, and other requirements.

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How to Apply

You'll need certain documents and meet certain requirements in order to apply. Read about them on our admissions pages.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

Students are encouraged to explore the Office of Financial Aid web pages as a central resource for funding your education. The website provides comprehensive information on all forms of assistance, including student loans, grants, scholarships, and other financial support available to CAS students.

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Teacher Licensure

This program approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, leads to the Initial Secondary License qualifying students to teach Secondary English. Students who major in English with a concentration in secondary education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students wishing to pursue this endorsement must take three hours of methods related to the middle school. Students should contact their advisor for specific course requirements.

Recommendation for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license requires passage of the Subject-Matter Knowledge examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, and the national education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).

Get Involved

Teaching English students are encouraged to enhance their academic experience and professional readiness through organizations, classroom engagement, and community outreach activities. Participate in writing centers, literacy tutoring programs, or after-school reading initiatives to gain experience working with diverse learners. Attend education seminars, guest lectures, and teaching workshops that address instructional strategies, classroom management, and curriculum design. Look to professional and academic organizations like: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Provides professional development, teaching resources, and networking for English educators, International Literacy Association (ILA), Offers access to research, teaching tools, and conferences focused on literacy development, and Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) , Supports English teachers statewide with workshops, advocacy, and local community engagement. for more ways to be active and procure support.