Finish in Four
For English Education majors, completing your coursework and certification requirements in four years is a financial benefit. Many universities require education majors to complete a fifth year in order to master both content and pedagogy, but at UD, you can complete your degree and licensure (grades 7-12 ELA) in four years. Or, you can choose a 4+1 program to become dual certified in both English and a second area, such as Special Education or Teaching English as a Second Language, in five years.
Get a Job
UD English Education graduates are highly sought after. From 2016-2020, 91% of XEE alumni survey respondents were employed as full-time teachers; approximately 5% were employed in other fields, and the rest were full time graduate students.
“As an Instructional Coach on the ACCESS Project in the Center for Disabilities Studies at UD, I coach educators in several districts on implementation of Universal Design for Learning. I also lead a project that provides professional development on standards-based IEP implementation statewide, with a focus on improving both individualized and broad-scale outcomes for students. UDXEE prepared me for my current role by keeping high-level, rigorous expectations while maintaining flexibility in terms of allowing teacher candidates to demonstrate their understanding and ability in a wide variety of ways. UDXEE's focus on teaching evidence-based pedagogy and effective methods of evaluation gave me the base that I needed to have fruitful coaching discussions with other teachers now."
-Mackenzie Shane, class of 2011
English Education majors work for social justice and equity
Graduating on time is important, as is getting a job. But more than that, teaching is a powerful way to make a difference in the world. The English Education Program at UD is committed to preparing a new generation of secondary English teachers who are highly knowledgeable about English, are able to plan for and carry out effective instruction, and seek to reflect on their pedagogical practice. They also demonstrate a knowledge of and responsiveness to their students' home cultures, implement anti-racist pedagogy, and work for equity beyond their own classrooms--in their schools, districts, and communities.
“XEE taught me to center and acknowledge the humanity and criticality of this work. Empathetic and equity-based teaching was not only studied but modeled by the remarkable professors of this program, enabling me to enter into urban secondary education with the necessary tools to develop rigorous curricula, implement differentiated instruction, build genuine student connections, and work in team-oriented spaces."
-Edward Benner, class of 2021
Want to know more about being an English Education major? Contact the English Education program coordinator.
English Education majors take dynamic classes and start working with secondary students early on
Our carefully designed, innovative, nationally-accredited program prepares teacher candidates with a broad and deep knowledge of English language, literature, and pedagogy and includes courses in young adult literature, literacy and technology, writing, linguistics, public speaking, grammar, adolescent development, special education, and diversity. Further, we immerse UD English Education majors in teaching early and often, starting with their first year in our introductory course, in our partnership with Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington. At Howard, we have worked alongside students and teachers in different ways over the years, helping students improve their SAT scores, write and perform spoken word poetry as part of a Howard Renaissance project, and design their Howard Cares project to impact a local community. Over the course of their time in the major, UD English Education teacher candidates graduate with at least 5 field experiences on their résumés.
“Since I'm a Howard High School of Technology alumna, going back to Howard was a great experience and a great reminder of why I went into education. The Howard placement was so hands-on; it helped me get a sense of what teaching will really be like. Placements over the four years were challenging, and they helped me solidify my goals as an educator."
-Lisa Alexander, class of 2022