In order to teach college-level English, job candidates will typically need to have at least a master’s degree. Some community colleges will accept a bachelor’s degree, but many universities now require a doctoral degree for full-time, tenure-track English faculty positions.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in English will build the critical thinking and writing skills needed to teach the standard topics of English and American literature. These programs train students how to interpret and analyze literature within a social, cultural and historical context. Students develop the research and communication skills needed to successfully engage and motivate students. Many bachelor degree programs offer English majors opportunities to specialize in areas like:
- drama
- world literature
- non-fiction writing.
Students may take classes in the mechanics of reading and writing, which will review English grammar. The history of the English language will explore how the English Language and was transformed through interacting with many languages and cultures to become Modern Standard English. They may also take classes in the fundamentals of creative writing and have opportunities to produce original works. Linguistic classes study the structure and cultural history of the English language.
Teaching at Community Colleges
Those who want to teach at the community college level will most likely need bachelor’s degree with a graduate-level certificate in the area they will teach. Many colleges offer graduate-level certificates that are specifically designed for community college teachers. For example, there are certificates available in:
- professional communication
- multicultural education
- teaching English in two-year colleges
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
These graduate certificate programs will usually require students to complete 12 to 15 credit hours of coursework. Most community colleges require students to complete specific coursework related to their education topic as well as work experience as a teacher. Working as a tutor or teaching assistant while completing an undergraduate degree is one of the most useful things you can do to prepare for a career as a community college teacher. Community college teachers do not fall under state-mandated requirements for teaching certifications like secondary and high school teachers.
Earn a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree is the minimum requirement to teach in most colleges and universities. Master of Arts in English programs provides a strong foundation in British and American literature. But you should tailor your academic program to meet your unique needs and interests. Some of the most popular concentrations include:
- literature
- English studies
- linguistics
- technical communication
- transnational literatures
- rhetoric and composition
Most traditional coursework will offer the standard classes about these topics:
- Shakespeare
- Middle Age studies
- Romantic literature
- Victorian literature
Most programs offer various research methods courses related to:
- creative fiction
- language study
- professional communication
Students also learn about bibliography methods and research design for rhetoric and composition. Classes on how to teach writing will introduce you to important theories and technologies of composition pedagogies. You will develop and discuss your own proposed pedagogical practices. You will also take classes in the principal exponents of contemporary literary theories.
Related Resource: 10 Best Deals: Online Master’s in English Literature
As a final note, those who want to teach college-level English should begin studying a foreign language. Most English graduate degree programs require students to be fluent in another language.