Academic Catalog 2023-2024

English Major with Communication Arts/Literature Education

Major Requirements

This major prepares students to be recommended by the Concordia College department of education for Minnesota licensure to teach English with communication arts/literature in grades 5-12. To be eligible to complete this major, the student must be admitted to the teacher education program. (See education pages for program information, requirements and course descriptions.)

The requirements for a major in English with communication arts/literature education are 60 credits plus 31 credits in education:

English Courses
ENG 224Literature, Imagination and Empathy4
ENG 230Introduction to Literary Scholarship4
ENG 315English Language, Historical and Analytical4
ENG 340British Literature in Historical Contexts4
ENG 350American Literature in Historical Contexts4
EDUC 374Young Adult Literature2
ENG 491Methods of Teaching Reading and Writing for the Secondary School2
EDUC 376Methods of Teaching in English4
EDUC 394Methods of Teaching in Communication Studies4
Writing Courses
Select 4 credits from the following writing courses:4
Foundations in Creative Writing
Business Writing
News Writing
Diversity Courses
Select 4 credits from the following diversity courses:4
Global Literature and Human Experience
Global Literature and Environmental Justice
Native American Literatures
Writing of Women
Special Topics (when designated as a diversity course)
400-Level Literature Elective Courses
Select 4 credits from the following 400-level literature elective courses:4
Shakespeare and the English Renaissance
Individual Author
Traditions in Literary Genre
Film and Literature
Theory and Practice of Criticism
Postcolonial Literatures
Communication Studies Courses
Select 16 credits from the following communication studies courses:16
Introduction to Communication Studies
Business and Professional Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Group Communication and Team Building
New Media
Documentary - Historical Film
Secondary/5-12 Coursework
Successful completion of the Secondary/5-12 required coursework (see education: Curriculum in Secondary/K-12 Education)31
Cocurricular Activity Participation
Must be approved by the English department and the communication studies and theatre art department.
Total Hours91

Cocurricular Activities for Communication Arts/Literature

Participation in cocurricular activities approved by the English department and the CSTA department is a required part of the communication arts/literature licensure. Two different cocurricular activities are required and must be approved before the activity begins. A minimum of one semester of participation for each activity is suggested; however, participation should not occur during the student teaching semester. Teaching majors are responsible for getting specific information on cocurricular participation requirements from the CSTA and English departments. Suggested activities include Forensics; a media activity such as the AfterWork literary magazine, Concordia On-Air, The Concordian or KORD radio; Campus Service Commission (when English- or education-related and not a requirement for an existing course); Theatre; or alternate cocurricular activity approved in advance by the student’s advisor and the CSTA department and English department chairs.

Degree and Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program-specific requirements listed above, all students must complete the graduation requirements specified for their degree.  See the Degree and Graduation Requirements section for more information.