English and Secondary Education

The teenage years are among the most important in a person’s life. It’s a time when a great teacher can make an enormous difference. Now you can prepare to become the extraordinary teacher every student deserves.

Prepare to help students reach their true potential

In small classes and amazing field experiences, you’ll work closely with the outstanding faculty of our School of Education. You’ll develop your leadership skills, master the latest educational technologies, and study the subtleties of lesson planning, classroom management and human growth and development. In a curriculum deeply rooted in the liberal arts, you’ll take a deep dive into English courses. You’ll explore a variety of teaching styles, prepare to support and challenge students who learn in different ways, and gain a deep understanding of the profession’s key values of scholarship, leadership and service.

Amazing opportunities

Our alumni often return to Dominican to share their knowledge with current students or to further expand their career preparation. The School of Education offers post-graduate opportunities in special education, bilingual education, English as a second language, and additional high-demand fields.

The university works to ensure that academic commitment, not family wealth, opens its doors. More than 95% of our students receive financial aid. Education students also are eligible for special grants from the Illinois Future Teachers Corps Program, the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program, and the TEACH Grant Program. We’ll be happy to guide you through the application process.

More than 30% of Chicago-area students speak a language other than English at home. Knowing a language such as Spanish will expand your professional options. You can major or minor in Spanish at Dominican.

More ways to grow—on campus and beyond

Practical, hands-on experience is built into our curriculum. You’ll spend a lot of time in the real world of secondary education, observing teachers at different grade levels and engaging students across a wide range of cultural backgrounds. As a senior, you’ll spend a semester teaching a high school class, with the guidance and support of your professors. You will enter the teaching profession with the full set of skills and knowledge you’ll need to create a caring, stimulating and effective classroom environment.

The English major and secondary education focuses on important literary works in English during various periods within an historical context. Students must also fulfill School of Education requirements in order to be certified. The program is designed to help prepare students for teaching English on the secondary level and also for graduate study in English or education.

The State of Illinois requires teachers to earn a Professional Educator License with Secondary Endorsements in a specific area of study. Dominican offers state-approved programs in five key subject areas:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • English
  • History
  • Mathematics
Prepare for meaningful work in a vital profession

Over the next five years, the U.S. Department of Education projects that school enrollment will grow by 5.2%. This trend will substantially increase the nationwide demand for teachers. As a Dominican graduate, you’ll be prepared not only for your first teaching job but also for a lifetime of intellectual and professional competence. Our alumni work across the United States in a remarkable range of educational settings. They know how to develop the talents of students with a wide spectrum of learning, social and personal needs. They connect with their students in important, transforming and lasting ways.

Learn more about Dominican's English major

Learn more about Dominican's Secondary and K-12 Education major