A teacher working with a young student reading.
  • Program Type
    Major
  • Degrees Offered
    B.A., B.S.
  • School
    Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, School of Arts & Sciences

Prepare for a fulfilling career in secondary-school English education. Engage students from a broad range of cultural backgrounds in diverse educational settings.

What You'll Learn

Colleges of Distinction Education Seal

You’ll develop the teaching and management skills to be a successful English teacher in grades five to twelve. In addition to exploring the classics of world literature, you’ll understand curricular strategies and best practices that maximize student learning and engagement.

Gain Practical Experience

Acquire on-the-job skills you can apply directly to your career while learning in a friendly, collaborative environment grounded in faith-based values.

Learn in a Supportive Environment

Work in small classes alongside world-class faculty who bring real-world experience to their classrooms.

Strengthen Your Understanding of Cultural Diversity

Develop your critical thinking and historical analysis skills while gaining deeper exposure to — and understanding of — cultural diversity and respect for others.

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Accreditations

  • All the University of Mary education programs are fully accredited by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board and all CAEP national standards are fully met.

Assistant Professor of English and English Education Chair Dr. Michael Milburn and students share what it’s like to study English and English education at Mary.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a steady demand for high school teachers through 2032. Employment opportunities for qualified teachers will increase as secondary school enrollment increases.

Career Paths

  • High School English Teacher
  • Middle School English Teacher
  • Counselor
  • Private Tutor
  • Social Media Specialist
  • Web Content Creator
  • Technical Writer
  • Public Relations Manager

Featured Faculty

Michael Milburn, PhD

Director of English and English Education Programs , Assistant Professor of Language and Literature, Fellow in Catholic Studies

I teach rhetoric and literature with the aim of developing students' capacity to recognize the good, the true, and the beautiful. I follow Scott Crider's assertion that "rhetoric is a liberal art which liberates one both to defend oneself against untrue persuasions and to fashion true ones."

I am interested in literary theory from Plato to the present and I apply this tradition to an integrated study of literature in its formal, historical, and theological dimensions. I am always looking for students with whom I can discuss Shakespeare, Tolkien, and the philosophical questions surrounding literature.

Alexander Mains, MEd

Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Secondary Education

As the director of the secondary education program, I have the opportunity to work with prospective middle school and high school educators to help them grow in their skills and develop a love of learning for their future students. I work within eight different subject areas for my program, teaching various methods courses and education courses and visiting practicum schools where my future educators observe classroom teachers and practice teaching their lessons to real students.

Full English Education Listing

Michael Milburn, PhD

Director of English and English Education Programs , Assistant Professor of Language and Literature, Fellow in Catholic Studies

Take Your Next Step in English Education