Why Earn Your Secondary Education - English Degree at Saint Leo University?
Do you love literature and creative writing? Share your passion with young people, and get them excited about composition, critical thinking and—yes—even grammar. As an English teacher at the secondary level, you’ll guide students to important discoveries about language and culture.
Find your voice through British and American lit classes, the Saint Leo University's Writer’s Circle and Sandhill Review literary magazine, while learning effective strategies—including the use of emerging technologies—for teaching language arts to adolescents, including ESOL, special education, multicultural and at-risk populations.
The secondary education major engages students in a combination of courses in the Arts and Sciences and in the Education Department. Students choose one area of specialization from the following content areas: English or Social Science. The Secondary Education Program meets the Florida State standards and coursework requirements for graduates to obtain teaching certification. Secondary education majors are required to take the Subject Area Exam for grades 6-12 of the Florida Teacher Certificate Exam.
The Saint Leo Secondary Education Program has been designed to align with the Florida Department of Education competencies and skills for teacher education preparation programs.
Learning Experience:
Campus
Est. Time to Complete:
4 years
Credit Hours:
120 hours
Undergraduate Secondary Education - English Program Details
Accumulate more than 800 hours of field experience by the end of your senior year—almost double the hours recommended by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. By the time you graduate, you’ll be well equipped to command a classroom of your own as a certified English teacher.
In 2011, Saint Leo’s Education department was named a national finalist for the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award. And, according to a recent survey, between 92-98% of school principals who've had a Saint Leo graduate as a first-year teacher at their school report that they'd provide a positive recommendation for rehiring.
You may declare the Secondary Education major when you begin coursework at Saint Leo University. However, to be formally admitted to the program, you must complete a major application once you fulfill general education requirements.
Learn Your Way:
Online, On Campus, or Near You
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What are the on-campus facilities like?
Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them.
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What are the benefits of earning your degree online?
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
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Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
Are education centers near you offering secondary education degree programs?
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
Career Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
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How will you gain real experience?
Florida Teacher Certification
Secondary Education majors are eligible to receive certification to teach grades 6-12 in your area of specialization—English.
Student teaching
Hone your skills through no less than four field placements, including teaching fulltime in a secondary school one semester your senior year.
Professional seminar
Prepare yourself for the job market: Create your resume, meet with school district representatives to learn about the application process, participate in mock interviews with school principals and district administrators.
21st century classroom
Discover how to enhance learning with technologies such as iPads, the MimioVote™ assessment system, interactive SMART boards and teleconferencing across the world.
Conferences
Attend at least one professional conference before graduation, such as the Florida Council for Teachers of English.
Co-curricular activities
Participate in the Future Teachers Association and become an active member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society for Educators.
Where are Saint Leo secondary education graduates now?
Our students find success as certified teachers in school districts around Florida and outside of the state, thanks to interstate agreements between the Florida Department of Education and many states.
Saint Leo graduates often assume leadership positions in their schools—as team leaders and department chairs—within three to four years of employment. Many Saint Leo graduates have been recognized as Teachers of the Year for their schools and even their entire school districts.
Student Stories
“Saint Leo is not just an academic institution, it’s a formation institution. Saint Leo embraced me for who I am, showed faith that I could be my best, and solidified the light that was shining within me.”
Charles Onyeneke ’17
University Campus, Theology
“As a child, my great-grandmother taught me how to pray and to lean on God. Saint Leo inspired us all to learn with compassion and reminded me to keep the faith.”
Brent Patterson ’21
Center for Online Learning, Religious Studies
“As a teacher, building relationships with my students is key to their success. Saint Leo creates those same relationships with its students.”
Brooke Wittington ’17
Education Center, Education
“I had never experienced something as holistic and rewarding as research. Saint Leo University inspired me to take a huge step outside my comfort zone, and I have never looked back.”
Karl Nyman ’22
University Campus, Biology
“Saint Leo inspired me to enjoy learning again, and they had a patient ‘let’s figure this out’ approach.”
Lauren Thomas ’22
Education Center, Management
“Saint Leo believes in me. My professors have impacted my perception of what I can accomplish.”
Tayhana Taylor ’24
University Campus, Accounting
News
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.