Teacher Certification
Each year a number of Duke English majors earn licensures as secondary school teachers. While licensed by the state of North Carolina, such majors are essentially licensed for other states as well. Such training is urged also for those who consider private-school teaching since most private or parochial schools, all things being equal, would prefer the experienced and trained candidate.
Such licensing may be gained as part of the English major and is not as time consuming as sometimes believed. Candidates should have a solid background in both American and British literature. Also helpful are courses in composition and cultural studies. Among the requirements are one course in linguistics (English 111, 112, 115, 119, 205, 208, or 209), an appropriate course in psychology, and several courses in education. The last semester of the senior year is devoted to the student-teaching block, including two special, accelerated courses and ten weeks of full-time teaching and observation in the schools, working with a mentor-teacher and with Duke faculty. This experience leads to an English-teaching certificate to accompany the bachelor's degree.
Anyone considering secondary school English teaching should confer with the director of teacher preparation in the Program in Education as soon as possible.