English – Teaching – Bachelor’s Degree Program (BA)

Study English Teaching at the University of Montana

Gain the skills to teach English at the middle and high school levels anywhere in the nation. The English teaching concentration of the bachelor’s degree in English at UM is an opportunity to earn your secondary teaching license (grades 5-12) in English, in a program that emphasizes mentorship, lifelong learning and culturally sensitive education.

As an English major, you’ll engage in active learning workshops as part of a supportive and collaborative academic community. You’ll learn to design and teach lesson plans that promote critical thinking, effective communication and creative problem solving — and gain the skills to inspire young learners to achieve their greatest potential. You’ll also have opportunities for experiential learning and professional development that will help you hit the ground running in your career.

What can you do with an English degree?

Graduates of our English teaching degree typically pursue jobs as middle and high school teachers. But that’s not the only career pathway open to English teaching majors.

Some of our graduates choose to work in fields related to education, such as non-profit organizations and publishing companies. Others pursue graduate degrees in fields such as literacy education, law and journalism. Depending on your goals, this is a program that can open a wide variety of professional avenues.

English teaching jobs

Across the nation, our graduates are sought after for their ability to teach reading, writing, speaking/listening and media literacy to students from diverse backgrounds in grades 5-12. Many of our graduates teach courses for Advanced Placement®(AP) and International Baccalaureate®(IB) programs.

In addition to English teacher jobs, alumni of our program also become leaders of professional associations, directors of non-profit associations, editors of journals, and coordinators of educational programs in business and industry.

English teacher salaries

How much can you expect to earn with a degree in English teaching? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school teachers earn a median pay of $62,870 per year, nationally. Middle school teachers in the United States earn an average of $60,810.

Recent graduates of our English teaching program include the English Language Arts Literacy Specialist at the Montana Office of Public Instruction; the Education Specialist for the Idaho Supreme Court; the English Language Arts Coordinator for Laramie County (WY); and the President of the Arizona English Teachers Association.

Experiential learning in the English major

Develop real-world skills that will set you up for success when you graduate. Our English teaching program features numerous opportunities for hands-on learning and community engagement, through internship experiences, service learning, study abroad and more.

Service learning and internships in the English teaching degree

Our English majors have opportunities to volunteer with Writing Coaches of Montana — a non-profit, community-based program that helps middle and high school students become better writers and thinkers. This coaching experience gives our students authentic, supervised experience working one-on-one with secondary students on their writing assignments, learning ways to provide constructive feedback to help them improve written communication.

Internship experiences offer additional opportunities for English teaching majors to get involved and hone their professional skills — such as helping to plan educational conferences and coordinate writing award programs — with the supervision and mentorship of expert faculty.

Study abroad for English majors

Take your English bachelor’s degree coursework overseas and benefit from opportunities to observe teaching and learning in other countries and cultures.  Our English teaching majors have studied and engaged in student teaching work nations including Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, England, China, India, Australia and Czech Republic. Explore study abroad opportunities at the University of Montana.

Career development in the English bachelor's degree program

In addition to personal mentorship to guide your academic success, we offer strong professional development opportunities to help you excel in your professional life post-graduation.

For example, English teaching majors are required to join the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the professional association of literacy educators, kindergarten through graduate school. We also encourage our students to join NCTE’s state affiliate, Montana Association of Teachers of English Language Arts (MATELA). Through our involvement with these organizations, students in the English teaching degree receive publications and participate in professional networking opportunities with educators in Montana and across the world. 

Scholarships for English majors

Get extra help paying for your English degree. We offer a number of departmental scholarships that are available for eligible students. Explore scholarship opportunities for English majors at UM.

English teaching degree requirements

In addition to taking courses in literature and creative writing, our undergraduate students take four English Teaching methods courses: 

1. Studies in Young Adult Literature,
2. Teaching Writing,
3. Teaching Reading and Literature,
4. Teaching Oral Language and Media Literacy. 

View all classes for the bachelor’s in English teaching.