School of Education

Communication Arts and Literature

‌Educators in the field of Communication Arts and Literature teach learners in grades 5-12 a wide variety of oral and written communication skills. Their learners also begin to understand the plethora of ways in which humans communicate and learn about the world through the study of literature. In addition to being prepared to teach communication arts and literature, graduates of this program can take their ability to teach communication skills into the business, governmental and non-profit worlds. In this program, you will:

  • Gain the knowledge and skills to have a positive impact on students in the K-12 classroom
  • Become part of a supportive network of fellow students, alumni and faculty that will inspire and sustain you throughout your career
  • Learn from expert faculty currently active in the K-12 classroom who are here to help you shape your path to your own classroom

What you can earn

Where you will learn

  • On-campus (St. Thomas)

 

When to start

Enroll in Fall, Spring or Summer terms.

Education Coursework for Licensure
 License & MA
Credits

License: 31+

MA:        34+
Required
Courses

For the License:

TEGR 510   Education's Place in Society
TEGR 511   Field Experience I: Exploration
TEGR 512   Diverse Learners and Families
TEGR 530   Psychology for Teaching and Learning
TEGR 532   Field Experience II: Learning & Teaching
TEGR 516   Curriculum & Instruction: (5-12) Communication Arts & Literature
TEGR 536   Field Experience III: (5-12) Communication Arts & Literature
TEGR 585   Reading for the 5-12 Teacher
CIED 551   Technology for Instruction
TEGR 660   Clinical Practice & Seminar: Student Teaching
Communication Arts & Literature Requirements (if not taken as undergraduate)

For the MA (add the following):

CIED 500   Principles of Educational Research

Full course catalog with descriptions
Schedule 

Find current course offerings
Communication Arts and Literature Coursework for Licensure

Below is the coursework needed to fulfill Communication Arts and Literature (5-12) licensure requirements in Minnesota.  Coursework is included in your program of study.  You may have completed some of these requirements as an undergraduate.  Our admissions team will help you to determine which requirements if any are met via the transcript review process.

 

5-12 Communication Arts & Literature Requirements
TEGR 545   Adolescent Literature
COJO 111   Public Communication I

COJO 112   Public Communication II
COJO 212   Rhetorical Criticism

COJO 220 OR COJO 370   Interpersonal Communication                                                                            OR Intercultural Communication
ENGL 121   Critical Thinking: Literature and Writing
ENGL 201/202/203/204   Select One: Texts in Conversation (specific definer)
ENGL 300   Theory & Practice of Writing
ENGL 305   Linguistics: English Language
ENGL 380 / ENGL 280   Issues in English Studies / Intro to English Studies
One course from each of the following four categories: (total 16 credits)
ENGL 211 or ENGL 212   British Authors I or II
ENGL 214 or ENGL 215   American Authors I or II
ENGL 220 or ENGL 221   Classical or Modern Tradition
ENGL 217 or ENGL 218   Multicultural or Women's Literature
How to Apply

 

  1. Candidates for this degree have:
    • A Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution
    • A cumulative minimum undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.0 (4.0 scale). If below 3.0, please reference our provisional admission policy.
  2. Submit the following application materials:
    • Application form
    • Two positive letters of reference from non-related individuals
    • Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work (unless that work was completed at the University of St. Thomas)
      • Submit transcripts to: Graduate Admissions, University of St. Thomas, Box 5, 1000 LaSalle Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
    • Personal statement.
  3. Submit the supplementary materials:
    • Official test score
      • Each of our programs uses an assessment to assist in making admissions decisions. Specific requirements can be found here.
      • If you have questions regarding this requirement, please email us directly at education@stthomas.edu.
    • International Applicants:
    1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for any candidate whose primary language is not English.
    2. Transcript Review: All international transcripts must be reviewed by an accredited evaluation service to determine U.S. equivalency of the degree awarded and the institution awarding the degree. Applications will not be reviewed for admissions until the official review is submitted.
Special Opportunities

Ongoing Professional Development

Whether networking with leaders in the field of education reform, acquiring new tools to identify early warning signs of mental illness in your classroom, or simply catching up on the latest offerings in children’s literature, annual events and conferences in the School of Education offer a variety of networking and professional development opportunities. Most events include a CEU component.

 

Mentored Clinical Practice

The dedicated faculty and staff in the Teacher Education program will work with you to ensure that your clinical practice experience (student teaching) will meet your needs and facilitate your growth, both personally and professionally. Throughout your time student teaching, regularly scheduled seminars with faculty and peers offer the opportunity to form a strong professional network as you prepare to enter the field.

 

Community Partnerships

The School of Education takes pride in engaging in innovative partnerships with a variety of organizations. Students in the School of Education will find many opportunities for professional growth as a result of working these organizations. Partnership examples include the Northwest Suburban Integration District, Center for Academics and Sports, FAIR School and the Collaborative Urban Educators program.