Secondary English Education (BS)
Learn the proper pedagogy for teaching English for 7–12 grade alongside of a personal study and critique of various forms of literary expression.
Why Secondary English Education?
The Secondary English program curriculum is designed to develop reflective educators who engage students actively in their own learning and foster critical thinking skills. The curriculum includes three integrated components: a body of general studies to develop a depth in English content knowledge; education courses to align learning theory, curricular design and subject-specific methodology practices in English; and performance-based school placements for applied, contextual practice in a secondary English classroom. Certification includes PA State Secondary English Instructional I (Grades 7-12) as well as Association of Christian Schools International Secondary English (Grades 7-12); certification in Special Education 7-12 and/or TESOL PK-12 may be added on to the secondary English education program.
Secondary English Education at Cairn
Biblical Integration
Navigate diverse literary criticism with a biblical worldview.
Academic Opportunity
Earn a BS in Education and a BS in Bible for an additional 21 credits.
Experienced Faculty
Learn from professors with extensive backgrounds in classroom teaching and student teacher supervision.
Career Preparation
Explore education theory and methods courses in the freshman and sophomore years rather than later in the program.
Hands-On Education
Complete a Student Teaching assignments in multiple school settings related to your career goals (public or private, suburban or urban).
Honor Program
Join the Honors Program and dive deeper into a specific literary time period, writing style, or educational method.
more Details
Get an inside look at our Secondary English Education Program
There are over 70 unique programs at Cairn to choose from! Not sure if this is the best program for you? Here are some more details to help you decide.
Required Credits: 130
Curriculum Highlights:
- ENG 321 Advanced Composition
- LIT 322 Adolescent Literature
- EDU Teach Secondary English
- EDU 351 Reading/Writing Across Curr
High School English Teacher (Public, Christian, Other Private, International)
Middle School English Teacher (Public, Christian, Other Private, International)
Instructional Coach
Curriculum Designer
Special Education 7-12 and/or TESOL K-12 classroom teacher, support personnel, or co-teacher
- Secondary English Education (BS)+ MS in Education Dual-Level Program
- Secondary Math Education (BS)+ MS in Education Dual-Level Program
- Secondary Social Studies Education (BS)+ MS in Education Dual-Level Program
- Elementary/Early Childhood Education (PK–4) (BS)
- Elementary/Early Childhood Education (PK–4) + MS in Education Dual-Level Program
Connect With Us
An Affordable Education
While the cost of a Cairn University education is competitive with similar institutions, we realize you may need financial assistance to take this journey. You are not alone. 97% of our full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.
Meet Our Faculty
Rebecca Cella
Director of Student Teaching and Field Placement; Program Advisor, Secondary Education; Assistant Professor, School of Education
Becky Cella teaches English composition, literature and arts of the Western world, and teaching English in the secondary school.
Prior to joining Cairn University, Ms. Cella taught English at International Christian High School and Esperanza Charter High School, as well as Sunday School at Riverstone Church in Yardley, PA.
She has been on missions trips to Belize and Liberia, West Africa, and has a passion for using effective classroom management to reach at-risk students. She and her husband, Matt, have two children: Gavin and Grayson.
Charlotte Gleason
Chair, Humanities Department; Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Arts & Sciences
After graduating from Cairn University in 2000, Charlotte taught high school English in public schools both in Pennsylvania and New York. Her high school students inspired her to reconsider the place of adolescent literature in the classroom, and in 2006 she completed her thesis on how to integrate both the classics and YA literature in the classroom.
The birth of her first son led her to pursue higher education, and in 2007 she accepted a position as a part-time faculty member at Cairn University. During the last two decades, Charlotte has taught in a variety of classrooms and developed curriculum for private Christian schools and home school families, including her own. Recently, Charlotte transitioned to a full-time role at Cairn. She teaches a variety of literature, composition, and education courses and serves as the Chair of the Humanities Department in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Outside of Cairn, Charlotte spends time with her family and her church community. She met her husband, Jamie ’00, at Cairn’s Wisconsin Wilderness Campus. Together they have three children.
What Our Students Have To Say
Faith Rohrer
I have been blessed with many great professors in the Secondary English Education Program. They greatly encourage their students, wanting us to graduate fully prepared and confident in our teaching abilities. They integrate biblical ideas into what they teach us and even have us write biblical worldview lesson plans which benefit future teachers no matter what school they find themselves in.
