University of St. Thomas

When asked what one phrase best describes the secondary education-communication arts and literature emphasis major at St. Thomas, a faculty member replied, "quality."

Welcome to the secondary education-communication arts and literature emphasis facts page, where you'll be taken beyond the course offerings and program description and deeper into the secondary education-communication arts and literature emphasis major. You'll learn what St. Thomas students are doing now to enhance their educations and how recent graduates are succeeding in the real world. More importantly, we hope you'll be able use this information to decide if this major interests you.

The communication arts and literature curriculum prepares you to be a middle school or high school English or communications teacher. The naming of the degree area is aligned with the name of the license issued by the Minnesota Department of Education.

Recent graduates are working with children in schools in the Twin Cites metro area, across the state, across the country and internationally. Our students are teachers in public, private and charter schools. Graduates work also with students in nontraditional and non-school settings such as Upward Bound.

Internships. Our students complete three field experiences prior to student teaching (clinical practice). By state law all secondary education students must complete student teaching.

Study abroad. Some of our students study abroad during J-Term. UMAIE has an elective course about schools and families in England. In addition, many of our students study abroad for the required theology core course or courses related to their second major.

Many of our faculty members are working directly with K-12 school sites. One faculty member writes middle-level curriculum materials. Faculty are open to working with students on school-based action research projects. Last year one undergraduate student interviewed K-6 students to explore their notion of number sense.