English Subject Matter for the Single-Subject Matter Credential in English

The English Subject Matter option is designed for prospective secondary school English teachers and is a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing-approved subject matter program. Students receive a B.A. in English and a lifelong single-subject competency verification by completing the approved coursework with no grade below a “C,” maintaining a GPA of 2.99 or better, and completing an online grammar diagnostic. In compliance with state requirements, students also must complete the Subject Matter Exit Interview, the English department’s exit evaluation of single-subject competence and 20 hours of daytime Early Field Experience in schools.

To be eligible for the credential program in the College of Education, students also must pass the CBEST and complete 45 hours of classroom observation at a school site. The 20 hours of Early Field Experience required for subject matter competency double counts for this credential program requirement. Upon completion of coursework adhering to the above requirements and successful completion of the English Subject Matter Exit Interview, students are eligible to enter a traditional credential program in the College of Education. For further information about the single-subject credential in English, consult the Credential Office.

The English Subject Matter option combines a 36-unit core with a specified emphasis of 12 units in one of seven Extended Study areas. Students should consult with the Subject Matter advisor before they achieve their junior standing to review their coursework and to choose an emphasis. Transfer students also should see the Subject Matter advisor as soon as possible for academic advising. Transfer students should review the lower division GE courses required for this option.

For further information, contact:

Dorothy Clark
English Subject Matter Adviser
Email: dorothy.g.clark@csun.edu
Phone: 818-677-7225

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree

In pursuing their major students are encouraged to follow one of our Degree Road Maps, which can be found HERE.

A) CORE PROGRAM (45 units)

Lower Division Required Courses (12 units)

Select one course from the following:

Upper Division Required Courses (33 units)

A. Take all seven of the following:
B. Shakespeare (3 units)

Select one course from the following:

C. Literatures of Cultural Diversity (3 units)

Select one course from the following:

D. Linguistics and Language Study (6 units)

Take the following:

Select one course from the following:

Note: If a student’s Extended Study emphasis is Linguistics and Diversity, the student must choose either ENGL 302 or 405 for this category.
ENGL 400 may not be double counted here and in the Extended Study emphasis.

Verification of Early Field Experience:
Students must supply verification of completed Early Field Experience.

Verification of Successful Basic Syntax, Grammar and Written Usage Diagnostic:
Students must successfully complete exercises assessing their mechanics and written usage skills.

B) Extended Study (12 Units)

Students must choose one of the following Extended Study emphases for broad perspective and specific focus.

  1. Literature
  2. Creative Writing
  3. Linguistics and Diversity
  4. Literatures of Diversity
  5. Rhetoric and Composition
  6. Communications Studies
  7. Theatre
  8. Popular Culture

Students should see the English Subject Matter Adviser at the earliest opportunity regarding their choice of Extended Study program.

 

1) Literature Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus in Literature (12 units)

Perspective and Focus in Literature (12 units)

Select 3 units from a British Age course and 3 units from an American Age course. Choose 6 units from the remaining three categories: Major Authors, Genre courses and Elective courses. Students must choose to concentrate in a particular area or blend areas.

  • Choose 1 course (3 units) from British Age Courses: 
    • ENGL 443 English Literature of the Middle Ages
    • ENGL 449 The English Renaissance
    • ENGL 452 The Early Seventeenth Century
    • ENGL 456 The Age of Enlightenment
    • ENGL 458 The Romantic Age
    • ENGL 460 The Victorian Age
    • ENGL 461 Modern British Literature
    • ENGL 462 Contemporary British Literature
    • ENGL 466 Major British Novelists I: 1700-1815
    • ENGL 467 Major British Novelists II: 1815-1900
    • ENGL 468 Major British Novelists III: 1900 to the Present
  • Choose 1 course (3 units) from American Age Courses: 
    • ENGL 473 American Literature: 1607-1860
    • ENGL 474 American Literature: 1860-1912
    • ENGL 475 American Literature: 1912-1945
    • ENGL 476 Contemporary American Literature
    • ENGL 477 Major American Novelists I: The Nineteenth Century
    • ENGL 478 Major American Novelists II: The Twentieth Century
  • Choose 2 courses (6 units) from:
    • Major Author Courses
    • Genre Courses
      • ENGL 418 English Drama to 1642
      • ENGL 419 English Drama 1660-1880
      • ENGL 423 The Greek and Roman Epic in Translation
      • ENGL 424 Drama of Greece and Rome
      • ENGL 426 Drama from 1660 to Ibsen
      • ENGL 427 Drama from Ibsen to the Present
      • ENGL 428 Children's Literature
      • ENGL 430 Literature for Adolescents
      • ENGL 463A Modern Poetry
      • ENGL 463B Contemporary Poetry
    • Electives
      • ENGL 311* History of African-American Writing
      • ENGL 312 Literature and Film
      • ENGL 313 Studies in Popular Culture
      • ENGL 314* North American Indian Literature
      • ENGL 360 The English Bible as Literature
      • ENGL 363 Studies in Poetry
      • ENGL 368* Gay Male Writers
      • ENGL 369* Lesbian Writers
      • ENGL 370 Science Fiction
      • ENGL 371* Issues in Jewish-American Writing
      • ENGL 372 Eroticism in Literature
      • ENGL 396A-Z Experimental Courses in English
      • ENGL 431* Images of Women in Literature
      • ENGL 433* Women Authors
      • ENGL 434* 19th-Century Women Novelists
      • ENGL 480 Greek and Roman Literature in Translation
      • ENGL 483 European Literature: Modern Times
      • ENGL 485 Major Russian Writers
      • ENGL 486 Germanic Literature in Translation
      • ENGL 487* Latino/a Literatures of the Americas
      • ENGL 488 Major European Novelists I: Laclos to Zola
      • ENGL 489 Major European Novelists II: Proust to Camus
      • ENGL 495A-Z (excluding ENGL 495ESM) Senior Seminar in Literature
      • ENGL 496A-Z Experimental Courses in English
      • ENGL 499 Independent Study

*Because a Literatures of Cultural Diversity course is part of the core requirements, students cannot double count that class. Students must take courses not included as part of the core requirement.

2) The Creative Writing Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus in Creative Writing (12 units)

Perspective and Focus (12 units)

  • All students must take:
  • Select 1 course (3 units) from:
  • Select 1 course (3 units) from:
  • Select 1 course (3 units) from:

3) Linguistics and Diversity Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus in Linguistics and Diversity (12 units)

Perspective and Focus (12 Units)

All students selecting the Linguistics and Diversity Extended Study will take:

Students will then select one course from each of the following three categories:

**If not selected for the Linguistics and Language Study topic in the Core Program.

Note: Because of the recent expansion of the Linguistics and Diversity Extended Study for the English Subject Matter Option, it is now very easy for students to acquire a minor in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language).

4) The Literatures of Diversity Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus in Diverse Literatures (12 units)

Perspective and Focus (12 Units)

  • Students may either focus their 12 units by choosing from one of the subject categories listed below or combine courses adding up to 12 units from any of the subject categories listed below.
  • Because a Literature of Cultural Diversity course is part of the core requirements, students cannot double count that class. Students must take courses not included as part of the core requirement.

Students may choose no more than one lower division course from those listed:

5) Rhetoric and Composition Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus (12 Units)

Students may choose four classes from the following list of courses. Please see the Subject Matter advisor for specific information concerning course sequencing.

6) The Communication Studies Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus in Communication Studies (12 units)

Perspective and Focus (12 Units)

Students should seek advisement from the Communication Studies advisor before choosing their coursework.

Select 12 units from the following courses:

The Theatre Extended Study

Students are required to complete both:

  • The Core Program (42 units)
  • Perspective and Focus in Theatre (12 units)

Perspective and Focus (12 Units)

Please see the Subject Matter advisor in Theatre for specific information concerning course sequencing and requirements for Production Participation, Independent Study and Internship in the Arts:

Popular Culture Extended Study

Perspective and Focus (12 Units)

Students must take the three core courses listed and can then choose one course from the list of electives. ENGL 421A-Z may be taken twice for credit: once as a core course and once as an elective, provided the topics are different.

Select one course from the following electives:

Acting Department Chair

Dr. Tim Black


Phone: 818-677-3431

Send email

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