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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

English Education, Secondary

Our English Education degree prepares you to become a dynamic and impactful secondary-level teacher. You'll have the opportunity to inspire students to embrace the beauty of English and grow their understanding and love for language, writing, literature and more. With your OBU English education degree, you'll have the flexibility to pursue professional teaching certification for public schools or teach in charter, classical, or Christian schools. Join us on this journey to not only deepen your love for literature but also make a lasting impact as a teacher, shaping the minds of the next generation of readers and writers.

Grace Lueck Kliewer

Class of 2020

“My career goal with a degree in Secondary English Education was doing exactly what I get to do every day: teaching my students the skills to read and write well, along with sharing with them the beauty of learning in community with other people. OBU helped me prepare for my career by providing me with a really strong foundation in my content area. The Language and Literature classes that I spent most of my time in helped me develop skills that I hope to teach my students. I am a better reader, writer, and thinker because of those classes. Additionally, through reading a wide variety of literature and thinking critically about it, I learned the importance of empathy and understanding others' experiences in order to build successful relationships, which has been incredibly helpful as I teach high school students every day.”

Benefits of OBU English Education, Secondary Program

High Certification Pass Rates

Upon completion of this degree and the passing of Oklahoma’s certification exams, English education majors meet all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license (and usually allows candidates to teach in other states as well). Over the past three years, OBU English Education graduates have exceeded the verified state pass rate on the OSAT (Oklahoma Subject Area Test) by 15%. Our graduates have a 95% pass rate on the PPAT assessment (Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers).

Exceptional Faculty Mentors

You will find an accomplished and gifted lineup of faculty in OBU’s English Education and Secondary Education programs. Our English faculty members specialize in topics ranging from medieval studies to modern literature, from creative writing to Shakespeare. They are actively engaged in their fields, presenting at conferences and publishing both books and scholarly articles. Faculty in our education program have a combined experience of over 100 years in public school education. They serve on professional committees and education councils. Offering instruction in a small class setting, professors in all programs act as personal mentors supporting both your intellectual and spiritual development.

Incredible Education, Affordable Cost.

OBU provides a minimum $10,000 per year scholarship to every incoming first-time freshman and $8,000 to every incoming transfer student. And you could qualify for even more financial aid! Many of our students also receive money through federal Pell grants and OBU Bison Grants.

To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be, please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is. Especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!

Program Information

Professional Networking

OBU hosts the annual Lamppost Literary Conference and the Visiting Writer Seminars, events where you can interact with contemporary and renowned writers and thinkers and be inspired by a robust community of readers and storytellers. The Lamppost Literary Conference features keynote speakers, panels, breakout sessions and a student writing competition. The Visiting Writer Seminars bring a nationally-known writer to campus each year.

National Accreditation

The School of Education is nationally accredited through CAEP, the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation. In addition, each licensure area is accredited through the state of Oklahoma. Graduates from our program are eligible to teach locally, nationally and internationally.

Field Experiences

One of the many noted strengths of the OBU Education program is the amount of field experience/practicum time that is provided across the four years of the degree program. You will be asked to complete 85–120 hours of observation and practicum experiences in local schools before student teaching. Field experiences allow you to tutor children, teach small groups and whole classes, and practice differentiation and classroom management.

Research

Through coursework, you will be exposed to the latest research-based practices in education. Additionally, all education majors have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive investigation of a research topic of their own interest. You will present about your topic to your peers and may even have the opportunity to present your research to practicing teachers at educational conferences.

Equipment

OBU teacher education faculty will support you in understanding and utilizing the latest educational technology such as Smartboards, iPads, learning management systems and assistive technology.

Internship Opportunities

Field experiences culminate in a 14-week internship of student teaching during your senior year. Efforts are made to pair you with your school of preference within 50 miles of OBU.

Student Organizations

Sigma Tau Delta, a long-established international English honor society dedicated to academic excellence and literacy, has a very active chapter at OBU. OBU students attend the annual national conference nearly every year, often presenting their research or creative works.

Several of our students have served as regional representatives to Sigma Tau Delta’s national Board, and gained valuable leadership experience as they network with other students across the nation. OBU’s chapter is active on campus and in the community and is also a way to build strong relationships between English or Creative Writing majors and faculty.

You will be invited to participate in professional teacher education organizations, such as the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) and Student Professional Oklahoma Educators (SPOE), which enables you to network with other preservice and in-service educators across the state and nation. You also will be invited to travel to state and national conferences which offer professional development related to innovative, researched-based practices within the field of education.

Faith Integration

Through the coursework and field experience in the English Education program at OBU, students learn first-hand how to share the love of Christ in the classroom. The teacher education program focuses on celebrating the uniqueness and diversity within schools and classrooms. You will learn to focus on each child’s strengths to offer an engaging, rigorous curriculum while striving to meet the academic, social, cultural, and behavior needs of those you are instructing. In both education and English courses, professors and students explore the integration of faith and learning. Faculty members in both programs instill a solid foundation of faith and biblical perspective through their instruction and personal lives.

Job Opportunities and Outcomes

With a 95% pass rate on the PPAT (Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers) and a higher percentage pass rate than the state average on the OSAT, graduates from our English Education program are teaching all over the state of Oklahoma, while a few have teaching jobs outside the state. Graduates receive jobs in both public and private educational settings and many continue their education through graduate school.

Our graduates from English education, Secondary have continued in employment at:

  • Capitol Hill High School (Oklahoma City)
  • Harding Charter Preparatory High School (Oklahoma City)
  • Carl Albert High School (Midwest City)
  • North Rock Creek High School (Shawnee)
  • Shawnee Middle School
  • Tecumseh High School
  • Shawnee High School
  • Jim Thorpe Academy (Shawnee)
  • Northwest Classen High School

Post Graduate Programs include:

  • University of Arkansas Oklahoma State University
  • University of Oklahoma
  • University of Central Oklahoma

Program Options

Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE)

Minor

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Elizabeth Justice

Dr. Elizabeth Justice

Chair, School of Education
Lawrence C. and Marion Harris Chair of Education
Associate Professor of Education
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and ACCESS Programs

Dr. Jeanne Akin

Dr. Jeanne Akin

Mary A. White Professor of Education

Annie Keehn

Annie Keehn

Assistant Professor of Education
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and ACCESS Programs

Dr. Kaine Ezell

Dr. Kaine Ezell

Professor of English

Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education