Bachelor of Science in English Education Degree Program
BSE Mission

The Bachelor of Science of Education program at Millersville strives for excellence from its students, who, upon completion of the program, are highly prepared and well situated for competitive teaching placements.
The B.S.E. in English provides a broad foundational understanding in English Studies while giving students opportunities to do advanced work from select areas in literature and writing. All of our English majors receive a well-rounded education with classes in writing, film studies, language, and journalism to prepare them for demanding careers as professionals. Students take course work both from the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences and from the School of Education to prepare them for their profession. Students in the B.S.E. program are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA since we expect excellence of our future teachers.
Students finish out their Millersville education with a full year of professional development in the field with mentor English teachers. This Professional Development School is a unique experience that provides Millersville graduates with an edge in attained their desired teaching positions. Significantly, in 2015, Lancaster was ranked as the best area in the country for future educators.
Professional Development School
Millersville English BSE students have extraordinary training in teaching through MU’s award-winning Professional Development School. Our future English teachers spend most of their final year co-teaching with mentor teachers in local classrooms. This internship involves a set of five courses (including ENGL 488 Methods of Teaching English) which are taught on Mondays and Tuesdays while the students intern in their host classrooms on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Students then complete their student teaching requirements by teaching the entire spring semester in the same classroom where they were placed in the Fall.
For more information, check out our Professional Development School page.
Lancaster, PA is Ranked the Best Place for Teachers in the Country
When Millersville BSE students complete their training and their professional development year observing and student teaching at schools in Lancaster, they will have their foot in the door at the best place to teach in America. Because of its amenities, Good Call ranked Lancaster as the best place to teach in America. As this ranking shows in "The Best Places to be a Teacher in the U.S.," Lancaster is ranked first in the nation because:
This Central Pennsylvania city has nearly 70 teaching jobs currently available, with an average salary of $60,370. Lancaster’s school district is the second-oldest in Pennsylvania, and the city contains a number of private and public schools. What really puts it over the top, though? Its near-perfect amenities score. Off-duty teachers enjoy shopping at malls and boutiques, strolling through museums and art galleries, and exploring historical landmarks.
When you combine that with our Professional Development School, that's a slam dunk.
Proven Results on the Praxis
Millersville BSE students regularly score significantly above national and state averages on the Praxis II test for English Language, Literature, and Composition Content test, a fact that reflects the depth and quality of the Millersville experience.
In both 2013-14 and 2014-15, Millersville had a 100% pass rate on the Title II Pass Rates English Language Arts Content Knowledge Test 5038 (Cut Score 167); the average scaled score in 2013-14 was 184 and in 2014-15 was 180. For the 2015 praxis tests, average Millersville scores significantly exceeded those of both PA and national averages.
Category: I. Reading Subscore
|
|
Average % Correct |
||
Year |
Points Available Range |
National |
State/ Agency |
Millersville |
2015-2016 |
40 - 42 |
76.53 |
77.65 |
80.52 |
Category: II. Language Use and Vocabulary Subscore
|
|
Average % Correct |
||
Year |
Points Available Range |
National |
State/ Agency |
Millersville |
2015-2016 |
28 - 28 |
77.24 |
77.74 |
81.49 |
Category: III. Writing; Speaking; Listening Subscore
|
|
Average % Correct |
||
Year |
Points Available Range |
National |
State/ Agency |
Millersville |
2015-2016 |
38 - 41 |
76.02 |
76.97 |
79.55 |
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Study Abroad or Teach Abroad
Millersville's future teachers can Study Abroad.
If you've always wanted to be a teacher and always wanted to study abroad, we can make that happen here at Millersville. We can even arrange for you to teach abroad, if you are interested!
Programs and Courses
B.S.E. majors are not required to take a minor. They may choose to add more specialization, though, from the following Options:
- Journalism
- Linguistics
- Film studies
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Comparative Literature
- Writing Studies
They may also participate in the pre-law program of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do I need to take? See Major Requirements for a BSE in English.
- Can I have a minor as a B.S.E. student? You can, but it would take you more than 4 years to complete your degrees. Essentially, Education is your minor already with the BSE.
- What types of classes are offered? See the Undergraduate Catalog.
- Can I double major? You can, but it would take you more than 4 years to complete your degrees.
- Why might I want a Major Option? You may want to apply for jobs where you teach in certain situations or specializations (the advisor to the paper, media studies, ESL, etc.)
- Are there any groups or clubs on campus for B.S.E. students? The English Club and The Film Club are connected to our department.
- How should I arrange my courses? See BSE Scheduling Tips