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Students wishing to become English language arts teachers in grades 7-12 should choose the English: Language Arts Education (also known as Integrated Language Arts, ILA) degree, which allows students to earn a bachelor of arts degree and teaching license at the undergraduate level. Students who have a passion for teaching middle and high schoolers the language arts of reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and visually representing will find this program both challenging and rewarding. With its extensive coursework in the teaching of English, graduates find themselves eager to teach standards in creative and engaging ways to influence their students and the world through the transformative power of critical literacy. Students typically apply for admission to the licensure program no later than September 15 of their junior year. (See entrance requirements).
In addition to our program’s unique coursework, the Wright State University chapter of the National Council of Teachers of English (WSU-NCTE) offers opportunities and support for ILA students. Our annual Language Arts Fair brings together WSU ILA students, secondary language arts students, and their teachers from around the region to share presentations involving innovative pedagogies for literary, written, digital, and performance projects in the six strands of the integrated language arts. In addition, the event hosts a young adult author for a reading and book signing on the day of the LA Fair. The English Club also offers enriching activities throughout the year for students in any English concentration.
Note: Students who already hold a bachelor of arts degree may apply to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) and licensure program.
View the English program profile for sample occupations, average salary, and employment projections.
Valuable field experiences are available to Language Arts Education students, including two semester-long field placements in secondary schools, and a yearlong placement that culminates in a semester of full-time student teaching. Apply for a field placement with the Office of Partnerships and Field Experience (OPFE) in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services for your field placements early in your career as an ILA major (as early as freshman year). You should see an ILA advisor before applying for field experience.
Deadlines for field placements are as follows: September 15 for the spring semester, January 15 for the fall semester. Please check the OPFE webpage for further information.
View the Bachelor of Arts in English: Language Arts Education program information and degree requirements in the Academic Catalog.
Graduation Planning Strategy (Four Year Plan) (PDF)
To be admitted to the English: Language Arts Education program, an undergraduate student must have a 2.7 G.P.A. which includes at least two English courses. The two English courses must also carry the same 2.7 G.P.A.
To apply for admission to the English: Language Arts Education program:
Review the admission requirements and complete the admission application. Identify whether you will be majoring in English: Language Arts Education.
If you are a current student and wish to change majors, go to the WINGS Express major/minor change request form and change your major. If you are an undecided/exploratory student, talk to your advisor about majoring in English.
To register for an entry-level ILA course (ENG 3520, 3530, 3560, or 3570), you must officially be an English: Language Arts Education major.
To continue in the ILA program, you must maintain a 2.7 G.P.A. throughout your undergraduate program. You also must maintain a C or better in all core English and ILA classes. Please note you must have at least a 2.6 G.P.A. for admission into the licensure program.
If you fall below these requirements, a block will be placed on your ability to register for courses. You will need to see your ILA advisor to discuss this block.
As of September 1, 2013, the Pearson OAE English Language Arts Test will replace Praxis for licensure in Adolescent Young Adult Integrated Language Arts in grades 7-12.
Students who take Praxis before September 1, 2013, and achieve a score of 167 or better will not have to take the Pearson test for licensure or admittance to the graduate program in Adolescent Young Adult Integrated Language Arts at Wright State.
Students applying for licensure and/or admission to the graduate program in Adolescent Young Adult Integrated Language Arts in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services, who have NOT taken Praxis as of September 1, 2013, MUST take the Pearson OAE English Language Arts Test.
You should register for and take the OAE ELA Test by the summer BEFORE you plan to apply to the M.Ed. program in Adolescent Young Adult Integrated Language Arts in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services. This will give you time to retake the test if there is an issue. Applications for the graduate program are due March 1. The program begins in Summer A.
For admittance to the College of Health, Education, and Human Services M.Ed. program in Adolescent Young Adult Integrated Language Arts, undergraduate students must score a 220 or better on the Pearson OAE English Language Arts test.
To register for the OAE, visit the Ohio Assessments for Educators website.
The OAE English Language Arts test is number 020.
The OAE is only available online, at an approved OAE test site. Wright State, Dayton campus, is not currently an approved OAE test site. The Lake campus is an approved test site. Columbus State and Ohio State are also approved testing locations.
There are several professional organizations we encourage all ILA undergraduate students to join:
We strongly encourage ILA candidates to take advantage of professional memberships during their time as students in our program. Student rates are very inexpensive and these memberships often lead to incredible professional development, employment, and networking opportunities within and outside of the Ohio area.
Students who intend to seek AYA: Integrated Language Arts licensure in the state of Ohio should apply for admission to the Adolescence to Young Adult Education licensure program in the College of Health, Education, and Human Services. Students typically apply to the licensure program during their junior year.
Please review the licensure program admission requirements available on the Adolescence to Young Adult Education licensure program webpage.
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