English Education

Real World Experiences

Tap through this carousel and click on the captions to explore the real-world impact our students, faculty, and alumni are making every day.

Abundant Opportunities to Expand her Worldview

Photo of Mallory standing on the ship deck when the sun goes down

Beyond writing

Bryan Lutz posing in front of a book case

ONU professors book offers unique perspective on VP candidate

Dowland holding his book seated on a bench

Braxtyn Rapp: Architect of Language

Braxtyn working on a desk with 2 notebooks open in front of her

ONU English professor returning to Japan as Fulbright Scholar

Ohio Northern University English Professor Jonathan Pitts, Ph.D., in Japan.

A rare experience in publishing: ONUs Polaris offers undergraduates practical publishing skills, creative victories

Banned books course at Ohio Northern University scrutinizing literary censorship and civic engagement

A stack of books on a table with 2 students in the background reading

Our English Education program will turn you into an outstanding language arts teacher and writer. You’ll take liberal arts and literature courses alongside education courses and spend time observing and teaching in local classrooms. You’ll learn about child and adolescent development, curriculum, methods of teaching, and more. You’ll graduate ready to be licensed to teach language arts to 7th- through 12th-grade students in Ohio.

Here, you’ll join a close-knit family of English-language lovers. From the time you arrive on campus until you graduate, you’ll be guided by the same faculty advisor. You’ll enjoy small class sizes and amazing friendships with your fellow language arts education majors. Our dedicated professors will get to know you. They will support you in your coursework, creative endeavors, field experiences, and career preparations. They will become personally invested in your success and will open doors for you.

Our small setting equals big opportunity. From assisting a professor with research to attending a professional conference, taking a master class with a renowned author to studying abroad, you’ll discover countless opportunities to expand your horizons and build your résumé.

It takes a special blend of talent, passion, and skill to teach language arts. Rest assured; we’ll help you build a career doing what you love – reading, writing and teaching!

Courses, curriculum & program resources

Take classes like World Young Adult Literature, Women's Literature, Exceptional Learners, Literature and Mental Illness, and Culture & Schooling.

Become an exceptional teacher

Our education program produces outstanding teachers and emphasizes learning by doing, seeing and experiencing in real classrooms.

Learn More

Interact with published writers

Personally meet and converse with renowned and up-and-coming writers by the time you graduate! Since 2012, our Reading Series has brought several professional authors to campus every year. These writers represent a wide variety of styles and genres, including poetry, fiction, science fiction, screenwriting and memoir. Our small size means you get face-to-face time with these writers. They will give you advice on how to improve your writing and tell you what it takes to succeed in the real world. Other schools don't offer this opportunity at the undergraduate level.

Leyna Krow “I’m Fine But You Appear to Be Sinking”

language arts education I’m Fine But You Appear to Be Sinking cover

Mindy McGinnis “Heroine”

Rebecca Morgan Frank “Sometimes We’re All Living in a Foreign Country”

language arts education Sometimes We’re All Living in a Foreign Country cover

Elissa Washuta “My Body is a Book of Rules”

language arts education My Body is a Book of Rules cover

Virginia Konchan “The End of the Spectacle”

language arts education The End of the Spectacle cover

language arts education Polaris magazine class

Experience the world of publishing

Polaris Literary Magazine is a professional literary journal with a national and international reach. You could help produce Polaris working in a paid staff position.

Polaris has repeatedly received Best in Show at the National College Media Convention, outperforming similar magazines at Texas A&M, the University of Hawaii, and the University of North Carolina. Approaching its 70th anniversary, Polaris is one of the oldest student-managed literary magazines in the United States. And unlike many other literary magazines, Polaris offers paid editorial positions exclusively for students.

Collaborate with professors

A family atmosphere and professors who care: that’s what you’ll find in the halls of Dukes Memorial. Professors will collaborate with you on ambitious and creative projects.

Students listen to a reading at Ohio northern university

language arts education dukes building exterior

Immerse yourself in a different culture; it will make you a better teacher and writer. Our Study Abroad program has affiliations with several universities in foreign countries. Our students have studied abroad in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America in recent years.
Sharpen your writing and editing skills by working for an ONU print or online publications such as Northern Review (ONU’s digital newspaper) or Polaris (ONU’s undergraduate literary magazine). Learn more about Northern Review and the value of rural journalism through this video produced by communications student Evelyn Megery`26.
Do you tell your friends about your favorite books? Do you enjoy sipping coffee in a bookstore? Do you love talking about the Oxford comma? Would you have fun at a national conference filled with English majors? If you answered yes to any of the above, then Sigma Tau Delta – ONU’s chapter of the international English honorary society – is for you.

Sigma Tau Delta--#1 in Ohio. For five years in a row, Ohio Northern has led the state in the number of students attending the Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society conference. Why? Because our professors work with you one-on-one to shape your creative or critical ideas, sharpen them through individualized workshops, and offer expert guidance to help you succeed in nationwide competitions.
We offer a variety of for-credit internships and/or student employment opportunities through ONU’s Heterick Memorial Library, ONU’s Taggart Law Library, and the Ada Public Library. Summer internships can be arranged with a local library with approval of the librarian and the department chair.

End Game: A Fulfilling Teaching Career

English education majors are well-placed in teaching occupations in Ohio and across the United States. Our alumni are currently teaching at schools including:

Gardner Elementary School (Detroit, Mich.)
Academy of the City Charter School (Astoria, N.Y.)
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (Tenn.)
Benjamin Logan High School (Bellefontaine, Ohio)
Wynford Local Schools (Bucyrus, Ohio)
Horizon Science Academy (Columbus, Ohio)
Dalton High School (Dalton, Ohio)
Defiance High School (Defiance, Ohio)
Fremont City Schools (Fremont, Ohio)
Upper Scioto Valley Local Schools (McGuffey Ohio)
West Holmes High School (Millersburg, Ohio)

I have never been a part of a community so dedicated to learning. I have known very few people who are as passionate about English as those that I have met here at ONU.

Delilah Pavel, English Education Major

Take the first step toward living the Polar Bear life

We would love to meet you and show you around!
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