English Education Course Descriptions
ENG 201 Intro to Literary Analysis
3 Hours
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of literary study, including critical terms, and focuses on contemporary world literature with equal proportions of Western and non-Western work. Students will discuss fiction, poetry and drama by internationally known authors.
ENG 202 Creative Writing I
3 Hours
This course provides a workshop environment that combines creative writing and criticism. Students work in the three major genres: poetry, fiction and drama. Selections of students' work are offered to our literary journal, "Prairie Winds", and to the Agnes Hyde Writing Contest.
ENG 205 British Literature I
3 Hours
The first of two surveys concentrating on poetry, drama and fiction from the British Isles, this course begins with poetry written in Old English and extends through the 18th century.
ENG 206 British Literature II
3 Hours
The second of two surveys concentrating on poetry, drama and fiction from the British Isles, this course begins with the Romantics and extends through the contemporary period.
ENG 223 American Literature
3 Hours
This historical survey of the prose and poetry of America covers the Puritan era to modern authors, concentrating on major works and authors.
ENG 226 Literature of European Civilization
3 Hours
This course provides a historical survey of the prose and poetry of Western Europe, from biblical texts and the literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans to the present day, concentrating on major works and authors.
ENG 230 Young Adult Literature
3 Hours
Young Adult Literature considers canonical and contemporary examples of fiction written for readers in grades 6-12. Students will focus most of their attention on analyzing young adult literature as literature but will also consider pedagogic and craft-study approaches. Thus, the course benefits literature, creative writing and education students in their preparation as scholars, readers, writers and teachers of young adult literature.
ENG 312 Scholarly Research and Writing
3 Hours
This course concentrates on the conception and execution of an extended research project. This course prepares students for upper-level college writing and professional writing outside the college environment. Prerequisite: ENG 111.
ENG 313 Great Plains Literature
3 Hours
Students will discover a variety of literature about the Great Plains, including the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, with an emphasis on how this literature is both regional and universal in scope. This literature includes fiction and nonfiction works by regional writers.
ENG 314 American Multiethnic Literature
3 Hours
Focusing on the cultural diversity in American literature, students will experience readings in African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and Native American literature, among others. General Education: Literature, Cultural Awareness (effective by 2009) General Education: Effective Expression - Literary Analysis
ENG 315 Women Writers
3 Hours
English 315 examines the development of 20th- and 21st- century poetry, essays, novels, and stories written by women. We will ask how women writers respond to, interpret and extend dominant modes of modern and contemporary literature in English in order to explore themes of gender, ethnicity and culture. This course includes a variety of works in English (British and American) by women writers and introduces critical approaches to interpreting their works.
ENG 316 Contemporary World Literature
3 Hours
This course examines 20th-and 21st-century fiction, nonfiction and poetry by authors from, living in, or writing about places other than the United States. Students will consider cultural, historical, aesthetic and linguistic perspectives as they read, analyze and discuss texts from around the world.
ENG 323 Shakespeare
3 Hours
Introducing the life and works of Shakespeare, this course concentrates on the plays, emphasizing the development of central themes, the use of different genres, the decisions involved in production and the cultural background of the Renaissance.
ENG 327 English Methods
3 Hours
This course prepares students intending to teach English in secondary schools. Students will develop ideas for lessons, practice presentations and units in language, literature and composition. Prerequisites: EDU 201 and SPD 206. Corequisite: EDU 435.
ENG 342 English Grammar
3 Hours
This course reviews grammatical principles used in writing. It is useful for students intending to teach or improve their language skills.
EDU 201 Foundations of Education
3 Hours
This course is an investigation of contemporary education in America and assists candidates in determining their career path, with a special emphasis on the tools and skills necessary to become an effective teacher. Observation experience in a school setting is required. This course is required for all education majors and is taken as the first in the sequence of education courses. EDU 201 is a prerequisite for all other education courses.
EDU 220 Technology for Teachers
1 Hours
This course provides a foundation for integrating technology into the classroom. A primary goal is the development of a mindset intent on exploring, identifying, engaging and applying current, emerging and future technologies in the teaching/learning process. Students enrolled in the course will consider the appropriate relationship of technology to standards and ethical issues. They will design and present technology-enhanced lessons and become skilled, confident users of digital and electronic resources.
EDU 310 Human Relations/Multiculturalism
3 Hours
This course provides candidates with knowledge in the areas of multiculturalism and human relations. Teacher candidates will understand the impact of a changing society on education and human relations. This course provides an understanding of cultural backgrounds and the influences of dehumanizing biases such as racism, sexism and classism and how they affect the lives of students in schools. A field experience is required for this course so there will be related expenses.
EDU 311 Educational Psychology
3 Hours
This course will examine theories of learning and how they may be applied to the classroom. It will include the study of cognitive development, motivation and learning, how knowledge is constructed, constructivism, individual differences in learning, and learning environments. Prerequisites: EDU 201. Non-education majors must have consent of the instructor.
EDU 335 American Indian Education
3 Hours
This course is designed for prospective and experienced teachers. Candidates will learn about the rich American Indian culture in South Dakota and its impact on the education of American Indian students. The study includes an examination of skills necessary for the effective teaching of American Indian children. The course is designed to meet the South Dakota certification requirement in American Indian studies and is required of all teacher education candidates. Out-of-town travel and additional related expenses are required for this class. Prerequisite: EDU 201. Non-education majors must have consent of the instructor.
EDU 412 Adolescent Learners’ Needs
3 Hours
This course will help prepare candidates to teach at the middle grade level. The course will develop an understanding of the middle school concept and the instructional strategies that support that concept. Field experience at the middle level will be required. Prerequisite: EDU 201.
EDU 424 Literacy Methods in Content Area
3 Hours
This course provides teacher candidates with a balance of theory and application regarding the skills needed to teach reading and writing in the content areas. Candidates will investigate, develop and apply strategies using a variety of scientifically researched reading, writing, listening and speaking methods to meet the literacy needs of all students. For elementary education majors, this course is part of the spring block experience. Courses include EDU 424, EDU 444 and EDU 465. Prerequisite: EDU 201. Corequisites for elementary education majors: EDU 444 and EDU 465. Corequisites for secondary education majors: EDU 465 or approval of education department chair
EDU 435 Curriculum Standards & Assessment
3 Hours
This course supports an educator’s ability to design and implement assessment practices that promote student learning by first improving instruction and then gauging its success. Emphasis is placed on constructing reliable and valid assessments; connecting classroom assessment to local, state and national standards, providing effective feedback and grading and understanding individual, classroom and cultural differences that impact assessment. Students will incorporate various assessment procedures in standards-based lessons they plan and teach during the course field experience. Prerequisites: EDU 201 Corequisites for elementary education majors: EDU 442 and EDU 443.
EDU 456 Secondary and Middle Level Methods
3 Hours
This course covers the methods of teaching secondary and middle level education and considers all the aspects and responsibilities that come with the job, including the decision-making process, establishing a classroom climate conducive to learning, motivating students, classroom management, linking curriculum and instruction, planning the instruction, instructional techniques and methods for promoting learning. A constructivist approach to teaching and learning is emphasized. A field experience is required. Prerequisite: EDU 201. Corequisites: EDU 435 or approval of the chair of the education department.
EDU 465 Classroom Management for the K-12
3 Hours
This course will involve the study of strategies for creating successful K–12 learning communities, planning for the school year, developing positive relationships with the students, working with families, establishing classroom procedures and rules, maintaining appropriate behavior, preventing, managing and responding to inappropriate behaviors, motivating students to learn and responding to inappropriate behaviors. Different practices of classroom management will be explored. School law, professional practice, and teacher ethics will also be covered. This course requires a field experience. This course is part of the spring practicum experience for elementary education majors. Courses include in the spring practicum for elementary education majors are: EDU 424, EDU 444 and EDU 465. Secondary education majors are strongly advised to take this course at the same time as EDU 424. Prerequisite: EDU 201. Corequisites for elementary education majors: EDU 424 and EDU 444. Corequisites for secondary education majors: EDU 424 or approval of department chair.
EDU 474 7-12 Student Teaching
14 Hours
Candidates are assigned to a school district and supervised by a certified teacher at the middle school/junior high level and/or at the secondary level for 70 days (14 full weeks). During this period, they will fulfill obligations and responsibilities similar to those of the cooperating teacher. This course is part of the professional semester and is taken with a two-credit seminar, which is part of the 16 hours for degree candidates. Candidates also meet during the professional semester for seminar requirements. This course is offered Credit/No Credit only. The DWU Student Teacher Handbook and seminar syllabus serve as the course syllabus. Prerequisites: Completion of all coursework required for graduation, 2.6 GPA, admission from the education department faculty and secondary discipline faculty, submission of passing scores on the required Praxis tests and approval for student teaching placement. Corequisite: EDU 475.
EDU 475 Seminar
2 Hours
Candidates are required to take this seminar during their student teaching experience. Candidates will research the following topics during this seminar: classroom climate, instructional pedagogy, assessment, resume writing and interviewing skills. Candidates are required to complete their electronic portfolio and an action research project during the seminar. Attendance is required in order to successfully complete the student teaching experience. Corequisite: EDU 470, EDU 472, EDU 474, or SPD 470.
PSY 237 Developmental Psychology
3 Hours
This course is a sequential study of the individual from conception to death. Students will study research regarding human physical, cognitive and social-emotional development, along with implications for parents, teachers and counselors.
SPD 206 Introduction to Exceptional Students
3 Hours
This course defines and examines the nature and needs of exceptional learners, including those with documented disabilities as well as giftedness and those with multicultural heritages. Special education foundations and legal mandates will be discussed. Appropriate accommodations and teaching methods designed to meet the needs of the range of students included in a typical classroom will be examined. The role of teachers, parents and other relevant personnel will be investigated in relation to programming for struggling learners. Students will research a specific educational challenge and complete observation hours in a school setting. Prerequisite: EDU 201 or Corequisite EDU 201 or instructor permission.
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