Instructor Qualifications for ENGL 1001W

The qualifications listed below reflect the minimum qualifications a high school instructor must meet before applying to teach the UMN course ENGL 1001W: Introduction to Literature, Poetry, Drama and Narrative.

Licensure

CIS instructors must have a valid Minnesota teaching license or an approved alternative.

Experience and proficiencies (all required)

• A minimum of three years of experience teaching advanced courses to juniors and seniors, one of which involves teaching AP or honors English.
• Demonstrated proficiency in using small and large group discussion pedagogies and in establishing historical and cultural contexts for all texts taught.
• A commitment to active, on-going learning that has been documented through graduate coursework or degree completion, relevant professional development activities or course or curricula development.

Demonstration of advanced, relevant content knowledge (select one)

1. Graduate degree English or related field
2. Graduate degree in any field and 18 graduate credit hours in Literature or related field
3. Graduate degree in any field plus six equivalent experience options from A through N, below
4. Undergraduate degree in English with significant coursework in Literature, plus nine equivalent experience options from A through N, below

Description of Equivalent Experience Options (if 3 or 4 selected above)

A: Semester length graduate-level credits in literature

Especially in poetry, drama, narrative or multicultural literature. Credits need not have been taken as part of a graduate degree program.

• Three credits is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to six times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, include a list of relevant graduate coursework. For each course include the title, where taken, and number of credits earned. Faculty will evaluate the courses you list for relevancy to the topics taught in the UMN course or to advanced topics in the same field. If the applicability isn’t obvious from the course title, please describe the relevance.

B: Semester-length graduate-level credits in the field of English education

These need not have been taken as part of a graduate degree program.

• Three credits is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to two times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, list relevant graduate coursework. For each course include the title, where taken, and credits earned. Faculty will evaluate the courses you list for relevancy to the topics taught in the UMN course or to advanced topics in the same field. If the applicability isn’t obvious from the course title, please describe the relevance.

C: Professional development workshops

For example, discipline-specific Advanced Placement trainings, International Baccalaureate workshops, Minnesota Writing Project institutes or other relevant workshops, trainings, conferences or seminars.

• 30 hours of PD is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to four times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, include a list of each professional development workshop, the sponsoring group or organization, and total hours. Refer to Faculty Guiding Questions #1: Discipline-specific professional development.

D: Published textbook, journal article or essay, or similar scholarly work

Including creative work in the field of literature or the teaching of literature or creative writing.

• Each publication is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to two times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe the significance of the work, particularly as it applies to the topics covered in the UMN course or to advanced topics in the same field. Include a link to the publication or provide, with your application, an abstract or copy that lists your authorship.

E: Experience requiring regular use of critical analysis of literary texts

Including application of literary theory (critical approaches or lenses) to literary texts.

• Each year is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your experiences using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #9: Experience requiring regular use of skills or content knowledge related to the field.

F: Participation in a discipline-specific community of practice

Such an undertaking is intended to develop particular skills or understandings.

• Each year is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your experiences using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #6: Discipline-specific community of practice.

G: Fellowships or awards for recognition of high school or undergraduate teaching in literature or creative writing

This includes recognition from school, district, state, regional, national or international organizations.

• Each award is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your awards using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #8: Receiving an award or other recognition.

H: Participation in nationally normed assessment activity

This entails work related to literature such as Advanced Placement test grading.

• Each year of participation is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your participation using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #10: Participation in a nationally normed assessment activity related to the field.

I: National Board Certification in English Language Arts

• Include a copy of your certification letter or certificate with your application.
• Fulfills two options.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your certification using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #11: National Board Certification.

J: Years of successful and effective teaching experience in a course leading to undergraduate credit

These should be in English courses, including dual credit, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or teaching undergraduates on a college or university campus.

• Two years of teaching is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your teaching experience using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #3: Teaching of a course leading to undergraduate credit for students.

K: Discipline-specific leadership role in a secondary or postsecondary institution

Qualifying positions include department chair or in a professional organization such as National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Minnesota Council of Teachers of English (MCTE).

• Each year of service is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, describe your leadership experience using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #4: Discipline-specific leadership role.

L: Presentations at relevant conferences

These include local, state, regional or national workshops or conferences such as NCTE and MCTE.

• Each presentation on a distinct topic is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to two times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, list and describe presentations using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #5: Presentations.

M: Serve as a content or pedagogy trainer or coach, or student teacher supervisor.

To apply this option, literature or related content must be embedded in pedagogy.

• Each year in role is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, list and describe roles using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #9: Experience requiring regular use of skills or content knowledge related to the field or to #7: Student teacher supervisor.

N: Field test or review curriculum for a publisher

Or serve on a textbook review and selection committee for a postsecondary or secondary institution.

• Each distinct project is considered one experience.
• Can be applied up to five times.

If preparing a Description of Professional Experience, List and describe roles and responsibility using tips from Faculty Guiding Questions, #12: Field test, review or edit curriculum for publisher or #13: Serve on textbook selection committee for secondary or postsecondary institution.