For students intending to teach English language arts at the secondary level, the English Subject Matter Preparation Program provides a California-state-approved curriculum that prepares you to enter a fifth-year teaching credential program and attain a credential to teach English in middle and secondary schools. 

This pathway provided below reflects one potential example of a student entering in a particular year and semester. Because some state required courses are offered on alternating years, the pathway below may not be available to you in the sequence listed. All state required courses are offered with a frequency to allow you to complete the concentration in a two-year period.  Because completion of some specific courses is required to fulfill state teacher preparation requirements, it is especially critical that you consult with the English Subject Matter Program Coordinator at the beginning of the semester you start the HCOM major.

In the meantime, use this example pathway as a starting point for initiating discussion of your plans with the English Subject Matter Program Coordinoator.

Fall Freshman

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
FYS 183: Eat, Love, Learn4
Any Approved Course4A1: Oral & Written Communication
Any Approved Course4B4: Math
Any Approved Course4C3: World Language
Total16

Spring Freshman

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
Any Approved Course4
Any Approved Course6
4C3: World Language
Total14

Fall Sophomore

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
Any Approved Course4
Any Approved Course4C2: Humanities
Any Approved Course4D2: U.S. Histories & Democratic Part
Any Approved Course4C3: World Language
Total16

Spring Sophomore

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
Any Approved Course4B1: Physical Science
Any Approved Course4C1: Arts
Any Approved Course4
Total12

Fall Junior

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
HCOM 300: Major ProSeminar2Major Core
HCOM 429: BritLit& Engl Lang Perspective (Fulfills Research/Theory Intensive Requirement)6Concentration
HCOM 312: GWAR-Cooperative Argumentation4
Complete one of the following course options: HCOM 328 or HCOM 350 or any MLO 2 course combined with HCOM 356 for MLO 7 credit (MLO 2 and MLO 7 courses need not be taken concurrently).4MLO 2 Media, narrative and ethnographic skills
Total16

Spring Junior

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
Complete one of the following course options: HCOM 356 or any MLO 7 course combined with HCOM 328 for MLO 2 credit (MLO 2 and MLO 7 courses need not be taken concurrently).4MLO 7 Historical analysis
HCOM 338: Multicultural Adolescent Lit4MLO 5 Critical cultural analysis
HCOM 339S: Creative Writ for Teachers6
Complete one of the following: HCOM 301; HCOM 404; HCOM 405; HCOM 4064MLO 4 Philosophical analysis
Total18

Fall Senior

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
Complete one of the following: HCOM 304; HCOM 306; HCOM 309; HCOM 310; HCOM 403; HCOM 412 4MLO 3 Relational communication skills
HCOM 327: Survey American Literature4MLO 6 Comparative literary analysis
HCOM 320: Grammar, Usage & Power4Concentration
Elective Course4
Total16

Spring Senior

CourseUnitsRequirement(s) Met
HCOM 437: Shakespeare4Concentration
HCOM 475: Senior Capstone4Major Core
Elective course4
Total12

Total: 120 units