TA teaching

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, English Concentration

Inspire Students to Love Language and Literature

Share your love for language arts by giving students a strong foundation in grammar, literature, and writing. By empowering your students to communicate articulately and creatively, you can enrich their minds while giving them a leading edge in nearly all career fields.

You’ll start by developing a strong Christian philosophy of education and learning traditional teaching strategies that will make you an effective English teacher. You’ll build your own English knowledge base, practice teaching in five education labs with the latest classroom technology, and prepare for your career by observing and teaching in Pensacola Christian Academy (PCA) classes.

As a senior, you’ll complete your teacher education with an internship at PCA, refining your skills under the guidance of PCA’s master teachers.

To give you many opportunities for ministry and employment, you will choose a second teaching field in addition to your major concentration. The leadership, classroom management, and communication skills cultivated in the education program—as well as proficiency in your chosen teaching fields—will open doors for countless possibilities after graduation.


Faith-Based English Education

PCC students learn that language is a gift from God to be used precisely and creatively—and that literature should communicate truth, meaning, and beauty to readers. With advanced training in grammar, literature, and writing, you’ll have the knowledge and skills needed to be an English teacher who imparts a deep appreciation for high-quality writing and accurate communication.

english class

Secondary Education Learning Outcomes

As a secondary education graduate, you will be equipped to

  • apply a Christian-traditional philosophy of education to purposes, content, and methods of teaching.
  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding of subject content unique to your selected concentration and second teaching field.
  • demonstrate proficiency in the use of methods and materials appropriate for the traditional secondary classroom.
  • organize, establish, and manage an effective learning environment.
  • demonstrate knowledge of the learner with ability to teach him.
  • teach effectively in a Christian junior high or high school.
  • integrate biblical Christian values in teaching.
  • exhibit the professional qualities required of successful teachers.

Program Highlight

Secondary Teaching Internship

Throughout your time in the secondary education program at Pensacola Christian College, you will study proven teaching methods, observe master teachers, practice teaching your peers, and teach lessons at Pensacola Christian Academy. In your senior year, you’ll take the final step toward preparing for a successful teaching career: leading your very own classes during your Secondary Teaching Internship (SE 420).

Mentored by an experienced PCA teacher, you’ll gain experience as you participate in every aspect of teaching—eventually becoming fully responsible for your own class. Teaching in both your primary concentration and your second teaching field, you’ll refine the skills you need to become an excellent teacher and be ready to lead your first class with confidence.

Your English Education Future

What can you do with a secondary education degree, English concentration?

When you complete your bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an English concentration from PCC, you’ll be fully equipped to teach junior high or high school English in a Christian school—or you may continue your education by pursuing a graduate degree. Although the education degree programs do not lead to state licensure, graduates are qualified to receive teacher certification through the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Here are a few of the countless career opportunities available to you.

  • Christian School Teacher
  • School Administrator
  • Public Speaker
  • Missions
  • Writer
  • Editor
  • Homeschool Teacher
  • Church Ministry

Here are a few of the grad schools our English concentration alumni have attended.

  • Baruch College
  • Faulkner University
  • Liberty University
  • Maranatha Baptist University
  • Texas A&M University
  • The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Trinity International University

Here are a few of the many places that our English concentration alumni have worked.

  • Gateway Christian Academy
  • Highlands Christian Academy
  • Kingdom Christian Academy
  • La Molina Christian Schools
  • Milford Christian Academy
  • Northview Baptist Academy
  • Peoples Baptist Academy
  • Valley Forge Baptist Academy

Faculty Highlight

Holly Stark

Mrs. Holly Stark

B.S., M.S., Pensacola Christian College


“Now more than ever, young people need positive role models who will teach them to discern what they hear and see through a biblical lens. My goal is for students to leave my SE 304 Teaching English class fully understanding the great responsibility of being an English teacher. It is so much more than grammar rules and stories. We have the opportunity and responsibility to teach students literature through a biblical perspective and to show them how to implement that biblical discernment in all reading.”

Meet more faculty

Alumni Spotlight

Kristin Nicchitta
Kristin Nicchitta ’19

Teacher, Union Grove Christian School,
Lexington, NC


“I graduated feeling that I had a firm grasp of the material in both of my teaching fields. I knew that before I could explain anything to my students, I needed to be excellent at the material myself. My education classes taught me how to teach that material to others in a way they could learn and understand. I also learned how to decorate a classroom, handle discipline problems, ask probing questions, grade tests, and a myriad of other things a teacher has to juggle in the classroom. Finally, PCC gave me the opportunity to take that knowledge and training and practice it with real students in the classroom. My internship gave me confidence and showed me where I was excelling and where I could improve.

I loved the passion and heart of the education department. They truly believed in me as a future teacher. I left excited about what God could do with me and how He might use my talents and training to teach here and around the world.”

Meet more alumni

Secondary Education, English Concentration Course Schedule

Second Teaching Fields

Music

Second teaching field requirements: Students with a Music second teaching field must demonstrate sufficient ability in one area of applied music and will take instruction in this area for six semesters. Students in their fourth semester of private music lessons must pass a platform to be approved for a music second teaching field. After passing the platform, students are required to enroll in Music Repertoire each semester they are enrolled in private lessons. Students with a vocal or instrumental emphasis must participate in a performing ensemble two semesters sometime during sophomore, junior, or senior years. Performing ensembles that meet requirements for each emphasis are as follows: Instrumental: Orchestra, Symphonic Band; Vocal: Chamber Ensemble, Symphonic Choir.
Teaching Elementary Music
Music Theory I
Music Theory II
Choral Methods
Proficiency Materials and Methods
Private Lessons
Ensemble/Hymnplaying

Physical Education

Fitness Test: Students in this second teaching field must pass the Physical Fitness Test or take PE 283/273 Physical Fitness or PE 160/170 Swimming/Physical Fitness (minimum grade of “C-” required).
Extracurricular Activity Requirement: Students in this second teaching field must participate in several semesters of intercollegiate or intramural sports or an approved alternative.
Fall Team Sports
Spring Team Sports
Sports Physiology
Introduction to Coaching
First Aid
Organization and Administration of Physical Education
Kinesiology
Care of Athletic Injuries
Coaching Electives
Teaching Physical Education

Speech

Second teaching field requirements: Second-semester sophomores must pass a speech platform evaluation to be approved for a second teaching field in speech. Students are required to enroll in SP 999 Speech Repertoire each semester they register for a private speech lesson. All students with a second teaching field in speech must perform at least one role in a college play while a student at PCC. A speaking role in a dramatic production play will satisfy this requirement.
Teaching Speech
Introduction to Interpretive Speech
Voice and Diction
Oral Interpretation of Poetry
Oral Interpretation of Dramatic and Narrative Literature
Stagecraft
Stage Movement
Introduction to Dramatic Production
Assemblies and Productions Practicum
Private Speech Lessons

girl writing

About the English Concentration

The purpose of the secondary education major is to prepare students to teach in a Christian school by equipping them with a Christian-traditional philosophy of subject content and teaching methods, practical teaching skills, and a servant’s heart.

Secondary education students can apply for scholarships to receive financial aid.

Teacher Education Scholarship (up to $12,000)

  • Available to a qualified applicant who has declared an education major.
  • Applicants must have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.00 or higher.
  • Recipients must maintain a 2.00 GPA each year (not cumulative) at Pensacola Christian College in order to receive the benefit of the scholarship. Students who forfeit the scholarship because of grade point average will forfeit the benefit for future years.
  • Recipients receive a tuition benefit up to $12,000 (approximately $3,000 annually; 20% of total tuition) over the first eight consecutive semesters of attendance as a full-time student after approval. If the student is enrolled in the Fourth Year Tuition-Free program, scholarship payments will not be applied during semesters the student is receiving the Fourth Year Tuition-Free benefit.

Dr. Barbara Bradley Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 scholarships each awarded to continuing juniors or seniors with a secondary education major who have a financial need, to be applied over one semester.

Kathy Irwin Scholarship
$1,000 scholarships awarded to students with secondary, elementary, and music education majors, to be applied over one semester.

Rosann Petermeyer Memorial Scholarship
$500 scholarship awarded to a continuing sophomore or junior with a secondary education major who has a financial need, to be applied over one semester.

Melvin and Mabel Teuscher Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 scholarships each awarded to continuing sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have a financial need, to be applied over one semester. Priority will be given to education majors.

See More Scholarships
career fair

Secondary Education Career Support

With Career Services and Career Link, students can start making connections with employers while on campus during Career Fair events. These services provide tools and resources designed to empower you for your secondary education calling.

Every year, an average of 96 schools attend Educator Recruitment, seeking to hire PCC graduates.

Need help? Career Services staff are ready to assist you in researching employment opportunities, exploring job qualifications, and providing mock interviews and résumé support.