Apr 19, 2024  
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Admission Requirements - Endorsement-Seeking Students


ENDORSEMENT PROGRAMS

 

Admission Requirements - Endorsement-Seeking Students

After completion of the application for admission, each endorsement seeking student is required to provide an official transcript from the institution awarding his/her undergraduate degree, and an official transcript from each institution granting graduate credit the student wishes evaluated for coursework applicable for their desired endorsement area.  These transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Studies in Education office at Doane University and must bear the official stamp of the issuing institution. Transcripts issued to students are not acceptable for submission.  In addition, students must have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher. Three letters of recommendation are required, as well as completion of the “Self-Reporting Survey.”  Endorsement-seeking students may begin study before these materials are received, but their application file should be complete before the end of the first term of study.   Endorsements are offered in Early Childhood, ESL, Special Education  K-6 or 7 -12, Special Education K-12 (initial certification only), High Ability Education K-12 and Reading Specialist.

A student is expected to complete the endorsement within seven years of beginning graduate study at Doane University.  Credits taken in the program which were completed more than seven years prior to completion are reviewed by the dean or assistant to the dean.  The criteria for accepting or rejecting these credits as a part of the student’s program are always based on the relevance of the material at the time of review.  If the course material is no longer relevant, the student must then retake the appropriate graduate course(s) as part of the endorsement requirements.          

Upon completion of all required coursework for an endorsement, the student must complete the applicable paperwork required by the State of Nebraska Department of Education for adding the endorsement to his/her teaching certificate.  Information is available on the web page of the Nebraska Department of Education about adding an endorsement to a teaching certificate. 

 

Content Testing

Effective September 1, 2015, candidates applying for any initial endorsement(s) to be placed on a Nebraska certificate must provide evidence they have passed the required Praxis II content test for the endorsement(s) as listed on the ETS web site.

 

Guidelines for Student Teaching and Internships

Doane University assumes the responsibilities for an effective student teaching experience (initial program at the advanced level) and internship experiences (EDL, EDS, endorsements where applicable).  The initial program at the advanced level follows the requirements of the initial program.  Advanced candidates must meet the requirements for continuation in the program.  All internship and student teaching supervisors meet the required standards in Rule 20 for the State of Nebraska.

 

Doane E-Mail Accounts Required for Faculty and Students

To comply with the Higher Education Act, ALL course communication between faculty and students will use Doane e-mail addresses.  Students should also use their Doane e-mail for communication with Doane offices.  The Graduate Office, Business Office, Financial Aid and Blackboard will all use students’ Doane e-mail accounts.   All Doane students have access to a Doane e-mail account and receive instructions about setting this up when they apply.  If students do not set up their e-mail or have forgotten their password or user id, they should contact helpdesk@doane.edu.


Program Requirements 

Early Childhood Endorsement

The Early Childhood Endorsement is a supplementary endorsement that prepares teachers to work with children birth to grade three.  To work toward the Early Childhood endorsement, candidates must hold a Nebraska certificate in elementary education.  Candidates must also have completed

  • Student teaching in elementary education
  • Practicum experiences in elementary education
  • Methods course work in elementary education

The endorsement requires a minimum of 18 credit hours of coursework to include elementary and early childhood methods coursework, including a practicum of 150 hours.  The practicum may be completed in the teacher’s classroom with additional work with other age groups.

Coursework Required - each course is 3 credit hours

  • EDC-612 Developing Literacy in the Primary Classroom
  • EDC-614 Developmentally Appropriate Practices: The Primary Program
  • EDC-616 Critical Issues in Early Childhood Education
  • EDU-602 Assessment of Learning or EDU-645 Assessment of Literacy or EDU-614 Assessment Literacy Development - Select one course to meet the Assessment course requirement.
  • EDC-680 Practicum in Early Childhood

Balance of coursework will be assessed through a transcript review.

Any one of the following courses:

  • EDU-609 Student Centered Math K-5
  • EDU-677 Math for Young Children
  • EDU-679 Reading in the K-3 Classroom
  • EDU-690 Writing in the Primary Classroom
  • EDU-691 ELL Curriculum for Primary Students
  • EDU-708 Center Based Activities in the Primary Classroom

The Education of Young Children exam is required for all students prior to certification.


ESL Endorsement

This endorsement requires a minimum of 15 graduate semester hours of course work in English as a Second Language, including Linguistics, Cross-Cultural Communication, Curriculum Design for English as a Second Language, and Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language.  Each course is 3 credit hours.

  • EDU-729 ESL: Communicating  in an Educational Environment 
  • EDU-683 Linguistics for ESL Teachers
  • EDU-682 Curriculum for ESL Students
  • EDU-684 Methods of Teaching & Assessing ESL Students
  • EDU-621 Internship in ESL  - Prerequisites EDU-682 and EDU-684

Endorsement in Special Education

Program Requirements

A minimum of 40 graduate hours are required for successful completion of the Special Education endorsement.  Practicum experience can be completed at the teacher’s school.  The practicum requires a minimum of 150 hours working with special education students.  An additional internship is required if the candidate is changing levels of certification.

Endorsement in Special Education - Three Options

  1. Special Education 7-12 for Certified Teachers Adding a Special Ed Endorsement
  2. Special Education K - 6  for Certified Teachers Adding a Special Ed Endorsement
  3. Special Education K-12 endorsement for Initial Certification at the Advanced Level Students  ONLY  

 

These courses make up the 25 hours of Required Courses for ALL  SPED Certificate candidates - see below for Additional Requirements for each of the options.

            EDS-610 Collaborative Teaching: An Inclusion Model - 3 credit hours

            EDS-620 Exceptional Child - 3 credit hours

            EDS-621 Advanced Assessment - 3 credit hours

            EDS-621L Advanced Assessment Practicum - 1 credit hour

            EDS-622 School Programming for Exceptional Youth - 3 credit hours

            EDS-626 Advanced Instructional Modifications and Accommodations for Students - 3 credit hours

            EDS-631 Teaching Strategies for Exceptional Children - 3 credit hours

            EDS-632 Critical Issues in Special Education - 3 credit hours

            EDS-699 Behavior Intervention Strategies - 3 credits

 

Option #1 - Additional Required Coursework for students who are certified teachers and wish to add a 7-12 Special Education endorsement to their certificate

EDU-602 or EDU-614 or EDU-645 Assessment - 3 credit hours

EDS-625 Methods of Teaching Mild/Moderate Special Education - 3 credit hours

EDU-663 Reading/Writing in the Content Area- 3 credit hours

EDS-680B Practicum for Special Education 7-12 - 3 credit hours

  • For elementary teachers who wish to add this endorsement you must complete an additional practicum experience in a secondary school

           

Graduate Elective (if secondary teacher, K-8 course in Reading and K-8 course in writing are required for these electives)

Graduate elective (if secondary teacher, K-8 course in Math is required for this elective)

 

Option #2 - Additional Required Coursework for students who are certified teachers and wish to add a K-6 Special Education endorsement to their certificate.

EDU-602 or EDU-614 or EDU-645 Assessment - 3 credit hours

EDS-625 Methods of Teaching Mild/Moderate Special Education - 3 credit hours

EDU-663 Reading & Writing in the Content Area- 3 credit hours

EDS-680A Practicum for Special Education K - 6 - 3 credit hours

  • For secondary teachers who wish to add this endorsement you must complete a reading course, a writing course and a mathematics course for elementary students.

           

Option #3 - K-12 Special Education Certification - ONLY for INITIAL CERTIFICATION AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL Students

EDU-602 or EDU-614 or EDU-645 Assessment - 3 credit hours

EDS-625 Methods of Teaching Mild/Moderate Special Education - 3 credit hours

EDS-655 Student Teaching (Clinical Practice Experience - 8 credit hours

EDU-663 Reading & Writing in the Content Area - 3 credit hours

EDS-665 Beginning Teacher Seminar for Special Educators - 3 credit hours

EDS-680A Practicum for Special Education in K - 6   - 3 credit hours

EDS-680B Practicum for Special Education in 7 - 12 - 3 credit hours

EDS-699 EECIA Examination Preparation Course - 1 credit hour

  • Students must complete a reading course, a writing course, and a mathematics course for elementary students - 9 credit hours
  • Students must complete all other Initial Certification at the Advanced Level requirements

Reading Specialist Endorsement

The following 33 hours of course work leads to an endorsement as a K -12 reading specialist.  This endorsement requires a regular teaching certificate and two years of teaching prior to beginning work on the endorsement.

Required Courses

            EDU-640 Literature for Children and Youth - 3 credit hours

            EDU-663 Reading/Writing in the Content Area - 3 credit hours

            EDU-685 Critical Issues in Reading - 3 credit hours

            EDU-686 Providing Leadership in Literacy - 3 credit hours

            EDU-687 Diagnosis, Assessment and Instruction in Reading - 3 credit hours

            EDU-689 Internship in Reading Instruction - 3 credit hours

Any One of the Following (3 credit hours)

            EDU-690 Writing in the Primary Classroom - 3 credit hours

            EDU-706 Supporting Writers in the Writing Workshop - 3 credit hours         

Any One of the Following (3 credit hours)

            EDU-676 Literature in the Secondary Classroom - 3 credit hours

            EDU-688 Literature for Adolescents - 3 credit hours

Any One of the Following (3 credit hours)

            EDU-645 Assessment of Literacy - 3 credit hours

            EDU-614 Assessment Literacy Development - 3 credit hours

            EDU-602 Assessment of Learning - 3 credit hors

Any One of the Following (3 credit hours)

            EDU-606 Improving Strategic Instruction in the Language Arts - 3 credit hours

            EDU-634 Reading in the K-6 Classroom - 3 credit hours

            EDU-679 Reading in the 4 - 8 Classroom - 3 credit hours

            EDU-707 Supporting Readers in the Reading Workshop - 3 credit hours

Any One of the Following (3 credits)

            EDC-612 Developing Literacy in the Primary Grades - 3 credit hours

            EDU-678 Reading in the K-3 Classroom - 3 credit hours


High Ability Education K-12 Endorsement

This endorsement requires an applicant to have, or earn concurrently, an endorsement in a subject or field.  The endorsement requires a minimum of 18 semester hours related to the education of learners with high ability and a minimum of 150 hours of related clinical experience, including experience at both elementary (K-6) and secondary (7-12).   The Practicum (EDU-704) needs to be completed last for this endorsement unless special permission is granted.

 EDU-697 Theories of Intelligence and History of Gifted Education - 3 hours

 EDU-700 Social and Emotional Characteristics of High Ability Learners - 3 hours

 EDU-701Critical and Creative Thinking in High Ability Education - 3 hours

 EDU-702 Social and Emotional Needs of High Ability Students - 3 hours

 EDU-702 Profiles of High Ability Students - 3 hours

 EDU-704 Practicum (hours must be equally divided between K-6 and 7-12 settings)  - 3 hours

 

Academic Standing

A graduate student is in good academic standing if he/she maintains a graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher.

 

Academic Probation

A graduate student is placed on academic probation if, at any time, the graduate cumulative grade point average falls below 3.00.  The student is notified in writing of his/her academic status and of any specific conditions for retention.

 

Academic Suspension

A graduate student may be suspended from Doane University for any of the following reasons:

  • Failure to return to good academic standing after the specified probationary period.
  • Failure to meet requirements set forth in the letter of probation.*
  • Receipt of a second course grade below a “B-“.
  • Breach of academic integrity.

In all cases, the student is notified of the suspension in writing by the Dean of the program.  For the right of appeal, consult that section in this handbook.  For specifics on what constitutes plagiarism, please see that section of this handbook.

 

Academic Dismissal

A graduate student may be dismissed from Doane University when the appeal process for suspension has been exhausted.  Such students are notified in writing by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.