Graduates Studies in Education Programs of Study

GRADUATE STUDIES IN EDUCATION

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction

Doane’s site-based Curriculum and Instruction degree is designed to maintain a program committed to excellence while giving special attention to the needs of K-12 teachers.  Many of the classes offered in this site-based program are held in K-12 schools across Nebraska.

Course content is designed with concern for best practice, current research, and a commitment to the application and evaluation of the content.  Doane’s holistic approach recognizes that the cumulative effects of the completed graduate degree program are greater than the sum of the courses.  The resident and adjunct graduate education faculty takes particular pride in the high marks for relevance and quality of instruction given to the entire program by students completing Doane graduate education courses.

The curriculum and instruction program consists of 36 credit hours of coursework.  There are five core courses, including a culminating project.  All students must complete this course work.  A maximum of twelve credits may be transferred into the program.  The transfer courses must meet the Doane criteria for graduate credit at the institution granting the credit.  Each course in this curriculum is a graduate-level course and is designed to extend undergraduate work and meet the needs of the developing professional. 

The program requires research (3 semester hours) and a culminating project (3 semester hours).  A minimum of 30 semester hours of appropriate graduate work must be completed in good standing, followed by research and the culminating project, bringing the total credit hours of this option to 36.  Graduate students in Curriculum and Instruction are allowed to register for a maximum of six credit hours each term in the fall and spring and 12 credit hours during the summer term.

Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction with an Emphasis in Music Education

The Music Department and the Education Division have collaborated to offer a specialization in Music in the Curriculum and Instruction program.  The program does not lead to endorsements or certifications, but does provide music teachers in high schools an avenue to teach in IB programs or AP course work in Music.

Master of Arts in Counseling with an Emphasis in School Counseling

Doane’s School Counseling program is designed to maintain a program committed to excellence that provides certification as a school counselor in Nebraska.

Course content is designed with concern for best practice, current research, and a commitment to the application and evaluation of the content.  Doane’s holistic approach recognizes that the cumulative effects of the completed graduate degree program are greater than the sum of the courses.  The resident and adjunct graduate education faculty takes particular pride in the high marks for relevance and quality of instruction given to the entire program by students completing Doane graduate courses.

The school counseling program consists of 48 credit hours of coursework.  All courses are required.  Transfer courses must meet the Doane criteria for graduate credit at the institution granting the credit and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by Doane’s certification officer.  Each course in this curriculum is a graduate-level course and is designed to meet the needs of the developing professional in school counseling. 

Graduate students in the school counseling program are allowed to register for a maximum of six credit hours each term in the fall and spring and 12 credit hours during the summer term.

Initial Certification at the Advanced Level Program

The accelerated program for certification prepares candidates to teach in grades 7-12 in an area in which Doane endorses individuals or for certification as a K-12 Special Education teacher.  The content areas include the sciences, mathematics, social sciences, English, language arts, foreign languages, music, and art.  Candidates must have a B.A. or B.S. degree to begin this program with a 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA.  Through a series of course work, practicum, and internship experiences, candidates may complete the content endorsement program in four terms (Summer I, Fall, Spring, Summer II).  Students working for an endorsement in K-12 Special Education must complete at least one additional semester.

Endorsements

Endorsements are offered in Early Childhood, ESL, Special Education, Reading Specialist and High Ability Education K-12.  Coursework required for the endorsements may also be used to meet requirements for the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction if students are seeking both the degree and the endorsement.  Initial Certification at the Advanced Level Program students who wish to add one of these endorsements to their initial teaching certificate must complete additional credit hours and an additional term of study to the timeline listed.

Master of Education in Educational Leadership

The Educational Leadership program requires 36 hours of coursework.  Students begin the program in the summer and move through the program as part of a cadre.  If a student is seeking K-12 certification, a 45 credit-hour program is required.  Graduate students in Educational Leadership are allowed to register for a maximum of six credit hours each term in the fall and spring and 12 credit hours during the summer term. Six hours of transfer credit from other institutions can be applied for applicable courses in the Doane program.

In the Educational Leadership program, all students will complete an action research project (school improvement project) in their final cadre experience as one of the requirements of that experience.

Education Specialist Degree

The Ed.S. program includes 30 hours of in-class work with a seminar approach and at least 6 hours of internship or practicum experiences approved in advance for a total of 36 credit hours.

The required coursework for the Ed.S. program is organized into two categories.  One - coursework scheduled over a three-calendar year period that all of the candidates will complete as a cadre.  The second category is stand-alone coursework that is required of all candidates but may be completed at various times.  All coursework, both cadre and stand-alone must be completed within a five-year period.  No transfer credit is allowed for the Education Specialist program.

Categories of Graduate Students

Eight broad categories of graduate students are recognized by the Graduate Program in Education:

1. Degree-seeking graduate students desiring a Nebraska Standard Administrative Certificate - Educational Leadership program students.
2. Students seeking a K-12 Nebraska Standard Administrative Certificate who have previously completed an administrative graduate program and are certified in elementary, middle school, or secondary administration but want to add K-12 certification.
3. Degree-seeking graduate students desiring a Nebraska Superintendent Administrative Certificate - Education Specialist program students.
4. Initial Certification at the Advanced Level Program students in Curriculum and Instruction seeking initial certification.
5. Degree-seeking graduate students (non-certification) pursuing a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction or a Master of Education in Curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in Music Education.  These degrees lead to no initial or additional certifications unless the student is completing the Initial Certification at the Advanced Level program or an endorsement program in addition to the curriculum and instruction program.
6. Degree-seeking graduate students pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling with an Emphasis in School Counseling.
7. Students seeking an endorsement in Early Childhood, English as a Second Language, Special Education in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, High Ability Education - K-12, or Reading Specialist
8. Non-degree seeking students. The non-degree seeking category serves students who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree at Doane University and also those who wish to begin graduate study before seeking admittance to a degree program.

Faculty Advising

The Advising Office is housed on the Lincoln campus.  The Dean of the Curriculum and Instruction program and the Assistant to the Dean advise Curriculum and Instruction degree-seeking students, Master of Arts in Counseling with an Emphasis in School Counseling degree-seeking students, endorsement-seeking students and initial certification at the advanced level program students through the advising office and the Dean of the Educational Leadership program advises Educational Leadership and Education Specialist students.

Advisers assist students in developing programs of study, monitoring progress in the program, and assisting with program changes.  Curriculum and Instruction advisers go to the class sites each semester for graduate advising and students are encouraged to contact their advisers at any time with questions or concerns.  Much advising in the Curriculum and Instruction and endorsement programs is done through e-mail and phone conferences as students are at numerous locations throughout the state.  Adjunct and resident faculty also refer Curriculum and Instruction or School Counseling students to the graduate office or the dean’s office when students have questions in their classes.  In addition, students may review their academic program through Doane’s web site, available 24/7 wa.doane.edu.

Curriculum and Instruction or School Counseling students enrolled in EDU-603 Research Methods will register for EDU-604 Culminating Project with the same professor the following semester.  The Research Methods professor serves as the adviser for the culminating project completed in EDU-604.  Students cannot register for both EDU-603 Research Methods and EDU-604 Culminating Project during the same semester unless these courses are specifically offered as a six hour block.  

Educational Leadership and Education Specialist students are advised by the faculty and the Educational Leadership dean in one-on-one conversations during the regular class sessions in informal question and answer periods or by prearranged office visits before or after class.  In addition, each student is advised at their school site visits each semester for program and career advice.  Much advising is done by e-mail or phone as students live and work in many locations far from the graduate office.

The Graduate Office will monitor students completing nine hours of Curriculum and Instruction or School Counseling credit with B- or better in each course for full graduate standing.  Students in the Educational Leadership program must complete EDL 675 and either EDL-680, 681 or 682 with a B or better for full graduate standing.  Education Specialist students must complete the first nine hours of the program with a B or better for full graduate standing.

Initial certification at the advanced level program students are advised by the director of the program along with the curriculum and instruction dean and assistant to the dean.  Initial certification at the advanced level program students must be admitted to teacher education (see the admissions requirements.)  The co-directors and the dean will present those students meeting the requirements to the teacher education committee.  Letters will be mailed to the students when full graduate standing is granted.