College of Education

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Mission of the Program

Preparation for teaching has been a part of Doane’s mission since its founding in 1872. In the early 1880s, President David Brainerd Perry created, at the request of a group of students, a teacher education program. Over the years, Doane has been recognized as one of the outstanding universities in teacher education. That commitment to be on the cutting edge of teacher preparation continues today and now includes an exemplary graduate program for practicing professionals.

The graduate experience, which offers degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Education Specialist consists of courses and supervised field experiences, and is designed to develop and enhance the knowledge, attitude, and skills of participants. Faculty of the Doane University College of Education believe all educational professionals are lifelong learners.

To meet future expectations of our nation’s schools as they respond to a changing world, the Doane Education faculty believes the education of teachers and administrators is a developmental and emergent process. For development to occur, the roles of the educational professional are learner, teacher, researcher, and leader. To facilitate this growth, we will: 1) establish collaborative opportunities; 2) promote reflective inquiry tied to coursework, practicum experiences and action research; 3) provide leadership experiences; and 4) facilitate learning in context. We believe these essential elements create practices designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for the developing professional. These elements are grounded in reflective and collaborative work which advocates success for all students.

Application Procedure

Doane University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals who wish to pursue study in the Graduate Studies in Education department. Such students must complete an application form and pay a $30.00 application fee before beginning the first 600-900-level course. This application processing fee is not refundable and does not apply toward tuition. Submitting incomplete or false information is grounds for denial or subsequent dismissal.

Advising

The Advising Office is housed on the Lincoln campus.  The Director of Curriculum and Instruction and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Education advise Curriculum and Instruction degree-seeking, endorsement-seeking and Initial Program at the Advanced Level for Certification students.  Educational Leadership students are advised by the Dean of the Educational Leadership program.  The directors of the Education Specialist and the Doctorate in Educational Leadership programs advise those 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 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 website www.doane.edu/wa which is availabe 24/7.

Curriculum and Instruction students enrolled in EDU 603 - Research Methods (3)  will register for EDU 604 - Culminating Project (3)  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  and EDU 604  during the same semester unless these courses are specifically offered as a six hour block.

Educational Leadership, Education Specialist, and Doctorate students are advised by the dean and directors in one-on-one conversations during the regular class sessions in informal question and answer periods, by pre-arranged office visits before or after class, and by e-mail or phone consultations.  In addition, each Education Leadership student is advised at their school site visits each semester for program and career advice.

The Graduate Office will monitor students completing 9 hours of Curriculum and Instruction 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 , EDL 681  or EDL 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 Program at the Advanced Level for Certification students are also advised by the director of the program along with the Dean of Teacher Education and the Assistant Dean of Graduate Education.  These students must be admitted to teacher education (see the admissions requirements.)  The director 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.

Career Placement

Graduates may establish credentials through the Doane University Teacher Placement Office, which is located on the Crete campus. Information concerning the placement bulletin may be obtained through the Graduate Office.

Graduate Calendar

The graduate calendar for education consists of a fall and a spring term of 15 weeks each and one summer term with courses of varying lengths. Courses during the fall and spring terms generally meet one evening a week. Summer term classes are scheduled during the day, with meeting times determined by the number of days the course meets. Unique schedule preferences of each site-based program are met by flexible scheduling.

Summary of Costs for the 2019-20 Academic Year

Tuition for graduate courses is due in full on or before the first day of class. Most courses have a textbook or a required set of materials. When materials are required for the course, a fee automatically is billed to the student and must be paid at the first class session. Required textbooks must be ordered from eFollett at https://www.bkstr.com/doaneuniversitystore/home.

Tuition charges are reviewed at the conclusion of each academic year and are subject to change without notice.

Hold for Credit Policy

A Doane senior who completes requirements for the bachelor’s degree in December may receive up to 12 Doane University Master of Education credits taken during the summer term before his/her December completion. Permission to enroll in the summer term must be granted by the Dean of the College of Education, the Chairperson of the Education Department, and the student’s academic adviser. An incomplete grade notation (“I”) will be given at the end of the summer term in all of the graduate courses and will be replaced by the actual letter grades after the requirements for the bachelor’s degree are completed in December. If certification requirements are not completed, credit will not be granted and the “I” grade notations will change to “W” (withdrawal).

The following criteria will be used to determine if permission will be granted.

• The student must have completed all coursework for the undergraduate degree, except for student teaching. Student teaching arrangements must be set for the fall semester.
• The student must have extenuating circumstances that have made it impossible to complete requirements for graduation in May before the summer graduate classes are offered. These circumstances do not include change of major or the student’s optional delay in meeting all degree requirements.
• The student must be able to show that delaying completion of graduate coursework until the following summer would cause extreme financial hardship to the student.
• All tuition, materials, fees, and books for early graduate coursework must be paid in full by June 1 of the summer term.

This coursework is not eligible for graduate student financial aid. A student may be eligible for undergraduate aid in some instances.

Check with the Financial Aid Office in Crete for specific information regarding individual circumstances. NOTE: Courses taken before graduation may not transfer as graduate credit to other institutions.

Courses

• EDS 633 - Special Education Practicum 7 - 12 (3)

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