Program Design
A minimum of thirty-six credit hours of educational graduate coursework are required. Students begin the program in the summer and move through the program as part of a Cadre. If a student is seeking PK-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.
Program Completion Criteria
Completion of the Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership prepares students for the Standard Administrative Certificate in Nebraska. This certificate is valid for teaching and administration in all Nebraska school systems, except for the position of superintendent of schools. There are two forms of review prior to recommending certification.
1. Nebraska Department of Education Rule 21 and Rule 24 requirements are as follows:
- complete at least two years of teaching in a PK-12 school,
- hold or qualify for a Nebraska standard or professional teaching certificate or its equivalent,
- complete a three-credit-hour course in special education that meets state guidelines,
- complete an accepted course in human relations training,
- affirm no felony convictions nor any misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, and
- affirm no court order or determination currently in effect which finds the student to be mentally unhealthy as determined by Title 92, Rule 21of the NAC.
2. Recommendation for certification for Doane University for the Administrative Endorsement is determined by the student’s potential as indicated by the following:
- completion of all Nebraska Department of Education requirements,
- successful completion of all coursework for the Master of Education in Educational Leadership,
- a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher for all courses leading to the degree,
- completion of the Certification Tracking form and application for degree form, and
- successful completion of the Portfolio and project requirements.
An Educational Leadership Program Director recommends to the Certification Officer those students who should be certified. The Certifying Officer then recommends those students to the Graduate Faculty in Education for approval.
Effective September 1, 2015, candidates applying for any initial endorsement(s) to be placed on a Nebraska certificate must provide evidence of a passing score on the required Praxis II test for the endorsement. Students seeking an endorsement as an administrator must pass the Educational Leadership Administration and Supervision test.
