Special Programs

As an ESL major you will have opportunities to be involved in:

Lucille Cobb Lecture Series

The Lucille Cobb Lecture Series, featured each year at Doane, provides students the opportunity to meet and interact with prominent writers. Those who have appeared in the series include:

• Gwendolyn Brooks
• Hayden Carruth
• Alan Cheuse
• Desmond Egan
• Patricia Hampl
• Miroslav Holub
• Marlene Norbese
• Philip W.D. Snodgrass

Internships

Doane students may participate in month-long or semester-long internships, gaining hands-on work experience for college credit. English students have completed internships at such organizations as:

• Mary Ripma Ross Film Theatre
• NebraskaLand Magazine
• Prairie Schooner

Study Abroad

Every four years, the English Department selects approximately 15 students for a semester in east and central Africa. Students travel to six countries and engage in a semester of courses and hands-on experience, including Introduction to African Studies, African Literature and Culture, Linguistics, Swahili, writing, and independent study.

Interterm/Field Trips

Periodic trips to Japan, England, and Greece are offered as an Interterm class. English students have also traveled to The Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., The Oriental Institute, the Field Museum, and The Art Institute in Chicago to supplement course work.

 

These additional programs are provided for students majoring in the ESL endorsement for teachers: 

Field Experience/Student Teaching

At Doane, pre-service teachers complete approximately 300 hours of practicum experience with K-12 students prior to student teaching.

• Students begin working in classroom settings during their first year
• Student assisting continues during the sophomore and junior years
• Full-time student teaching occurs during the senior year (ranging from 14 weeks for one endorsement to a maximum of 24 weeks for two endorsements)

Partnerships

The Teacher Education Division maintains several partnerships with surrounding school districts, including Crete Public Schools and Lincoln Public Schools. Special programs include:

• Professional Development School Project
• Junior Year Cadre Program

Teacher Warranty

Doane was the FIRST college/university in the nation to offer a warranty of its teacher education graduates to hiring school districts. The college will provide free training for its new teachers as necessary at no cost to the school district or Doane graduate.

Guaranteed Placement

Doane College GUARANTEES its teacher education students employment following graduation in the education field.

Focus on Multiculturalism

Doane College places a strong emphasis on the understanding and inclusion of diversity in its curriculum and cocurricular activities. The Teacher Education program is at the forefront of multicultural education for its students. Initiatives include:

• Multicultural internship class required for all education majors
• Multicultural awareness through education courses
• An annual statewide multicultural conference for students and teachers, organized by the junior class

Master of Education Degree

Following graduation in the teacher education program, students extend their training in a summer semester of 12 credit hours of graduate work.

        Advantages of Graduating with Graduate Credits

• Graduate classes give Doane students an advantage over other college graduates in credits toward a master's degree.
• School districts' pay scales will often be higher for teachers who have graduate credits.
• Doane's site-based Master of Education program is offered at numerous locations in Nebraska, allowing students to finish their graduate degrees easily. 

First-Year Mentoring
For many years, Doane has provided mentoring for its first-year teachers. An experienced teacher in the school works closely with new Doane teachers to help with this transition. Doane faculty also work with the new teachers, providing support and expertise.