Elementary Education
Elementary Education
College of Education
Campus Location: Crete
To become a successful elementary school teacher and shape the future of our youth, you need the support of a valuable elementary education program.
Doane’s elementary education program prepares students to teach kindergarten through eighth grade. A range of field experiences in your sophomore and junior years will help you decide which grade level you would most like to teach.
Students majoring in elementary education must also complete a major or endorsement in middle grades, early childhood, special education, English as a Second Language, Spanish, music, mathematics, science and/or physical education. A coaching endorsement may be added.
Students can also choose to be certified for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade in art, music, physical education, and English as a Second Language to complete the elementary major requirements.
The Doane University Education program is known nationwide for its innovative, performance-based approach to teacher education based on a quality model of theory and developmental experiences.
Field Experience/Student Teaching
At Doane, students complete a minimum of 225 clock hours of clinical field experience prior to student teaching.
- This field experience component is designed to engage the pre-service teacher in teaching and learning experiences in PK-12 classrooms during their sophomore and junior year.
- These experiences can include lesson design and implementation, small group facilitation, and one-on-one instruction.
- Student teaching is an extended ten-to-fourteen-week experience in a PK-12 setting where each student has primary responsibility for a classroom during the senior year. Each major or endorsement may extend into an additional student teaching experience.
Teacher Warranty / First Year Mentoring
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 for first year teachers a Teacher Support System.
- Employing school appoints a mentor
- Area meetings of first year teachers
- Individual site visits / in-person classroom visits
- Opportunity for first-year teachers to enroll in Beginning Teacher Seminar course
Master of Education Degree
Following graduation in the teacher education program, all students extend their training in a summer semester of graduate work.
- 12 credit hours of graduate work
- Graduate classes give Doane students an advantage over other college graduates in credits toward a master's degree (MED)
- Site-based, the MED is offered at numerous locations in Nebraska and online, allowing our students to finish their graduate degree with ease.
Teaching Diverse Learners Minor
Faculty & Staff
Courses
Students studying elementary education will learn a wide range of teaching methodologies, learning theories and educational perspectives. They will be challenged to explore that learning in a variety of educational environments. This diverse curriculum equips future educators with the tools to address the needs of all learners.
Our elementary education program emphasizes the interdependence of educational theory and practice with other disciplines, integrating knowledge and concepts from various fields. By fostering collaboration across programs, we prepare our students to create well-rounded, inclusive educational experiences that reflect the diverse knowledge and skills that empower them to create impactful learning environments.
Students in the elementary education program gain practical skills and knowledge that they can directly apply to solve real-world educational challenges. Through hands-on experiences, such as field placements and community engagement, students learn to address the complexities of education and implement innovative solutions that foster inclusive, supportive, and transformative classroom environments.
Students studying elementary education will learn a wide range of teaching methodologies, learning theories and educational perspectives. They will be challenged to explore that learning in a variety of educational environments. This diverse curriculum equips future educators with the tools to address the needs of all learners.
Our elementary education program emphasizes the interdependence of educational theory and practice with other disciplines, integrating knowledge and concepts from various fields. By fostering collaboration across programs, we prepare our students to create well-rounded, inclusive educational experiences that reflect the diverse knowledge and skills that empower them to create impactful learning environments.
Students in the elementary education program gain practical skills and knowledge that they can directly apply to solve real-world educational challenges. Through hands-on experiences, such as field placements and community engagement, students learn to address the complexities of education and implement innovative solutions that foster inclusive, supportive, and transformative classroom environments.
