Special Programs and Opportunities

As educators, we believe that learning opportunities outside of the classroom — in our communities, around campus and in other countries — provide invaluable experience.

Some of these opportunities — like student teaching — are part of your degree program. Others provide ways to get involved both on and off campus, through research, community involvement, student-run organizations and Summer Term programs.

OFF-CAMPUS OPPORTUNITIES

May and June Terms

Depending on your specialty and track, spending time off-campus during a May Term is a great way to incorporate time away from Hope without interrupting your course schedule. Our department offers programs:

Hope Comes to Watts (May Term) — For May term in Los Angeles, Hope students work with elementary or middle school students in an urban setting, honing their skills as teachers, social workers, communicators and much more! Coupled with a fantastic learning experience and loads of fun, students can earn general education credits as well.

Rosebud Reservation (May Term) – This May term class is held on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The program’s goals are to learn the history and culture of the Lakota Sioux and implement the knowledge and skills of Hope students’ chosen professions: education, social work or nursing. The course (EDUC 488) teaches students not only about cross-cultural education, but also Native American studies.

Diving into the Korean Wave (May Term) — Explore South Korean Culture: History, Creativity, and Global Impact: Dive into South Korean culture and East Asia through interactive discussions, hands-on experiences, and exciting field trips. This course explores South Korea’s history and its vibrant contemporary society, focusing on how artistic heritage — from K-pop to traditional arts — reflects and shapes global trends. You’ll discover how creativity connects people and cultures, gaining insights into the social, political and economic forces that have influenced South Korean culture. Perfect for students eager to understand the dynamic relationship between art, history and global connections!

Liverpool (June Term) — In addition to being a World Heritage UNESCO site and the home of the Beatles, Liverpool is home to Hope's sister school: Liverpool Hope University. During this June term, students are encouraged to get out of their comfort zone and be more than tourists — to go out and meet the locals, try traditional cuisine and explore all that this cultural hub has to offer. Students will learn about the practice of strategic communication in the U.K., as well as the various types of communities present in British culture, including sports, immigrants, the arts and the Anglican parish. Liverpool Hope University serve as “home base” while the group attends lectures by U.K. professors, meets international students, visits international corporations based in the U.K. and learns about the culture and heritage of the U.K. Students also learn about building and experiencing community in multiple contexts and understanding the meaning of Christian community.

Talk to someone at the Fried Center for Global Engagement or your advisor for more information about Summer Term programs that could be a good fit for you.

LOCAL PROGRAMS & OPPORTUNITIES

CASA

Hope College offers Children’s After School Achievement (CASA) as a community tutoring program. Through CASA, students in our Level 1 courses help at-risk students with after-school mentoring.

Upward Bound

Hope’s Upward Bound program is a set of seven federally-funded outreach opportunities. Hope offers a pre-college preparatory program for students from first-generation college and low-income families. Education students who are interested in working with older students are sometimes placed here for EDUC 200/201, one of the three Level 1 courses.

PATH

The Program for the Academically Talented at Hope (PATH) was started to serve students in grades 7–9 who showed academic talent and promise, and offers accelerated courses.

Tutoring

We receive requests from teachers and parents in the community hoping to hire a tutor. Education students are sent the list of families needing tutors each semester and contact them directly. This can be an excellent way for students to make some extra money, gain experience with children and make connections in the broader community.

Community Partnerships

Education students work within the community of Holland and the surrounding areas often, partnering with local schools like:

Holland Christian, a private K–12 district committed to high academics and impacting the world
Zeeland Quest, a K–8 school that operates on a balanced calendar in multi-aged groupings
Black River, a local charter school that hosts our teacher candidates and employs them for lunch, recess and after school positions.

Summer science camps

As a part of the ExploreHope Academic Outreach, Hope College offers over 50 Summer Camps for students in grades K–12. Students in the elementary program are also able to fulfill science credits by participating in the camps.

Events

We offer events throughout the year to our students and community as a whole, like our community-wide reading program Big Read and our Diversity Speaker Series which has hosted the following:

Spring 2023

Matt Glover: Title: Writing Instruction for All
Hope Advocates for Invisible Conditions: Share Your Story
Sophfronia Scott (an event in partnership with the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination and the Big Read Lakeshore): An Evening with Sophfronia Scott

Fall 2022

Dr. Vicki-Lynn Holmes: Ding Dang Diversity - What does Diversity have to do with God?
Matt de la Peña: From Reluctant Reader to Author
Dr. Roosevelt Montás: Rescuing Socrates

Spring 2022

Dr. Kristin Van Eyk: What we mean when we say 'English'
Diego Romero (‘09): A Jesus-Centered Diversity and Equity Approach to Education
Dr. Stephen Evans: Visionary Leadership and Restoration

Fall 2021

Dr. Francis Su: Mathematics for Human Flourishing
Lindsay Cherry (Assistant Principal at WOHS, co-founder I AM Academy): The School to Prison Pipeline
Dr. Charlene Montaño Nolan: W@nderings with children and families: developing place-based approaches to teaching and learning

Spring 2021

Dr. Deborah McEwan: Pastoral Perspectives: The Envisioned Roles of Black Church Leaders in the Empowerment of Black Male Students
Dr. Anna Roseboro: Writing to Learn: A Formative Assessment that Honors Diversity and Equity
Dr. Anna Rangel Clawson (’93): Understanding privilege to create inclusive classroom environments

Visit Hope’s calendar for up-to-date information.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

ASCD
Our local chapter of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) is the first student-run chapter in the country to be recognized by the ASCD. Our group provides panels, workshops and events to our student members. Contact our student organizers for information on joining.

CEC
Our student-run chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children provides fellowship to individuals with special needs. Although the group is supported by the Education Department, our members come from many different disciplines.

Tech Team
Our Tech Team is comprised of students promoting and implementing technology to enhance teaching and learning with our faculty and classmates, as well as with local school districts. Find out more information on our Educational Technology website.

ConnectED
ConnectED provides support for diverse and first-generation students studying education. The group meets monthly to hear from professors, learn about issues in education, and receive support navigating higher education and teacher certification.

Future Administrators
This is an organic group that has come together to explore school administration. Students interested in pursuing educational leadership meet regularly with faculty members who were previous administrators.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Research is a hallmark of Hope College and an important part of our education curriculum. Student research opportunities within the Hope College Department of Education include engagin in the research process with faculty, grant writing, attending professional meetings, presenting research at conferences, and collaborating on peer-reviewed publications with faculty.

Research is an important part of what our faculty do in our department and we love to include education students in this work. Some of us work on our research projects during the academic year, whereas others focus our time on these endeavors during the summer months. We often apply for grants to support our research projects and are looking for research assistants or collaborators. At times, these can be paid positions. We encourage students to contact any of the faculty listed on our research page for more information.

We also send students to both regional and national conferences, such as the Michigan Council of Teachers of English (MCTE) and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) every year. We also regularly participate in the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) and the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children conference, and education students are often accepted to National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Funding is available for student travel to conferences.

View a listing of our faculty and their research