Special Programs and Opportunities

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.

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

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. 

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.

 

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 Education Department supports the group, our members come from many different disciplines.

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

Faith-Filled teaching
This group explores the relationship between teaching, learning and faith; connects these ideas to personal experiences; and considers how to integrate them into future classroom practices.

Future Administrators
This organic group has come together to explore school administration. Students interested in pursuing educational leadership meet regularly with faculty members who previously served as administrators.

InnovatED Team
Our InnovatED team is a group of future educators dedicated to providing professional development in all areas of teaching, including technology and portfolio workshops, guest speakers and more. For more information, visit our website. 

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 working with faculty on the research process, writing grants, attending professional meetings, presenting research at conferences, and collaborating with faculty on peer-reviewed publications.

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, while others focus 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. Sometimes, these are 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