Bringing HOPE to the World through Education

Do you dream of becoming a teacher? Does the opportunity to make a difference drive your passion for working with children and young adults? If education is your calling, the Hope College Department of Education will help turn your aspiration into a reality through our Teacher Certification Program.

The education department offers nationally accredited programs leading to professional certification. Graduates are prepared to “hit the ground running,” making a difference right from the start.

Hope’s Teacher Education Program is arranged in three levels of progression during your four-year journey. Graduates will gain valuable classroom experience and earn certification to teach in either elementary, secondary, or additional special education endorsements or English as a Second Language.

EXPLORING A CAREER IN EDUCATION/LEVEL 1
All prospective teachers begin with the same courses, which incorporate field/clinical experiences tied to traditional classes. Once completed, students may apply to the Teacher Education Program at Hope College. The focus is learning about education and the teaching profession. 
COMMITMENT TO AN EDUCATION MAJOR/LEVEL 2

During this time, the focus is on learning how to teach, practicing pedagogical learning and developing lessons and units through various methods. Students must apply to the department in order to take Level 2 Education courses.

Newly accepted students (starting Fall 2021 and after) choose between (1) Elementary/Early Childhood  or (2) Secondary certifications bands.

Accepted students can also add to the above certification bands a K–12 endorsement in one of the following areas:

  • Special Education
  • English as Second Language
  • Art
  • Music
  • Physical Education

Find more information on our 4-year plans:

STUDENT TEACHING/LEVEL 3
Students must apply to and complete Student Teaching, a semester-long, all-day clinical experience, and the Teacher Education Program capstone. Successful completion is required to become a certified teacher by the Michigan Department of Education. 

Hope by the Numbers

  • 100%Graduates Employed

    Our job placement rate is 100% of our graduates.

  • 120+Hours Before Student Teaching

    Our students spend 120+ hours in the field before student teaching.

  • 4Number of Years to Graduate

    Our program allows students to graduate in 4 years.

  • 13Countries Represented

    Hope Education students are currently teaching in over 13 different countries.