Field Experiences

Overview

Field experience is an integral part of the programs in the Department of Learning and Teaching. The field experiences are opportunities for the student to apply coursework theory in environments that allow for increasing levels of responsibilities. The field experiences should relate to the student's professional goals, should provide the opportunity to interrelate theory and practice, and should prepare the student for daily classroom responsibilities. The student is monitored and evaluated throughout all field experiences in order to enable the faculty to determine when the student is ready for credentialing.

Types of Field Experiences

There are four types of field experiences.

• Classroom observations provide the student with the opportunity to observe teachers in a variety of settings.
• Service learning is experiential learning through service that meets the needs of the community and the student.
• A practicum is an opportunity for the student to work with experienced teachers and to practice the specific teaching techniques being taught in a methods course.
• Student teaching is a training process that provides the student with opportunities to gradually work into being responsible for total classroom management, curriculum development, and the other duties of a regular classroom teacher.
  

Breadth of Field Experiences

The student is required to select field experiences that are diverse with respect to school site, age and grade level of the students, and cultural background of the students. It is also a state requirement that at least one extended field experience (practicum or student teaching) be at a public school.

Each core course incorporates a field experience.

Multiple Subject Coursework and Field Experiences
EDUC 381C/581C		Multicultural and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3) Field requirement:5 hours of service learning, 5 hours of classroom observation
EDUC 382/582		Psychological Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society (3) Field experience:8 hours of classroom observation
EDUC 383P/583P		Methods of Teaching Reading and Language Arts (3) Field requirement:50-hour practicum
EDUC 384C/584C		Methods of Teaching English Language and Academic Development (3) Field requirement:20 hours of service learning
EDUC 385P/585P		Elementary Curriculum and Methods (6) Field requirement:50-hour practicum
EDSP 389/589		Healthy Environments and Inclusive Education (3) Field requirement:10 hours of observation
EDUC 490P*/590P		Student Teaching for the Multiple Subject Credential (10)* Field requirement:16 weeks, full-time.
EDUC 490S*/590S*		Student Teaching Seminar for the Multiple Subject Credential (2)*
*590P and 590S must be taken concurrently
Single Subject Coursework and Field Experiences
EDUC 381C/581C		Multicultural and Philosophical Foundations of Education (3) Field requirement:5 hours service learning, 5 hours of classroom observation
EDUC 382/582		Psychological Foundations of Education in a Diverse Society (3) Field requirement:8 hours of classroom observation
EDUC 384C/584C		Methods of Teaching English Language and Academic Development (3) Field requirement:20 hours of service learning
EDUC 332P/532P		Curriculum and Methods of Teaching in Secondary Schools (3) Field requirement:50-hour practicum
EDUC 334P/534P		Methods of Teaching Reading in Secondary Schools (3) Field requirement:50-hour practicum
EDSP 389/589		Healthy Environments and Inclusive Education (3) Field requirement:10 hours of observation
EDUC 491P*/591P*		Student Teaching for the Single Subject Credential (10)* Field requirement:20 weeks, full-time
EDUC 491S*/591S*		Student Teaching Seminar for the Single Subject Credential (2)*

* 591P and 591S must be taken concurrently

SUMMER FIELD EXPERIENCE GUIDLINES

Student Teaching

Preparing for Student Teaching

The student should begin to prepare for the student teaching experience early in his or her academic career. Advancement to daily student teaching responsibilities is limited to students who have met all requirements:

Prerequisites to Student Teaching

All students applying to student teaching must be admitted into the USD credential program.

Before applying to student teach, the student must

• Take the CBEST and submit original passing results to the Credential Analyst
• Complete a Criminal Background Check through the Credential Analyst
• Determine if he or she meets the subject-matter requirements through an approved program or through testing and submit all passing test results (CSET, MSAT, SSAT, and/or PRAXIS) to the Credential Analyst

Before starting to student teach, the student must

• Successfully complete all other coursework (graduate students on a one year program may take one course during student teaching)
• Have a GPA of 2.75 and C- or better in upper division courses (undergraduates) OR have a GPA of 3.0 (graduate students)
• Receive a grade of B- or better in all credential courses
• Successfully complete both methods course practicums
• Submit a passing portfolio-in-process (2042 credential students only)

In addition, it is suggested the student

• Obtain a Tuberculosis Screening to provide the placement site administrator
• Obtain Professional Liability Insurance from a source such at the California Teachers Association (recommended)

Applying to Student Teach

There is a mandatory preliminary meeting each Fall and each Spring for students applying to student teach during the following semester. The dates for these meetings are mid-October for Spring student teaching and mid-March for Fall student teaching, and are announced three to four weeks before the meeting. Applications for Student Teaching are obtained from the Director of Field Experiences at that meeting.

Student teacher placements are made within most San Diego County school districts. Placement preferences are taken into consideration, but cannot always be honored. The most important consideration in the placement process is providing experiences with competent, professional cooperating teachers in school settings that will support student learning. Students receive their placements at a mandatory placement meeting the week before student teaching begins.

Please note that Special Education internships and student teaching have additional requirements. You should contact Dr. Judy Mantle at 619 260-7879 for more information.

• Student Teaching Seminars
  During the student teaching semester, the student teacher is required to attend all Student Teaching Seminars. The exact dates of these seminars will be provided at the beginning of the semester.
• The Student Teaching Experience
  Student teaching is a full-time experience that lasts for one semester. Multiple-subject candidates are assigned to one co-operating teacher and gradually work into teaching all subjects and managing the classroom for the full day. Single-subject candidates are generally assigned to two co-operating teachers and teach three periods, spending the rest of the day in observation, preparation, and other faculty responsibilities. All student teachers are also assigned a university supervisor. The university supervisor is the link for both the student teacher and the co-operating teacher with the university. The supervisor makes formal observations throughout the semester, providing feedback and formative evaluation, and, with the co-operating teacher, prepares and conducts midterm and final evaluations.
• Guidelines for Student Teachers
  If you are preparing to student teach, please take a look at our Student Teacher Handbook.
• Guidelines for Co-operating Teachers
  If you are a co-operating teacher, please take a look at our Guidelines for Co-operating Teachers section of the Student Teacher Handbook.
• Guidelines for University Supervisors
  If you are a university supervisor, please take a look at our Guidelines for University Supervisors section of the Student Teacher Handbook.

Frequently Asked Questions about Student Teaching

1. How do I apply for student teaching?
   Applications for Student Teaching are available from the Director of Field Experiences, in the Student Teaching Handbook, and from your advisor.
2. I am an undergraduate student and would like to student teach after graduation. Is this possible?
   An undergraduate student can student teach after graduation. To do so, you must also submit a shortened application for graduate admission through the Admissions Office. If you are seeking admissions to a Master's degree program, you must submit the complete application.
3. When will I know my student teaching assignment and where will I be placed?
   You will find out your student teaching assignment at a mandatory meeting the week before student teaching begins. The university places students in districts throughout San Diego County and works with site leaders to locate optimal experiences for each student. Students can request placement within specific districts. However, we cannot guarantee that all requests can be honored specifically.
4. Can I work part-time during my student teaching assignment?
   Student teaching is a full-time experience. Being successful requires hours of preparation. We recommend that you not hold a job or take coursework along with student teaching.
5. Can I interview for a job while student teaching?
   You can set up job interviews during student teaching. Make sure that your co-operating teacher and your university supervisor are aware of the exact times when you will need to be out of the classroom. If you are responsible for lesson planning, you need to provide those lessons to your co-operating teacher in advance.
6. Additional Information
   For additional information regarding student teaching, please refer to the Student Teaching Handbook.