Field Experiences

Overview

Field experience is an integral part of the programs of the USD Learning and Teaching Program. 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 by a university supervisor throughout all field experiences in order to enable the USD staff and faculty to determine when the student is ready for credentialing.

Types of Field Experiences

There are four types of field experiences and each credential program course utilizes one of them.

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 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, instruction and planning, and the other duties of a regular classroom teacher. Student teaching is the culminating course and experience in the credential program. This experience is organized to give the student the opportunity to observe, plan, and practice. It is a time for the student teacher to extend his or her understanding of concepts developed in the prerequisite coursework and to continue to develop skills to meet the Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs).

We have designed our fieldwork experiences to ensure our students are aware of and appreciate the diversity found in San Diego schools. Each student is required to participate in field experiences that are diverse with respect to school site, grade level and cultural backgrounds of the students.

The multiple subject credential candidate must have at least one extended field experience (practicum or student teaching) in each of the grad ranges K-2 and 3-5. The single subject credential candidate must have at least one extended field experience in each of the grade ranges 6-8 and 9-12.

Each core course incorporates a field experience.

SUMMER FIELD EXPERIENCE GUIDLINES (download Word Doc)

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. Special education student teaching requires a meeting with Coordinator of Special Education and completion of a special education application form prior to submitting the Director of Field Experiences paperwork.

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. Jerry Ammer at 619 260-4292 for more information. Student teaching guidelines are detailed in Special Education Field Experience Student Teaching Guide.

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. The length of a semester matches the calendar of the district not the university. 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. (Please refer to the Student Teaching Handbook p. 8-9)

Guidelines for Student Teachers

If you are preparing to student teach, please take a look at ourStudent Teacher Handbook p. 13. The special educator student teaching requirements are delineated in the Special Education Field Experience Student Teaching Guide

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 p. 11.

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 p. 15.

Special Education Practicum (Student Teaching)

Education Specialist candidates must meet additional requirements for their student teaching as follows:

CSET in multiple subject content area must be passed prior to approval for student teaching.
In additional to filing for student teaching with the Director of Professional Services all education specialist students requesting admission to student teaching must complete the midpoint Education Specialist Electronic Portfolio and complete the additional information sheet Special Education Request for Student Teaching Form prior to submitting admission request to Director of Professional Services. See Special Education Program “Field Experience & Practicum (Student Teaching) Guide” for additional information regarding special education field work and student teaching

Field Experience Guide Student Teaching Special Education (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions about Student Teaching

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.

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. Undergraduates taking special education credential coursework frequently complete the credential coursework and/or student teaching as a graduate student.

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.

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.

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.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding student teaching, please refer to the Student Teaching Handbook.