Student Teaching, Practicum,
& Field Experiences
Department of Teacher Education
Step from your classroom to theirs.
As a Teacher Education student, the classroom experience is your real-world experience. This is your chance to apply your knowledge, to become a student leader and educator.
Placement Requirements
Complete your Criminal History Report.
The safety of the community we serve is a top priority. Teacher Education students must complete a criminal history report annually to participate in field, student teaching, practicum, and residency experiences. Please see the details below about the placement requirements for your program.
Early Childhood Education (B-5, P-3, and Elementary Dual License)
The following are required documents by the state of Indiana for all students in an early childhood setting (Birth through PK classrooms) and must be completed before starting a field or practicum placement.
- Medical Documentation - Keep & copy documents, good for 3 years
- Record of Adult Physical Health Exam – To be performed by a physician as required by the state
- Fingerprinting through Morphotrust – Keep & copy the receipt, good for 3 years
- Criminal History Report Instructions - Report good for 1 year
The following are required documents for placement within an elementary, middle, or secondary education setting and must be completed before starting a field, student teaching, or practicum placement.
- Criminal History Report Instructions, Report good for 1 year
Policies and Procedures
Student Teaching and Practicum
Early Childhood Practicum Application
for ECE Birth - Age 5 Majors and B.A.S. with an E.C.E. Concentration
Student Teaching, Practicum, & Residency Appointments
Prepare for your placement.
Students should complete the appropriate application from the list above before scheduling an appointment. During your one-on-one student teaching or practicum appointment, you will review your application to ensure that all requirements are met and you understand the placement policies and expectations.
Appointments should be scheduled approximately one year prior to your anticipated placement.
Student Teaching and Field Experience
Put your knowledge to the test in the real world.
Student teaching is your time to start using the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired in the classroom. Lead the students of today, help them grow, and build your confidence and experience as an educator.
| Course | Number of Hours in Field Placement |
|
Social Studies and the Family Teaching and Learning for All Young Children I: Focus on Birth to Age 3 Field Experience: B–3 |
The courses are taken together and share one field experience, which is 30 hours outside of course time. |
|
Teaching and Learning Children Ages 3–5 Issues in Infancy and Early Childhood Mental Health Field Experience: Preschool |
The courses are taken together and share one field experience, which is 40 hours outside of course time. |
| Practicum: B–3 (Birth–5 Program Option Only) | 160 (outside of course instruction) |
| Practicum: 3-5 | 160 (outside of course instruction) |
| Birth–5 option, prior to student teaching | 390 |
| Preschool–3 option, prior to student teaching | 230 |
| Course | Number of Hours in Field Placement |
|
General Educational Psychology Lab / Field Experience |
The course requires you to complete 30 hours of field experience outside of course instructional time. |
|
Block 1 courses are taken together and share one common field experience. |
The courses are taken together and share one field experience, which is 30 hours outside of course time. |
| Block 2 courses are taken together and share one common field experience. | The number of field hours completed outside of course instructional time for the block 2 courses is 78 hours. |
| Block 3 courses are taken together and share one common field experience. | The number of field hours completed outside of course instructional time for the block 3 courses is 156 hours. |
| Field experiences, prior to student teaching | 294 |
| Course | Number of Hours in Field Placement |
|
Examining Self as Teacher Lab/Field Experience |
30 (outside of course instruction) |
|
General Education Psychology Lab/Field Experience |
30 (outside of course instruction) |
|
Subject area methods courses and the adolescent development/classroom management class share a field experience. |
The methods courses (as well as the psychology course) have a 30-hour field placement. The methods course and the adolescent development course are taken together in the fall semester. You will be placed in one field experience that is 60 hours outside of the instructional time of both courses. |
| Total amount of hours completed in field experiences, prior to student teaching | 120 |