Office of Clinical Practice

• Early Field Experience

  Early field experiences occur throughout your course of study, connected to education coursework (Curriculum I and Curriculum II).

  During these experiences, you, as a teacher candidate, will participate in a variety of educational settings, with children and/or adolescents throughout the grade range of your chosen certification. You will observe and engage in developmental educational activities that hone your skills as future teachers.

  You should reserve four weeks in both Curriculum I and Curriculum II for fieldwork. 

• Student Teaching

  Student teaching is your culminating field experience. During student teaching, you develop competencies in performing the role of a teacher. You will test ideas and assume responsibility while under the supervision and mentoring of a cooperating teacher and college supervisor.

  Childhood majors participate in student teaching at both the primary and intermediate levels while the adolescence majors teach at both the middle and high school levels. Special education/childhood education majors receive placement in both special and childhood education classrooms.

• Educational Leadership Internships

  Students in our educational leadership programs will participate in integrative internships totaling 400-hours. These internships consist of elementary, middle school, high school and central office experiences. Most hours are completed at the leader candidate’s primary school site.  

  Internships are an integrated experience in the program and are spread over an entire school year. Interns are expected to participate in school functions that occur before and after college semesters begin and end. Each intern has a school-based mentor — an experienced practitioner and a college internship supervisor will be assigned for the year. 

• General Clinical Experience Information
  • Previous teaching experience cannot be substituted for early fieldwork or student teaching.
  • Current teaching experience (in the correct grade-band and subject area, with the correct position title, in accordance with the certification of pursuit) might be eligible for early fieldwork. Ask the department for details.
  • Fieldwork is completed in person with actual students and teachers, during the typical school day 
  • Fieldwork must be completed in New York state
  • Fieldwork must be completed in the certification area of pursuit. This means that students in the childhood education M.S.T. program must complete clinical practice in grades 1-6. 

About Student Teaching

• Regions & Placements

  Regions

  Receive placement in one of five different regions: Albany, Saratoga, Glens Falls, greater Plattsburgh area and New York City.

  Plattsburgh operates senior field experience centers in various geographic areas extending from the Canadian border to Malone, and south to the Glens Falls, Albany, and New York City regions. Senior field experience assignments are limited to these geographic regions. With the exception of New York City, candidates may be required to relocate to any of these regions.

  Placements

  Students in:

  • Childhood Education grades 1–6, (EDT494) receive a lower primary placement (grades 1–3) and an intermediate placement (grades 4–6)
  • Adolescence Education combined B.A./M.S.T. 5 year program for grades 7–12, (EDT594) receive a middle school placement (grade 7–8) and a high school placement (grades 9–12)
  • Combined Special Education (EDT595) & Childhood Education, B.S./M.S.Ed. (EDT596) receive a special education placement (grades 1–6) and a childhood education placement (grades 1–6)
  • M.S.T. Childhood Education grades 1–6 (EDT594)
  • M.S.T. Adolescence Education grades 7–12 (EDT594)
• Mandatory Application Session

  At the beginning of every spring semester, ALL candidates qualified to student teach during the following fall or spring semesters must attend a mandatory student teaching application session.

   

• Admission Requirements for Student Teaching — Childhood Education Grades 1-6

  Admission to the Senior Field Experience (Student Teaching) for Childhood Education Grades 1–6

  Candidates must meet certain requirements to qualify for admission to the senior field experience (student teaching).

  These are:

  1. Attendance in the spring semester (1 to 2 semesters prior to student teaching) at a mandatory student teaching application session;
  2. Completion of the appropriate student teaching application form and all other required data forms;
  3. Minimum grade of C in ENG101 English composition;
  4. Completion of all required coursework in general education and area of concentration. Extenuating circumstances will be considered;
  5. Completion of all required professional education courses through the semester preceding the senior field experience with no grade below a C;
  6. 3.0 cumulative GPA; and
  7. Minimum grade of C in all concentration courses.
• Admission Requirements for Student Teaching — Combined B.A./M.S.T. Adolescence Education Grades 7–12 & Combined B.S./M.S.Ed. Childhood/Special Education Grades B–6

  Admission to Combined B.A./M.S.T. Adolescence Education Grades 7–12 & Combined B.S./M.S.Ed. Childhood/Special Education Grades B–6

  Prior to student teaching a candidate must have:

  1. Attendance in the spring semester (1 to 2 semesters prior to student teaching) at a mandatory student teaching application session;
  2. Completion of the appropriate student teaching application form and all other required data forms; Minimum grade of C in ENG101 English composition;
  3. A minimum of 30 graduate hours at 3.0 GPA or above;
  4. All required graduate professional education courses through the semester preceding the student teaching experience with no grade below a B;
  5. 3.0 cumulative GPA for undergraduate work; and
  6. Minimum grade of C in all concentration courses.

   

• Admission Requirements for Student Teaching — Childhood & Adolescence Education M.S.T. Program Only (EDT594)

  Admission to Student Teaching Childhood & Adolescence Education M.S.T. Program Only (EDT594)

  Prior to student teaching a candidate must have:

  1. Attendance in the spring semester (1 to 2 semesters prior to student teaching) at a mandatory student teaching application session;
  2. Completion of the appropriate student teaching application form and all other required data forms;
  3. Complete a minimum of 30 graduate hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; and
  4. Complete all required graduate professional education courses through the semester preceding the student teaching experience with no grade below a B.
• Student Teaching Handbook

  See the Student Teaching Handbook for more information.