Field Experiences
Field experiences allow candidates to apply principles and theories learned in their academic coursework to actual practice in the classroom setting. Field experiences also provide opportunities for interactions with diverse populations, ages, and school settings.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires field experience totaling 190 hours, prior to student teaching. These 190 hours include:
- 40 hours of observation and exploration (externship - single school setting)
- 150 hours of pre-student teaching interaction with teachers and students. Some of the 150 hours will take place throughout the required coursework, and will align and integrate with the topics of focus in the course materials, and program goals
Consideration for field experience credit will be given to recent experience in working with children in an instructional setting. Candidates will discuss recent experiences with the Director of the Teacher Intern Program during the personal interview portion of the program intake process.
Student Teaching
Student teaching, as a teacher intern, requires a minimum of 12 weeks/12 credits. These are full-time assignments and are arranged through the Director of the Teacher Intern Program. School sites for student teaching are planned early in the semester prior to the actual student teaching experience. Additional time may be added to the beginning or end of the 12-week assignment in order to meet the required field experience hours.
School sites for student teaching are selected from school districts within a 50-mile radius of Susquehanna University. The university’s teacher intern supervisors will observe the interns a minimum of four times during the student teaching experience, and intern student teachers will attend a minimum of four seminars on the university campus.
Upon successfully completing all program requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, teacher interns are eligible to apply for an Instructional I Teaching Certificate through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.