Interim Director: Rebecca Richard (rrichar5@eastern.edu)
Both Field Experience and Student Teaching are an integral part of Pennsylvania (PA) teacher certification programs.
Field Experience
A crucial element of the teacher education programs at Eastern University is the securing of high quality field experiences and the gaining of competencies needed to become successful teachers. Field experiences are gained by participating in classrooms in a variety of ways which range from initial observations at Stage 1 and progressing to fully teaching students at Stage 4. These experiences expand the prospective teacher's comprehension of effective classroom practices and assist students into converting theoretical constructs into practical teaching strategies and methods. All of these field experiences are tied into coursework where students converse with their professors and write papers that memorialize their understandings in writing.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is the culminating experience of our teacher education program and is required prior to applying for a Pennsylvania teaching (Instructional I) certification. Students may fulfill this requirement either at the undergraduate or the graduate level by concurrently enrolling in and successfully completing course requirements in Student Teaching and Practicum. Student Teaching and Practicum, combined, make up a full-semester load (15 credits for undergraduates & 9 credits for graduates) and provide a student with hands-on preparation for a successful job in the teaching field.
Before applying to student teach, you must meet all the following requirements:
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Successfully pass the Basic Skills Requirement (not required for graduate students)
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Complete all certification course requirements.(Graduate students must have taken a minimum of two graduate level courses at Eastern prior to student teaching)
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Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
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Find information about certification requirements.
**Please note: Your Eastern University transcript will be reviewed to ensure that all GPA and course requirements have been met.
To apply for student teaching, you must complete the required application online using the Student Teaching Application.
NOTE: Request schools/school districts that are within 30 miles of the St. Davids campus or an Eastern University student teaching supervisor. You are required to provide your own transportation.
Additional materials required as part of the student teaching file are the submission of a current, professional resume and a Philosophy of Education.
The application for student teaching is open December 15-January 15. Students must complete the application the December before they plan to student teach. If you are unsure when to apply, please contact the Director of Student Teaching
All clearances (TB, Child Abuse, State Police and F.B.I) are valid one year from date of issue. Students are to keep the originals in their possession and submit copies of each clearance by the appropriate deadline (Feb 1 for fall candidates and Sep 1 for spring candidates) in order to be assigned to a student teaching placement. All documents must be uploaded to Castle Branch.
- Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)
- F.B.I Fingerprint (Federal Criminal History Record – Act 114)
- Health Assessment including a P.P.D. Tuberculin Test – Immunization history portion is not required
- Can be completed by your primary care physician or at any minute/health clinic.
- Note: undergraduate students can get their TB test completed on campus at Student Health Services
Deadlines for submitting all materials are firm. Any materials received after the designated deadline will be processed at the discretion of the student teaching coordinators.
Students who wish to fulfill a portion of student teaching overseas should contact the Education Services Coordinator.
