Field Experiences Required for the Primary and the Middle Childhood Licensure Programs:
Implementing the theories and practices of teaching and learning acquired through university study in Pk-8 classrooms is an essential component of our teacher preparation program. Students on the Marion campus benefit from Pk-8 “field placements,” which are strongly linked to their education coursework, throughout their college career. They are mentored in these placements by area teachers and guided by our dedicated and experienced field supervisors.
Field experiences begin with the First Education Experience Program (FEEP) when students spend 2 half-days per week in both elementary and middle childhood classrooms and continue with a second Field Experience, currently in the Marion City Schools. Advanced field placements, taken in the junior and senior years, involve one full day per week and three full weeks throughout the semester in a classroom in the student’s licensure area. These intensive field experiences, along with university coursework, prepare students for their Student Teaching Internship, when university students co-teach full time with a mentor for an entire semester prior to graduation.
By the end of their teacher preparation program, our students are well-prepared to fulfill the various and varied roles teachers assume in classrooms.
Field Experiences Required for the Child and Youth Studies Major:
Students in the Child and Youth Studies major participate in field experiences designed to connect course content with community-based organizations and other institutions that serve children, adolescents, and families. CYS students complete multiple field experiences of increasing duration and complexity, culminating in a semester-long internship prior to graduation. CYS field experiences and internships are tailored to the educational and career objectives of individual students.