The practicum (student teaching) experience is the final professional experience for undergraduate students seeking initial licensure. Prospective teachers experience the varied roles of the classroom teacher for a minimum of 12 weeks and at least 360 clock hours. Clear instructional responsibility for at least half of this time and full responsibility for a substantial period is required. Students are jointly supervised and assessed by a representative from the Department of Education and Human Services and the supervising practitioner. Internships and apprenticeships are possible options in selected cases.

Pre-practicum and practicum placement sites may require students to complete the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and/or Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI) prior to acceptance into their facility. Students are encouraged to contact schools early in their academic program regarding CORI/SORI requirements.

Standards for Practicum:

• Only college seniors who have completed the prerequisite courses may take a practicum; transfer students must complete a minimum of 8 credit hours in residency prior to making application.
• Prerequisite courses must be completed with grades of "B" or better.
• All incomplete grades must be successfully completed prior to making application to student teach.
• Students must pass the Communications and Literacy section of the MTEL, as well as the content area section(s) of the MTEL prior to enrolling in: EHS 415: Practicum:  Middle School Teaching or EHS 416: Practicum: Secondary School Teaching. Documentation of passing scores must be provided to the program director prior to making application.
• Students must submit a written application along with a current transcript and two letters of recommendation by October 10th. All student teacher applications will be reviewed by the education studies faculty who make the final recommendation.
• All practicum students will be asked to interview with the education studies faculty.
• Classroom teachers are required by Massachusetts law to have a tuberculin test (Mantoux) prior to the initiation of student teaching. The printed results of the Mantoux test must be submitted with the student teaching application.
• Placements are made in schools approved by the program director in communities other than a student’s hometown/residence. Students may not be placed in any setting in which prior acquaintance among any of the school’s constituency groups presents potential conflicts for the student teacher’s appropriate functioning as a professional.
• Because student teachers must be available for school assignments every day, undergraduates should plan to attend at least one summer session in order to lighten the academic schedule for the semester in which they undertake student teaching.
• Unsatisfactory performance in two practica may result in termination from the program.