Per Texas Administrative Code (TAC rule 228.35), for initial certification, teacher candidates are required to complete field experiences in school prior to clinical teaching.
Students must be formally admitted into the Teacher Education Program prior to field course enrollment.
- For teacher candidates who are long-term substitutes, up to 15 hours of field-based experience may be satisfied by serving as a long-term substitute. A long-term substitute is an individual who has been hired by a school or district to work at least 30 consecutive days in an assignment as a classroom teacher.
- For teacher candidates who are educational aids, field-based hours may be satisfied at their assigned campus as long as the hours are NOT completed while performing the job of an aide and the instructional or educational activities include:
- Authentic school setting in a public or private school accredited or approved by the TEA;
- Instruction by content certified teachers;
- Actual students in classrooms/instructional settings;
- Content or grade-level specific classrooms/instructional settings.
- For teacher candidates not employed by any district, a minimum of 30 hours is required to be completed in a classroom setting. Students may exceed 30 hours based on semester, instructor, dates and times at the district and within the given field course at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
Coursework
A minimum of 30 field-based experience hours are required prior to clinical teaching which must be completed in a classroom setting. Instructors of field-based coursework and UTCH (math & science only) will provide further instructions per given semester via UTRGV email.
Review coursework requirements based on your selected program.
Expectations | 1st Semester in CEP | 2nd Semester in CEP | 3rd Semester in CEP |
---|---|---|---|
Field Experience Hours | 20 Hours (5 Weeks, 4 Hours) |
40 Hours (8 Weeks, 5 Hours) |
|
Field-Based Course |
EDSL 3310 | EDCI 3336 |
Expectations | Semester in CEP | 2nd Semester in CEP | 3rd Semester in CEP |
---|---|---|---|
Field Experience Hours |
Pre-Teaching Experience ½ day from 8:00am to 12:00pm for six weeks |
Developing Teaching Experience ½ day from 8:00am to 12:00pm for six weeks |
Applied Teaching Experience 1 extended day from 8:00am to 1:00pm for six weeks |
Field-Based Course |
ECED 4391 and ECED 4392 | ECED 4394 and ECED 4315 | ECED 4314 and ECED 4395 |
Field Experience Hours | 20 Hours (38 Modules) |
40 Hours (8 Weeks, 5 Hours) |
Field-Based Course | EDUC 3302 | EDUC 3304 |
Field Experience Hours | 15 hours total | 15 hours total |
Field-Based Course | UTCH 3302 | UTCH 3303 |
Roles and Responsibilities
Teacher Candidate is responsible for:
- Communicating directly with instructor and following-up to ensure there are no gaps in communication.
- Frequently monitoring UTRGV email for communication and instructions.
- Completing all district criminal background checks and other procedures to begin field hours.
- Adhering to all district/campus policies.
- Being a source of support for mentor/cooperating teacher(s) and students.
- Fulfilling all course field assignments.