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Humanities & Teacher Education

Teacher Education: Practical Experience

The Teacher Education program recognizes that hands-on work with students is a crucial component in learning to teach, and Seaver College teacher education candidates have many opportunities to interact with elementary students, middle school students, and high school students. In fact, one of the requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program is to verify previous experience working with children and youth in church  and school settings, as a tutor, and/or in service-learning projects. This requirement provides the faculty with some assurance that students entering the program have the experiences to make an informed choice to become teachers. Throughout the subject-matter coursework, faculty prepare students with in-depth applicable content for the classroom.

Each professional preparation course includes fieldwork in increasing amounts, so that by the time students are placed in Introduction to Student Teaching (EDUC 571 or EDUC 581) they have completed at least 90 hours of fieldwork in schools. Besides confirming a student's commitment to becoming a teacher, this early classroom experience enriches the content of professional preparation courses as professors connect educational theory to students' observations and work in local school classrooms.

  • Introductory courses EDUC 561 and EDUC 562 each require 20 hours of observation in elementary or secondary schools.
  • Literacy Theory and Methods (EDUC 564M and EDUC 564S) requires 50 hours of applied fieldwork.
  • Introduction to Student Teaching (EDUC 571 or EDUC 581) is a full semester course requiring seminar attendance, methods courses,  and 160 hours of student teaching in specified curricular areas in a K-12 classroom.
  • Advanced Student Teaching (EDUC 572/582) is a semester-long full day student teaching experience including at least three weeks of complete takeover of teaching duties.
  • One multiple subject assignment must be in an upper grade and one in a primary grade.
  • One Single subject assignment must be in a middle school classroom and one in a high school.
  • Student teachers gain significant experience working with students in a variety of grade levels and school settings, including students who are economically,
    culturally, and linguistically diverse.