The Professional Year
Professional preparation to teach takes place during two semesters, and includes capstone methods courses, professional development courses, field experience, seminars, and clinical practice. Field placement normally continues with the same supervising teacher during both semesters of the professional year.
Fall Semester: EDUC 430 & 43X
Capstone Methods Courses – During the final semester of university classes, Clinical Interns will be enrolled by the department in one of the following capstone methods courses:
EDUC 430 – Lesson Planning and Classroom Management Along with a licensure area:
- EDUC 431 – K-12 Art Teaching Methods
- EDUC 432 – 6-12 English/Language Arts Teaching Methods
- EDUC 433 – K-12 Foreign Language Teaching Methods
- EDUC 434 – K-12 Health and Physical Education Teaching Methods
- EDUC 435 – 6-12 Math Teaching Methods
- EDUC 436 – 6-12 Science Teaching Methods
- EDUC 437 – 6-12 Social Studies Teaching Methods
- EDUC 438 – K-12 Theater Arts Teaching Methods
- EDUC 439 – Elementary and Special Education Teaching Methods
The field experience requires middle and high school licensure candidates to spend a full period per week in a particular class with a supervising teacher, or in the case of the elementary candidates, at least one hour per week in the class of the supervising teacher. Candidates observe, tutor, team-teach when appropriate and teach three to five of their own planned lessons. The university supervisor will observe at least one of these classes.
Requirements Prior to Clinical Practice – All course work in the academic discipline as well as the licensure area must be completed prior to the beginning of clinical practice. Undergraduate students who do not have qualifying SAT or ACT scores as determined by NCDPI must have passed Praxis I. Candidates must have been formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Candidates complete a Professional Year application process which includes a North Carolina Health Certificate, updated background check, and interview with the field placement coordinator. All items are considered by the EPP Assessment Committee, and if approved, submitted to the office of the superintendent. Teacher Candidates and their supervising teachers are required to attend 2 orientations fall semester. The September orientation covers the goals and objectives of the fall EDUC 430 semester. A December orients participants to the goals, objectives, and procedures of the spring Clinical Practice semester.