Field experience & student teaching

Students pursuing education certification will get field experience. 

This includes time you’ll spend observing classrooms, helping cooperating teachers and working one-on-one with students.

Field experience culminates with student teaching where you’ll spend 16 weeks in the classroom with the goal of assuming all responsibilities of a classroom teacher for at least 15 consecutive days.

Requirements

Field experience

Field experience will require background clearance. This is completed through the Family Care Safety Registry External link. There are certain criminal activities that can prevent you from being certified in the state of Missouri. If you have concerns, contact the Education Department at EducatorPrep@CCIS.edu for a confidential meeting.

Students in field experience courses are encouraged to have personal liability insurance. Students who are members of a professional association, including the Student MSTA or Student MNEA, may receive personal liability insurance as a benefit.

Student teaching

Student teaching requires a letter of intent and application packet. Before student teaching, students will need to submit an application form, resume and cover letter. A background and fingerprinting check through DESE External link will be required. Additionally, students will need to apply for a substitute teaching certificate External link after creating a DESE profile.

Students must also take the Missouri Content Assessment External link, part of the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments External link.

View the Student Teacher Checklist PDF link

Other documents are available in the content tabs of CougarTeach.