Office of Clinical Experiences - Internship
Internship Placement Procedures
The internship, one of the most significant requirements of the Educator Preparation Program, is viewed as the culminating aspect of the professional component of teacher preparation. Achievement of program objectives requires a carefully planned sequence of laboratory experiences, including directed observation, participation, and full-time responsible teaching under the direction of a master teacher and a university supervisor.
An effective intern experience provides opportunities:
- to synthesize and apply previous learning and experience
- to develop and apply analytical and problem-solving skills to the various activities of teaching, including self-evaluation
- for professional growth by observing, planning, and teaching with a veteran, clinically-trained teacher, recommended by the teacher’s principal
Prior to interning, the applicant must:
- be classified as a senior and admitted to upper division
- meet all departmental requisites, overall 2.7 GPA
- be in good standing according to the University records (those with pending University disciplinary action or legal action will be accepted pending the outcome of the action)
Applicants who have been arrested and convicted of violation of local, state, or federal drug laws or of other serious offenses involving moral turpitude will not be admitted). Administration of this phase of the students’ work is provided by the Internship Coordinator in the Office of Clinical Experiences who works with the Executive Director of Undergraduate Affairs and Educator Preparation, department chairpersons, the educator preparation staff of the University and local school systems to provide a program of internship experiences for all prospective teachers.
ECU cannot confirm whether any of its courses or programs meet requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of North Carolina. ECU strongly encourages students to contact applicable licensing boards in states they wish to pursue licensure prior to seeking admission or beginning study in an academic program.
Internship Application Procedures
- Complete the Application for Internship; the Application for Internship is available from their advisor or program area coordinator.
- Assignments will be located within the Latham Clinical Schools Network. The candidate prioritizes their top four choices based on a variety of factors: location, employment hopes, family, home etc. Candidates are not placed in schools in which they have attended, have relatives employed, have been employed, or have children enrolled.
- Internship placements outside the network are reserved for students enrolled in a virtual teacher education program only.
- The program area coordinator will attach verification of the candidate’s upper division admission date and cumulative, current GPA. In alignment with NC Program Approval Standards, students must be admitted to upper division and submit their Senior I application to the Office of Clinical Experiences by:
- No later than the end of the first summer session for Fall/Spring internships
- No later than the first day of classes of the Spring semester for Spring/Fall internships
- Candidates are assigned to systems based on: application deadlines, program area requests, travel time and distance for students, distribution to systems, system liaison and principal recommendations, and availability for clinical teachers in the licensure area.
- Candidates are not allowed to solicit their own placement; all placement requests must originate from the Office of Clinical Experiences.
- If a candidate has previously withdrawn or been involuntarily removed from an internship leading to licensure, the candidate must submit a request to the Office of Clinical Experiences for a new internship placement by completing a Petition for Exception form with the advisor/program area coordinator.