Office of Clinical Experiences - Internship
Overview of the Internship
The internship for all teacher education majors is a two-semester experience in a public-school classroom with a specially trained Clinical Teacher (CT). The first semester (Internship I) is to acclimate the intern to the public-school environment, i.e., to understand policies and procedures, to understand the multiple roles of the classroom teacher, to begin to understand the diverse needs of students, and to begin the process of long-range curricular planning and delivery of instruction. Interns visit the schools an equivalent of one day a week and report for the teacher’s hours.
The second semester (Internship II) is a full semester of teaching, with the CT providing constant feedback to the intern about the teaching and learning process. Interns begin by teaching one small block of time, subject or activity. The teaching load will be gradually increased until a full load is reached. Interns teach full time for a minimum of 15 consecutive days unless in a co-teaching classroom where specifics would be shared. In addition, the intern, with support from the clinical teacher and the university supervisor, adds to their electronic portfolio to document his/her growth and development as a Beginning Teacher (BT).
Internship I — Major Events
| Event | Fall/Spring Cycle | Spring/Fall Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Intern requests placement | Spring or 1st summer session | End of October |
| OCE notifies intern of placement | Summer | December/January |
| Intern participates in required Internship 1 Seminar | August | January |
| Intern reports to school the week following Internship 1 Seminar | August | January |
| Intern visits school the equivalent of one day a week following ECU calendar | August-December | January-May |
| OCE coordinators and program area coordinators contact Internship 1 teachers | Once during semester | Once during semester |
| Intern and clinical teacher complete Internship 1 Agreement Form | End of semester | End of semester |
| OCE assigns supervisors | December-January | May-June |
Internship 2 — Major Events
| Event | Fall/Spring Cycle | Spring/Fall Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Supervisor conducts initial visit | By first 10 days of Internship 2 | By first 10 days of Internship 2 |
| Intern attends Internship 2 seminar | January | August |
| Intern reports to school and follows school calendar during Internship 2 | January-May | August |
| Intern, clinical teacher, and supervisor complete a long-range plan | January | August |
| Supervisor observes – minimum 4 times | January-April | September-December |
| Intern completes portfolio in Taskstream | Date set by OEP | Date set by OEP |
| Intern completes 15 all day or co-teaching agreement | By May | By December |
| Supervisor, with input from clinical teacher, completes final evaluation form | May | December |
| Intern participates in Internship 2 Seminar for Licensure | May | December |
| Intern completes internship | May | December |
Welcome to Teacher Education Handbook
This handbook is designed to assist education majors as they progress through the various stages of their respective programs that lead to licensure as a professional in the field of education. View the Teacher Education Handbook.
Office of Clinical Experiences
Contact information: call 252-328-6051 or email oce@ecu.edu.
The Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE) is located in Speight 104. The OCE website provides announcements, calendars, and various forms used by the CT, interns, and university supervisors.
Program Area Contacts/Coordinators
- Check your catalog for the course your major requires to be completed prior to Internship 2, as well as those that must be completed with a grade of C or better.
- Internship 1 Application Deadlines to be announced
- Please give careful consideration to your county and grade level request.
- Please think about where you will be living during your Internship 2 semester.
- Once placements have been made there will be no changes unless the school system requests the change.
- When placements are secured and finalized, they will be made visible in SONIA.
- No internship applications will be accepted by the Office of Clinical Experiences until the student is admitted to upper division with at least a 2.7 GPA.
- ALL cancellation of internships must be completed on the cancellation form and submitted to OCE as soon as a decision is made to cancel the internship. A student must also cancel their classes with the Registrar!
Licensure Areas
- 00014 Birth-K
- 00025 Elementary (K-6)
- Exceptional Children (K-12)
- 88092 Adapted Curriculum
- 88091 General Curriculum
- Middle Grades (6-9)
- 78180 Language Arts
- 78200 Math
- 78300 Science
- 78400 Social Studies
- Secondary Education (9-12)
- 00100 English
- 00200 Math
- 00300 Science
- 00400 Social Studies
- Special Subject Areas (K-12)
- 00810 Art
- 00511 French
- 00531 German
- 00800 Music
- 00095 Health and Physical Education
- 00190 Reading
- 00521 Spanish
- 00108 Theatre
Internship Calendars
Fall 2025
Spring 2026
Qualifications of Internship Placement
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.
Internship Responsibilities
- ECU Internship Procedures and Responsibilities (PDF)
- Technical Standards
- Practica and Internship Dress Code for all ECU Education Majors
Internship 1
- Physical Form (PDF)
- Internship I Agreement Form (PDF)
- Teacher Assistant Senior Year Placement Procedures (PDF)