Candidate Preparation

The relatively small size of Greenville University allows program faculty to become well acquainted with candidates’ dispositions as they relate to professional education. Before student teaching placements are arranged, candidates must complete a sequence of related field experiences. Traditional undergraduate candidates who transfer and who have completed a portion of their pre-service work at another college or university must meet the same theoretical and practical standards. All candidates must complete field experiences with substantial work in diverse settings prior to student teaching.

Field experiences begin with simplistic classroom tasks, progress to work with small groups, and eventually involve classroom instruction. In order to qualify for the Professional Internship, candidates must meet all requirements as noted below.

Clinical Practices and Professional Internship

Candidates must complete the application for Student Teaching, and admission is contingent upon meeting the following criterion:

Undergraduate (traditional & partnership)

1. Receipt of passing scores on the Illinois Certification Content Area test;

2. Individual must have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in their combined professional and specialization coursework, and minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0

3. Successful completion of all required field experience hours and pre-internship clinical experience hours;

4. Successful completion of all required coursework (note: a grade of “C-” or higher must be earned in all courses required for teacher licensure)

5. Approval by the Committee on Teacher Education.

The Undergraduate Professional Internship consists of four components, which include Early Professional Experience, Clinical Practice, Student Teaching Seminar, and Student Teaching.

• The Early Professional Experience component requires candidates to attend the workshop and planning days associated with the opening of school. It also includes the initial student attendance days. The duration of Early Professional Experience is five days.
• The second component of the professional internship is Clinical Practice which occurs the semester before the student teaching semester and includes 48 hours of field experience.
• The third component of the professional internship is the Student Teaching Seminar which occurs during the student teaching semester and is comprised of five seminars.
• The last component of the professional internship is the student teaching assignment. The duration of the student teaching assignment is one semester. In some cases, assignments are split between schools.

Elementary Education – one placement; 15 weeks

Secondary Education – one placement; 15 weeks.

Spanish Education (PK-12) – one placement; 15 weeks

Special Education (K-age 22) –two placements; 10 weeks and 5 weeks

Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) – two placements; 10 weeks and 5 weeks

Physical Education (PK-12) – two placements; 10 weeks and 5 weeks

Master of Arts in Teaching

1. Receipt of passing scores on the Illinois Certification Content Area test;

2. Attaining and maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0;

3. Successful completion of all required field experience hours;

4. Successful completion of all required coursework;

5. Approval by the Committee on Teacher Education.

The Professional Internship consists of four components, which include Early Professional Experience, Clinical Practice, Student Teaching Seminar and Student Teaching.

Elementary Education – 15 weeks

Early Childhood – 15 weeks

Up one level

Professional Internship