The internship is the culminating experience for a candidate in the Teacher Education Program. The Internship is a full semester placement in a public school classroom setting that includes twenty days of full-time teaching and the full responsibility of maintaining a classroom. Candidates may not enroll in other classes, be employed, or engage in significant social club or extracurricular activities during the Internship experience. More specifically, candidates should not plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics, Jamboree, or any other time consuming activities.
The following criteria must be demonstrated upon application for the Internship:
- Complete the Internship Application Form and submit it to the Department of Education office.
- Establish admission into the Teacher Education Program at least 2 semesters prior to application for the Internship.
- Demonstrate and maintain a GPA of 2.5 in the following areas:
- Overall
- Teaching Field
- Professional Studies
Further materials include:
- Test results from the Alabama Prospective Teacher Test must be on file in the Department of Education office.
- Test results from the Praxis II must be on file in the Department of Education office. (This means that you will need to take the Praxis II the semester prior to making application for the Internship in order to receive your scores.)
Demonstrate successful completion of your degree plan after the current semester's classes. (Or after summer classes, if applicable.)
The applicant must also
- Submit a complete and correct 1 ˝ page autobiography.
- Submit 440 hours of satisfactory, approved and documented clinical experience.
- Complete the Developmental Portfolio in LiveText™.
- Demonstrate active membership in SAEA with dues paid in full.
- Have your picture taken by the Secretary of the Department of Education.
- Complete a satisfactory interview with the Department of Education Chair and one other faculty member. A lesson plan will be presented at this time and your Developmental Portfolio will be reviewed.
- Complete a brief Question & Answer Session with the Teacher Education Committee.
- Receive approval from the Teacher Education Committee.
Any application that does not meet all necessary requirements will not be accepted, or may be held for consideration the following semester.
Due to the increased risk of litigation and, for the candidates' protection, students must show proof of educator's liability insurance which may be obtained by becoming members of the Student Alabama Education Association (SAEA). Candidates must show proof of insurance upon enrollment in ED 2120, Introduction to Education, and maintain membership throughout the Internship.
Upon program completion and successful ratings during the Internship, the candidate will file for certification in the State of Alabama. The State of Alabama requires a criminal background check with the application for certification. Two separate fees of $49 and $20, as well as two imprinted fingerprint cards, must accompany the application for certification. Fingerprint cards are available in the Department of Education office.