Student Teaching
Education Courses in Student Teaching
To ensure that future professionals are competent, the privilege of taking the course in student teaching (EDUC 349 and EDUC 449 or EDUC 359 and EDUC 459) is restricted to students whose cumulative grade point average through their junior year is 3.0 or better.
Additional requirements for all student teachers are good health, character, personality and acceptable spoken and written English. Your placement in student teaching is contingent upon your acceptance by a cooperating teacher in an elementary or secondary school that has been approved by the Bucknell education department.
Students must meet all necessary prerequisites prior to student teaching. The education department reserves the right to specify the semester during which you're permitted to enroll in student teaching. In addition, you are responsible for obtaining transportation to the placement.
You must apply to the Pre-certification, Initial Preparation Program no later than the first semester of your junior year.
Clearances
You will not receive a field placement until your clearances are on file in the department office. If you are registered for a class that has a practicum component in which you work in a local school as a tutor, observer or student teacher, you need to obtain the three clearances below before you start your work in local schools.
Directions for completing the clearance forms
- Act 151: PA Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 34: PA Criminal History Record Check
- FBI Criminal History (Fingerprint)
The Portfolio Assignment
During your student teaching semester, you will be asked to demonstrate a variety of competencies that, taken together, ensure that you are on your way to becoming an excellent teacher.
Your portfolio will be one very explicit way of demonstrating to yourself, your Bucknell supervisor and prospective employers that you possess the skills and abilities that are required for certification in a variety of competency areas.