Clinical Experiences

Director: Carolyn Walker Hopp; ED 110, 407 823 2436
http://clinicalexperiences.education.ucf.edu

Clinical experiences provide students with a broad range of instructional experiences in various school settings developed through cooperative planning with local school district administrators and teachers. Clinical experiences are an integral part of every degree program and consist of early field experiences as well as Internship I and Internship II. Placement of students is the responsibility of the College of Education.

Students must be aware: if they have been arrested for certain crimes, they may not be able to be placed in internships and/or hired as a teacher. All school districts require fingerprinting prior to Internship I. Some school districts also require drug testing. All applications for internships are made through the office of Clinical Experiences.

Application deadlines for all Internships are:
  • February 15 for Fall semester
  • September 15 for Spring semester
Admission to Internship I

Admission to Internship I will be granted to students who have been admitted to the College of Education and who meet the following additional requirements at the time of application.

  • Have on file in the University admissions office passing scores on all 4 parts of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination General Knowledge Test.
  • It is highly recommended students take and pass the FTCE Professional Education Test before applying for Internship I.
  • Possess minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (2.75 required for Early Childhood Education majors).
  • Possess minimum specialization GPA of 2.5
  • Possess minimum professional preparation GPA of 2.5
  • Achieve a C- (1.75)* or better in all prerequisite methods/specialization courses. However, a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required in the professional, specialization and overall for admission to Internship I (2.75 required for Early Childhood Education majors).
  • Complete a formal application for Internship I online by deadlines listed above
  • Meet any special departmental or program requirements
  • Be recommended by the faculty of the department of the student’s major

Internship I is a three semester hour experience. Students are assigned to work with certified supervising teachers under the direction of a university coordinator. Students are enrolled in a limited number of related professional courses during the experience. Additional courses may be taken only with the consent of the academic program coordinator and department chair.

Admission to Internship II

Internship II is a 9-12 semester hour experience (depending on the program) normally completed during the student’s last semester. Internship II is considered a full-time experience. Students are permitted to enroll in other classes only with the consent of their academic program coordinator and department chair. Admission to Internship II will be granted when students have met the following requirements at the time of application.

  • Successful completion of Internship I
  • Have on file passing scores on all 4 parts of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination General Knowledge Test
  • It is highly recommended that students take and pass the FTCE Subject Area Exam before applying for the Internship II.
  • Possess a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 (2.75 required for Early Childhood Education majors).
  • Possess minimum professional preparation GPA of 2.5*
  • Possess minimum specialization GPA of 2.5*
  • Achieve a C- (1.75) or better in all prerequisite methods/specialization courses, and a minimum GPA of 2.5* is required in the professional preparation and specialization areas. However, a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required in the professional, specialization and overall for admission to Internship II (2.75 required for Early Childhood Education majors).
  • Complete a formal application for Internship II by the published deadline
  • Be recommended by the faculty of the department of the student’s major
  • Meet any special departmental or program requirements

Students must also have completed all methods courses and most of their specialization courses. Some programs require all specialization courses to be completed prior to Internship II. Students must also be approved for admission by the faculty in the department of the student’s major. Internship II experience is completed locally.

* Some programs may specify a different GPA requirement for admission