Professional Internship in Teacher Certification Programs

The Professional internship (student teaching) is required during the senior year in all professional certification baccalaureate programs of the College of Education. It is needed in order to meet the degree requirements of the college, the certification requirements of the state of Alabama and the standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

A satisfactory internship experience necessitates full-day involvement in a public school for a full semester. Therefore, candidates enrolled in the internship cannot enroll in other courses or seek employment, unless approved in writing by the dean. The internship should be scheduled at a time when candidates will be free of all other demands upon time and energy.

The professional internship application procedure begins during the year prior to the site placement. During the spring semester, an application meeting is scheduled for juniors requesting site placement for the senior year. Candidates should attend this meeting in order to obtain an application and receive additional information concerning placement. The time and place of this meeting are published in the university calendar. Applications are submitted to the Office of Field and Clinical Experiences.

Transfer candidates from other colleges who must complete all professional studies coursework at Alabama State University are required to complete all coursework before registering for the Professional Internship.

Applications are filed at least one semester prior to the date candidates are to begin the internship. At this time, a final decision relative to admission to the internship will be made by the ASU Educator Preparation Assessment and Intervention Committee (EPAIC).

The following criteria must be met prior to the beginning of a professional internship (12 semester hours—undergraduate).

The criteria for admission to the professional internship specify that a candidate must:

Complete the internship application by the deadline date posted in the Field and Clinical Experiences Handbook.
Have senior standing.
Meet admission requirements to the Educator Preparation Program and any additional requirements of the COE.
Have a grade of “C” or better in all professional education and teaching field(s) courses; a 2.75 GPA in the teaching field, a 2.75 GPA in professional studies coursework, and a 2.75 GPA overall. Candidates also must have satisfactorily completed the required early field experiences in schools.
Show evidence of securing a minimum of personal liability insurance commensurate with that available through membership in SAEA.
Have recommendations from major advisor and appropriate department faculty regarding competencies.
Pass the Praxis subject area assessment as required by the ALSDE (if appropriate).
Clear the ABI/FBI background check.
Under normal circumstances, no courses may be taken while completing the internship. In special circumstances courses may be taken concurrently with the internship if prior written permission has been given by the Dean of the College of Education.
If a candidate has any coursework remaining on the ALSDE approved checklist, he/she may take the internship before completing the coursework only under extenuating circumstances with the prior written permission given by the Dean of the College of Education.

NOTE: ALL CANDIDATES MUST APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP.

Candidates enrolled in professional internship are required to:
- Participate in the prescribed internship orientation program;
- Report promptly to the school assigned to begin the internship;
- Attend all scheduled seminars and workshops;
- Be prompt and regular in attendance at the school to which they have been assigned;
- Participate in the professional activities of the school; and
- Follow procedures as outlined in the Handbook for Field and Clinical Experiences.