The clinical internship, also referred to as student teaching, is the capstone experience of teacher preparation. Through coursework, you’ve developed the knowledge, skills, and strategies to be an effective educator. The clinical internship provides the opportunity to put that learning into practice in a real classroom setting.

Clinical interns are placed in school communities full-time for one semester under the guidance of experienced educators.

For questions, please contact the Office of Field Experiences at studentteaching@appstate.edu. 

Prerequisites

Before beginning your clinical internship (student teaching), you must:

  • Be admitted to Teacher Education.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher.
  • Complete all coursework except EDU 4900 or EDU 5900.
    • Professional Core courses and all methods courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
    • Individual programs may set additional minimum requirements.
  • Resolve all incomplete grades.
  • Receive approval from the Office of Field Experiences.
  • Complete a health screening and submit required documentation.
  • Have a current criminal background check (CBC) on file.

Note: It is your responsibility to meet all program-specific requirements. Refer to your department for additional prerequisites.

Application Process

You must submit a clinical internship (student teaching) application the semester before you plan to intern.

After submitting your application, you will be invited to a Third Steps to Teaching meeting, where you’ll learn about the placement process. Attendance at this meeting is required.

Placement Process

The Office of Field Experiences coordinates all placements for the clinical internship. Students may not arrange their own placements.

Placement process:

  1. Attend the mandatory informational meeting the semester before your internship.
  2. Provide placement preference information to the Office of Field Experiences.
  3. The Office of Field Experiences works with students, faculty, and school districts to determine suitable placements.
  4. Placements are assigned according to district policies and availability.
  5. Clinical interns must have diverse placements throughout their program.
  6. Interns cannot be placed in schools where they have relatives, children, or close friends.
  7. Once confirmed, interns receive a placement confirmation email.
  8. Clinical interns are encouraged to visit their school site before beginning their internship.

Placement Districts

App State students can be placed in the following districts for clinical internship:

  • Alamance-Burlington
  • Alexander
  • Alleghany
  • Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork
  • Ashe       
  • Asheville City
  • Avery      
  • Buncombe
  • Burke      
  • Cabarrus 
  • Caldwell
  • Catawba  
  • Chapel Hill/Carrboro City
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg
  • Cleveland
  • Cumberland
  • Davidson 
  • Davie      
  • Durham   
  • Elkin City  
  • Gaston    
  • Guilford
  • Henderson
  • Hickory City
  • Iredell-Statesville      
  • Johnston
  • Kannapolis City
  • Lincoln    
  • McDowell     
  • Mitchell
  • Montgomery   
  • Mooresville Graded
  • Mount Airy City
  • Newton-Conover City
  • Randolph
  • Rockingham 
  • Rowan     
  • Rutherford
  • Stokes     
  • Surry       
  • Union
  • Wake      
  • Watauga 
  • Wilkes
  • Winston-Salem/Forsyth     
  • Yadkin

Experience for all education majors

Office of Field Experiences

The RCOE Office of Field Experiences supports education majors in meeting field experience and clinical internship requirements. Whether preparing for licensure or seeking hands-on practice in teaching, counseling, or family therapy, we guide students through placements and next steps.