Student Teaching

Student teaching is the capstone experience of teacher preparation. Courses in teacher education have presented you with a variety of ideas and opportunities to learn about teaching. Now it is time for you to put the knowledge, skills, and experience to practice.

You must participate in student teaching full-time for one semester.

For specific questions regarding student teaching, please email studentteaching@appstate.edu.

Student Teaching Prerequisites

The following conditions must be met prior to Clinical Internship:

  • Admitted to Teacher Education.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher. 
  • Completed all coursework with the exception of EDU 4900. Professional Core courses and all methods courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Individual programs may have additional minimum requirements.
  • All grades of incomplete must be removed.
  • Have the approval of the Office of Field Experiences.
  • Complete a health screening and submit required documentation
  • Current CBC must be on file.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to meet all requirements in your program. You should refer to departmental requirements for additional prerequisites for student teaching.

Student Teaching Application Process

The student teaching application is open during the months of January and August.  You must submit a student teaching application the semester before you plan to student teach.  Failure to submit an application by the deadline will delay your student teaching semester.  

  • Fall Semester Student Teachers: If you plan to student teach during the fall semester, apply in January the semester before you will student teach.  The application closes on January 31st at 11:59 p.m.  
  • Spring Semester Student Teachers: If you plan to student teach during the spring semester, apply in August the semester before you will student teach.  The application closes on August 31st at 11:59 p.m.

After submitting an application, you will be invited to a Third Steps to Teaching meeting.  During this meeting, you will learn about the student teaching placement process.  Attendance at one of these meetings is required in order to student teach.  

Student Teaching Placement Process

Your student teaching placement is directed and coordinated by the Office of Field Experiences. Therefore, you should not attempt in any manner to arrange your own placement.

The Office of Field Experiences uses the following process for Clinical Internship placements:

  • Students attend a mandatory informational meeting the semester prior to Clinical Internship. At this meeting, information is provided to students about the placement process and general expectations of Clinical Internship.  
  • The Office of Field Experiences requests information from clinical interns regarding their prior field placements and Clinical Internship placement requests.
  • The Office of Field Experiences works with students and faculty to discuss placement options.
  • The Office of Field Experiences contacts the school district to determine an appropriate placement. Contact is made according to the school district’s policies and protocols for field placements. Clinical interns should not attempt to make their own field placements.
  • Clinical interns must have diverse placements throughout their teacher education program.
  • Clinical interns cannot be placed in schools where they have relatives, children, or close friends.
  • When a suitable placement is confirmed by the school district, the Office of Field Experiences sends placement confirmation emails to the clinical intern.
  • Clinical interns are advised to contact and/or go to the placement school to introduce themselves and tour the school facilities prior to beginning their Clinical Internship.

Student Teaching Districts

We place students in the following districts:

  • Alamance-Burlington        
  • Alexander        
  • Alleghany        
  • Appalachian State University Academy at Elkin
  • 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