All internships will be arranged
within a 60 mile radius of Auburn University.
The most demanding laboratory experience, the internship, requires each
student to assume for a limited time the role of professional teacher. The
full day twelve week/300 hours internship is conducted under daily supervision
of a classroom teacher who is selected on the basis of his/her demonstrated
ability to participate in this crucial phase of the teacher preparation
program. Each cooperating teacher is judged to be an outstanding practitioner
in the intern's area of specialization and meets State Board of Education
criteria.
Working closely with the cooperating teacher(s) is a University supervisor
who observes the intern a minimum of four times during the semester. After
each observation visit, the University faculty member consults with the
student and the cooperating teacher individually and, if possible, as a
team. These periods of consultation allow each participant to become active
in improving the process of teacher education for the individual intern.
Application
Each student must complete an Internship Application Form and submit it
to the faculty advisor who will then forward it to the Professional Education
Services Office. Applications should be submitted to the advisor during
pre-registration two semesters prior to the semester during which the internship
is to be completed (i.e., submit application in spring semester for Spring
semester internship; in Fall semester for Fall semester internship.
Eligibility to intern is determined by an evaluation of the student's competence
in his/her teaching field(s) and in professional education. Included in
the requirements are:
-
admission to the Teacher Education Program
-
completion of courses prerequisite to the internship,
-
demonstrated potential for teaching, and
-
a minimum GPA of 2.5 in each of the following: 1) Auburn University cumulative,
2) professional studies, 3) major(s) and 4) overall.
An initial evaluation is made when the student submits his/her application.
Each semester when grades are released the eligibility is reviewed. Students
who fail to clear initially may become eligible before their internship
semester. Those who fall below standard may be deferred.
After evaluation the student is sent a copy and a letter explaining the
results. This letter also addresses the status of the student toward graduation.
Placement
The assignment of interns to particular sites is determined cooperatively by
University advisors, the Professional Education Services office, interns, and
personnel in the participating centers. The policy is to place a student within
a 60 mile radius of Auburn when at all possible. Special attention is given by
the Department Coordinator/Advisor to the placement of each intern in an effort
to best suit the needs of that student. Consideration is given to providing
interns sites with exposure to different socioeconomic/multi-cultural settings.
It is the responsibility of the Professional Education Services Office
to make the official placement. Request letters are sent to the selected
site during the semester prior to the arrival of the interns. The request
letter designates the following: the intern, suggested grade levels of
teaching, subject area(s), the date of arrival of the intern and in most
instances, the suggested cooperating teacher and University supervisor. If the
recommended assignment is satisfactory, the letter is signed by the cooperating
teacher and the principal and returned to the Professional Education
Services Office. A personal data sheet providing information of each intern
is also sent to the school system. If adjustments in assignments are necessary,
the public school notifies the Teacher Education Services Office.
