Internships and Student Teaching
Gain real-world experience to amplify your ACE coursework.
Why Internships?
Internships are widely recognized as a meaningful way to gain real-world experience by applying coursework in real-world environments. In other words, they’re a way to integrate theory with practice.
Internships are intended to help students become transformational educators, prepare them to lead in their fields, make genuine contributions to education and so much more.
Why Student Teaching?
Student teaching is a valuable opportunity for students to apply their theoretical, classroom knowledge to actual interaction with children in a variety of learning environments.
It gives them a space to hone their teaching skills.
Educational Leadership Internship
Internships are required for select programs, such as the Master of Education in Educational Leadership. Students must complete an administrative internship (practicum for Texas students).
Intern Responsibilities
- Securing and maintaining a mentor currently employed as a principal or assistant principal with at least two years of experience in a leadership role (three years for a Texas-based mentor)
- Completing and submitting internship activity proposals in each course to plan the experience and connect theory to practice
Student Teaching
Student teaching is part of required coursework for some programs, such as the Master of Art in Teaching and Transition to Teaching programs. A student teaching experience is required for licensure recommendation in the State of Indiana. Please note that prior teaching experience cannot be substituted for the student teaching experience.
The Student Teaching Experience
- Is guided, monitored and evaluated by the collaborative team: a student teacher, a mentor teacher and an ACE field supervisor
- Follows the Virtual Supervision Model that utilizes weekly video conferencing, journaling, formative and summative evaluations and video submissions
- Allows students to illustrate their ability to plan, assess, and engage learners in diverse settings and content areas
Securing a Field Placement
Students will complete field-based experiences/student teaching activities at school sites throughout their programs. ACE will help students establish partnerships with schools in their areas for field-based experiences. However, it is the responsibility of the student to initiate official placement with the school and/or district. All field-based experiences are designed to provide students the opportunity to learn about how issues such as classroom planning and management, assessment, and diversity influences student learning.
Location of School-Based Internships, Field Experience or Student Teaching
Internship, student teaching and/or field experience activities are designed to be compatible with the U.S. school system. To ensure appropriate supervision and equivalent experiences, students must complete all field experiences and/or internship activities in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Students with special circumstances, such as working at a Department of Defense School, may apply for a Clinical Experience Exception approval to have program personnel review the international school’s accreditation requirements for compatibility.
American College of Education does not offer visas or other types of work permits. Securing any necessary authorization is the responsibility of the student. All admitted students must be eligible to work within and agree to complete all requirements in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.