Field Experiences

The Professional Field Experience Program is designed to develop teaching skills in the context of a public Pre-K-12 school. It allows students to participate in a variety of teaching situations in different schools, with a focus on inner-city, low-income, high-minority settings. The goal of preclinical field experiences is to allow teacher candidates to gain an understanding of the needs of diverse learners. Field experiences allow for school partnerships that facilitate the development of preservice teachers, support the teaching process on each campus, and improve student achievement in public schools.

Students who are enrolled in preclinical courses with a required field-based experience will receive information about their field placement from the Director for Preclinical Field Experiences, Dr. Youmna Dbouk. Preclinical students are not expected to arrange their own field placements, but will be required to complete the necessary background checks and district-specific applications at the beginning of every semester. For more on background checks, the field policy, and other relevant field experience information, please click on each section below.

For updates on how Covid-19 has affected field experiences, please contact Dr. Dbouk at youmna.dbouk@utsa.edu

Background Checks

Courses Requiring Field Experience

The courses listed below are the courses within the identified certification program requiring field experience. To see the complete list of courses for your certification program click here.

Subject and Course Number	Course Title
BBL 3053	Foundations of Bilingual Studies
BBL 3403	Cultural & Linguistic Diversity in a Pluralistic Society
BBL 3823	Reading Comprehension Billingual Setting
BBL 4033	Assessment, Learning, & Motivation in BBL
BBL 4063	Bilingual Approaches to Content Based Learning
BBL 4073	Language Arts in BBL
BBL 4353	Approaches to Teaching Science EC-6
BBL 4403	Approaches to Teaching Math EC-6
C&I 4213	Approaches to Teaching Music
C&I 4223	Models of Teaching Math
C&I 4233	Models of Teaching Social Studies
C&I 4243	Models of Teaching Science
C&I 4253	Models of Teaching ELA/FL
C&I 4263	Models of Teaching Music
C&I 4303	Approaches to LA/SS EC-6
C&I 4353	Approaches to Teaching Science EC-6
C&I 4403	Approaches to Teaching Math EC-6
C&I 4433	Approaches to Teaching Science 4-8
C&I 4443	Approaches to Teaching Math 4-8
C&I 4543	Approaches to Teaching Social Studies 4-8
C&I 4553	Approaches to Service-Learning in Social Studies 4-8
C&I 4603	Approaches and Classroom Mgmt Strategies 4-8
C&I 4623	Applied Teaching
ECE 3313	Play, Creativity, and Learning
ECE 3603	Language and Literacy Acquisition
ECE 4203	Assessment & Evaluation
ESL 3023	Second Language Teaching and Learning in EC-6
ESL 4003	Approaches to Secondary Language Teaching
ESL 3073	Second Language Teaching and Learning for Grades 4-8
ESL 3083	Second Language Teaching and Learning for Grades 7-12
IDS 2013	Intro to Learning and Teaching in a Diverse Society
KIN 4203	Teaching Secondary PE
KIN 4303	Teaching Elementary PE
LTED 3523	Reading for Teachers 4-8
LTED 3533	Reading and Writing Across Disciplines 4-8
LTED 3673	Reading for Secondary Teachers 7-12
LTED 3773	Reading & Writing Across Disciplines-Secondary
LTED 3823	Reading Comprehension EC-6
LTED 4833	Organizing Reading Programs for Differentiated Inst.
SPE 3653	Practicum in Special Ed (Introduction)
SPE 4653	Practicum in Special Ed (Advanced)

Field Experience Policy

It is required that teacher candidates in courses with fieldwork will complete their fieldwork assignments in a timely and professional manner. The following policy applies to those teacher candidates taking courses with fieldwork assignments.

The purpose of the field placement/field experience is to provide an opportunity for teacher candidates to grow professionally and to apply their knowledge of pedagogy, content area instruction, instructional strategies and professionalism in diverse school settings. The teacher candidate is expected to demonstrate proficiency in all of these areas as evidenced by assessment instrument(s) used in the evaluation of the teacher candidate in the assigned placement.

All teacher candidates enrolled in a course that includes a field placement will be responsible for meeting the same course requirements for fieldwork regardless of their employment status. Teacher candidates who work in an area school district or another educational environment will be required to complete their coursework outside of their place of employment.

The completion of the minimum number of hours of fieldwork as required by the individual courses is required for a passing grade. Teacher candidates who do not meet the minimum requirement of field hours as required by the course will automatically receive an "F" for that course. Missed field placement hours cannot be made up without special permission from the instructor, Director for Preclinical Field Experiences, and the cooperating teacher. Teacher candidates must remain in the assigned placement throughout the semester or as required by the instructor. This means that teacher candidates must complete their required hours weekly for the duration of the semester or for the duration of the placement. Teacher candidates may not alter their assigned schedule or placement in any way.

Teacher candidates may not choose their own field placements. Field placements are assigned by the Director for Preclinical Field Experiences or by the Field Placement Coordinators. Teacher candidates begin fieldwork when they receive the approval from Director for Preclinical Field Experiences.

Absences

1. Regular, prompt attendance is expected.

2. In the event of an absence, email your field placement coordinator, your mentor teacher, campus coordinator, and professor prior to the absence.

3. If absent, you must obtain approval for a make-up plan for your professor.

4. Your placement will be canceled if you accumulate more than two absences.

Failure to complete hours by deadlines/more than two absences

The placement will be canceled. The placement may be reinstated if the absences were due to special circumstances, such as an extended illness. Permission from the mentor teacher, campus administrator, professor, and Director for Preclinical Field Experiences will be required for reinstatement. Teacher candidates who do not complete the required field experience hours will receive an "F" for the course. No partial credit will be given for completing less than the required hours.

Teacher candidates with Two or More Absences

Teacher candidates with two or more absences will have their field placement put on hold pending a conference to discuss their field placement status. Failure to meet with their field placement coordinator or the Director for Preclinical Field Experiences may result in the loss of their field placement.

Source: UTSA Teacher Preparation Program Handbook /certification_program/teacher_education_handbook/

Dress Code Policy

Field Experience Dress Code Policy

Dress and grooming of any UTSA student doing any type of observation in a local school campus shall be clean, neat, and in a manner appropriate for their assignments.

Students are guests at a school and should dress in accordance with being a representative of the University of Texas at San Antonio. As university students, the dress code will exceed that of the students at the school where you are placed and can be described as "dress business casual."

Remember: Every day in your field placement is a job interview!

Appropriate dress for men:

Slacks, dress pants and/or khakis. No sagging or baggy pants. No jeans/denim or shorts.
Polo shirts, button down and dress shirts. No T-shirts.
Shoes: loafers or dress shoes. No sandals or flip-flops.

Appropriate dress for women:

Slacks, dress pants, and/or khakis. No jeans/denim or shorts.
Dresses and skirts must fall at or just above the knee.
Polo shirts, button-down and dress shirts. No T-shirts, exposed midriffs, strapless, low cut tops, tank tops, halter tops or see-through clothing.
Shoes: loafers, dress shoes, heels, or dressy sandals. No flip flops.

Further Detailed Dress Code Items:

Clothing with inappropriate advertising or statements that are offensive or inflammatory (alcoholic beverage, sex, tobacco, drugs, gang, satanic, promoting violence, etc.) are prohibited.
Pants shall be worn securely at the waist. Excessively worn and/or frayed jeans or other pants are prohibited.
Body piercing ornaments and other simulated ornaments will be worn on the lower ear lobe only.
Displaying tattoos and similar body painting(s) that promote violence, reflect gang activity, and that are considered to be offensive and inflammatory are prohibited.
Hats, caps, or other head apparel are prohibited.
Hair must be neat and clean. Unconventional colored, multi-colored, spiked or Mohawk hairstyles are not permitted.
Body piercing jewelry is prohibited except for rings, studs or other traditional jewelry worn in the ear. Tongue rings and tongue studs are not permitted.

As future educators, you should dress for success every day. Field experience students should always consult with the principal or their mentor teacher regarding the established dress code for their particular assigned school. Dress codes vary by district and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure their dress falls within the guidelines established by their assigned school.

School Partnerships

College of Education and Human Development
Main Building | One UTSA Circle | San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: 210-458-4370 | education@utsa.edu

Field Experiences