Internship 2

In-depth immersion in teaching

Your immersion into the world of teaching deepens in Internship 2 as you prepare for the student teaching that will follow. In locations primarily in the Cedar Valley (for on campus students), you will practice what you learned for the equivalent of 35 or more hours.

This clinical placement is built within your teaching major’s curriculum (EDUC 2400) and paired with a methods course during the semester that's applicable to your major. Through this internship, you’ll complete another critical step in bringing together what you’ve learned about methods of teaching, the subjects you want to teach, classroom management and assessment. 

This placement occurs over several weeks during a semester for all levels of teaching majors — early childhood, elementary, middle level, high school and K-12 teaching majors. 

Teacher Education
Student leading high school class

Finding Your Setting

Your experiences, timeframe and settings will vary for Internship 2, depending on your teaching major. While generally in your junior year, you may also complete this earlier or later, but always prior to student teaching. 

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Early childhood education

  • 35 or more hours completed through twice-weekly visits to schools over a semester
    • For on campus students, emphasis in an elementary education (K-3) setting in primarily inclusive classrooms in Cedar Valley schools
    • If you commute or are an online student, we’ll work with you on options in local schools.
  • To meet additional state requirements unique to early childhood education, you will also gain an additional 40 hours in inclusive preschool settings as part of additional “guidance” coursework prior to student teaching. 

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Elementary and middle level education

  • 35 or more hours completed during the semester
  • Placements primarily in the Cedar Valley for on-campus students
  • Alternative option: participation in professional development school in Waterloo

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Secondary and K-12 education (music, art, physical education, TESOL, TESOL/Spanish) 

  • 35 or more hours completed over the course of a semester
  • Some placements available across Iowa with some out-of-state offerings, too 
Level 3 placements

Coordinating your Internship 2 placements 

Clinical faculty within College of Education departments work with the methods class faculty in programs across UNI Teacher Education and your mentor teacher to ensure a well-rounded experience in your advanced internship 2 experience. 

As a whole, your partners in your clinical experience will help you link theory with practice, provide feedback and guidance, and assess your performance in the classroom in conjunction with your mentor teachers.