Clinical Experiences
Learning by doing
Getting experience in a PreK-12 classroom is a huge part of your UNI Teacher Education experience. Here you’ll benefit from time in a classroom that is paired with methods courses – the courses about “how to teach.” This approach gives you a great combination of learning and doing all in the same semester!
Once enrolled, three formal levels of experience in the field are baked into your coursework following pre-program observation before or after you've enrolled. And you’ll gain from additional time in classrooms for areas such as special education or music education. Add it up, and you'll have more than 725 hours of experience by the time you graduate.
UNI has the most extensive network of school partners across the state and beyond. What does that mean for you? Flexibility and opportunity to stay close or venture further afar and experience a host of different settings.
Our goal? To provide you with quality experiences that fit your future.
UNI was the reason my student teaching placement accepted me! My training at UNI helped me to feel comfortable and capable in my first year in the classroom.
Out in the Field
Internship 1 and more
Completed your first 10 hours of observation? (Usually before you get to UNI, but we have a course for that, too!). Decided teaching is for you? Your first formal clinical experience is 35 hours in the field through Teaching Internship 1.
This practical experience goes hand-in-hand with your methods (how to teach) coursework. In this beginning level internship, you’ll teach your first two lessons! It’s all part of the process to grow your skills and confidence for your future classrooms.
Internship 2 and more
Your investment in teaching deepens within your Teaching Internship 2. Your experience will again connect with a higher level methods course. Your goal? To complete 35 or more hours in a classroom setting, a major step in bringing together what you’ve learned to this point as you prepare for student teaching.
Depending on major or minors, you may gain additional experience working – and learning – with students in the classroom.
Student teaching
It all comes together with student teaching in your final semester. Through our extensive network, you’ll be placed in settings ranging from small rural schools to large metro areas both in and out of Iowa.
Student teaching coordinators in nine centers across Iowa facilitate your placements. Feeling adventurous (or just have a different place in mind)? Our out-of-state and international placements make it possible for you to student teach well beyond Iowa.
Internship 1 and more
Completed your first 10 hours of observation? (Usually before you get to UNI, but we have a course for that, too!). Decided teaching is for you? Your first formal clinical experience is 35 hours in the field through Teaching Internship 1.
This practical experience goes hand-in-hand with your methods (how to teach) coursework. In this beginning level internship, you’ll teach your first two lessons! It’s all part of the process to grow your skills and confidence for your future classrooms.
Internship 2 and more
Your investment in teaching deepens within your Teaching Internship 2. Your experience will again connect with a higher level methods course. Your goal? To complete 35 or more hours in a classroom setting, a major step in bringing together what you’ve learned to this point as you prepare for student teaching.
Depending on major or minors, you may gain additional experience working – and learning – with students in the classroom.
Student teaching
It all comes together with student teaching in your final semester. Through our extensive network, you’ll be placed in settings ranging from small rural schools to large metro areas both in and out of Iowa.
Student teaching coordinators in nine centers across Iowa facilitate your placements. Feeling adventurous (or just have a different place in mind)? Our out-of-state and international placements make it possible for you to student teach well beyond Iowa.