Education Field Experience

Go from learning in classrooms to teaching in classrooms with Saint Louis University’s School of Education field experience opportunities.

The Office of Educational Field Experiences supports the School of Education and its programs by offering pre-service teachers, teacher candidates and graduate students diverse field experiences in urban, suburban, private, public, and parochial schools.  Students who have graduated from the School of Education have often commented that experiencing field work "early and often" has been key to their successful completion of student teaching, as well as to the confident launching of their careers. 

Students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in the School of Education are required to have a variety of field experiences in the St. Louis region in accordance with the Revised Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators (MoSPE).

To be eligible for experiences in the educational field, all students must file certain clearance documents with the Office of Educational Field Experiences, including a signed Field Experience Code of Ethics and Conduct form. Failure to uphold the ethics described in this document may result in the removal from the field site and/or hearing procedures to determine individual consequences. The Code of Ethics and other clearance documents should be uploaded (by the student) to your Google SOE Field Experience folder, which will be issued during your first field related course.

In addition to the Code of Ethics document, specific requirements and resources are available for the following: 

• Undergraduate students
• Graduate students
• University faculty and adjunct instructors
• University supervisors
• Cooperating teachers and educator preparation program instructors
• PK­-12 administrators

Family Care Safety Registry

Students in level one (Early Experiences) and level two A (Mid-Level Experiences: Methods and Curriculum Courses) are required to register with the Family Care Safety Registry. After registering, you’ll receive a report via email that you must include in your Office of Field Experience folder. For information on registration, visit the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Tuberculosis (PPD) Test

All students at all levels in the School of Education must have a current tuberculosis (PPD) test before beginning their field experience. NOTE: The tuberculosis test is different than, and in addition to, the screening form required for enrollment at St. Louis University. A copy of the results from your test should be uploaded to your Office of Field Experience folder.  Results must be from within the last year and show a result of negative, as well as the name of the clinic with an official stamp or signature. Contact the SLU Student Health Center  (or other healthcare provider) if you need to take a TB test or get a copy of your test results.

Prevent and Protect STL: Protecting God’s Children Workshop

Students at all levels in the School of Education take a workshop offered through the Archdiocese of St. Louis called Protecting God’s Children. The workshop is required for all volunteers in Catholic schools. After completing the live (on Zoom) workshop, (and the two related online modules), you  will follow the directions given to receive the three related certificates that you will upload to your Office of Field Experience folder. 

Substitute Teaching Certificate

If you have at least 60 college credit hours, you can apply to be a substitute teacher in Missouri. The application and more information is available through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Co-Teaching: Collaboration that Makes a Difference

No matter what stage of field experience you find yourself, as a member of the School of Education at Saint Louis University, you are called "to serve as reflective practitioners and leaders in partnership with and for the human community" (see the School of Education mission statement, paragraph one). The seven approaches outlined in this Co-Teaching Handbook (see p. 2) ensure that the PK-12 students we serve are maximizing their learning while we gain the benefits of hands-on experience and quality mentoring.

The SOE Field Office looks forward to helping you expand your experiences reaching and teaching young people in the St. Louis community.