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Undergraduate Field Experience

As an undergraduate student in the Saint Louis University School of Education, you will have opportunities to work directly with students in classrooms prior to graduation.

mason student teacher and five students

Undergraduate students will work in local schools as they pursue their degrees.

To be eligible for experiences in the educational field, preservice teachers and teacher candidates must file certain clearance documents with the field office by uploading these documents to your assigned Google SOE Office of Field Experience folder, including a signed field experience code of ethics and conduct form. Failure to uphold the ethics described in this document may result in removal of the student from the field site and/or hearing procedures to determine individual consequences.

NOTE: All clearance documents are due the third Wednesday of the semester.

Field Experience Level Descriptors, linked here, detail the purpose of each level of fieldwork as well as the courses related to each level. The tabs below outline what clearance documents are needed per level, as well as offer some related field resources.

Early Experiences (Level 1)

Type: Focused Field Experiences or Foundations (service in an educational setting)

Required Clearance Documents:

  • SOE Field Office Code of Ethics - Important Tips: Read the entire document before signing. Either an electronic copy with digital signature or paper copy with handwritten signature may be uploaded to your SOE folder. This form will be updated once, prior to the time of your student teaching semester.
  • Family Care Safety Registration - Tips for Getting Started: At the top of the page, click the "Registration" tab and then "Register Online." The cost is about $13 and the documentation should be updated annually.
  • Prevent and Protect Registration Instructions and Protecting God's Children Workshop Schedule - Tips for Getting Started: When registering for your account, select for your volunteer location "Non-Parish School or Program" and then select "St. Louis University." Once documentation (three certificates) is uploaded to your folder, you will not need to update this clearance.
  • Release form
  • PPD/TB Test Results - Tips for Getting Started: You may use any health provider or SLU's Health Center (free for students--see link and click "Nurse Visits" tab). Be sure to get the actual test; the screening form is not acceptable for field work in schools. Results must be updated annually.

NOTE: Additional documents may be required depending on the location/district.

Resources:

Mid-Level Experiences (Level 2a)

Type: Curriculum and Methods courses (September experience, site-based and non-­site-­based methods courses)

Required Clearance Documents:

  • SOE Field Office Code of Ethics - Important Tips: Read the entire document before signing. Either an electronic copy with digital signature or paper copy with handwritten signature may be uploaded to your SOE folder. This form will be updated once, prior to the time of your student teaching semester.
  • Family Care Safety Registration - Tips for Getting Started: At the top of the page, click the "Registration" tab and then "Register Online." The cost is about $13 and the documentation should be updated annually.
  • [https://www.archstl.org/child-and-youth-protection/safe-environment-program] Prevent and Protect Registration Instructions and Protecting God's Children Workshop Schedule - Tips for Getting Started: When registering for your account, select for your volunteer location "Non-Parish School or Program" and then select "St. Louis University." Once documentation (three certificates) is uploaded to your folder, you will not need to update this clearance.
  • Release form
  • PPD/TB Test Results - Tips for Getting Started: You may use any health provider or SLU's Health Center (free for students--see link and click "Nurse Visits" tab). Be sure to get the actual test; the screening form is not acceptable for field work in schools. Results must be updated annually.

NOTE: Additional documents may be required depending on the location/ district.

Resources:

Mid-Level Experiences - Practicum (Level 2b)

Type: Practicum (direct, scaffolded interaction with students in an educational setting ; 35 site hours per each credit hour)

Required Clearance Documents:

  • SOE Field Office Code of Ethics - Important Tips: Read the entire document before signing. Either an electronic copy with digital signature or paper copy with handwritten signature may be uploaded to your SOE folder. This form will be updated once, prior to the time of your student teaching semester.
  • Missouri substitute certificate (optional, but strongly recommended)
  • [https://www.archstl.org/child-and-youth-protection/safe-environment-program] Prevent & Protect Registration Instructions and Protecting God's Children Workshop Schedule - Tips for Getting Started: When registering for your account, select for your volunteer location "Non-Parish School or Program" and then select "St. Louis University." Once documentation (three certificates) is uploaded to your folder, you will not need to update this clearance.
  • Release form
  • PPD/TB Test Results - Tips for Getting Started: You may use any health provider or SLU's Health Center (free for students--see link and click "Nurse Visits" tab). Be sure to get the actual test; the screening form is not acceptable for field work in schools. Results must be updated annually.

NOTE: Additional documents may be required depending on the location/district.

Resources:

Culminating Experiences (Level 3)

Type: Student Teaching

Required Clearance Documents:

  • Background check (FBI and MO)
  • SOE Field Office Code of Ethics - Important Tips: Read the entire document before signing. Either an electronic copy with digital signature or paper copy with handwritten signature may be uploaded to your SOE folder. Even though you have filled out this form before, we would like an updated, signed form for this very important semester.
  • Missouri substitute certificate (optional, but strongly recommended)
  • [https://www.archstl.org/child-and-youth-protection/safe-environment-program] Prevent and Protect Registration Instructions and Protecting God's Children Workshop Schedule
  • Release form
  • PPD/TB Test Results - Tips for Getting Started: You may use any health provider or SLU's Health Center (free for students--see link and click "Nurse Visits" tab). Be sure to get the actual test; the screening form is not acceptable for field work in schools. Results must be updated annually.

NOTE: Additional documents may be required depending on the location/district.

Student Teaching Packet

Resources During Student Teaching Experience:

In order to maintain your privacy, the clearance documents are only seen by the Office of Educational Field Experiences faculty and staff who have completed specific security training. These documents are securely stored digitally in accordance with SLU's Office of University Compliance regulations.