Western Carolina University - Office of Field Experiences (OFE)

WCU is a University of North Carolina Campus

Office of Field Experiences (OFE)

The College of Education and Allied Professions (CEAP) at Western Carolina University is guided by our conceptual framework, and field experiences are designed to reflect our commitment to a community of learners guided by knowledge, values, and experiences. The Office of Field Experiences makes an average of about 400 early field experience placements and about 250 internship/student teaching placements each semester. Each candidate must have at least one experience in a culturally diverse educational setting.

Early Field Experiences
Early Field Experiences involve observation, tutoring, service learning, and other activities in public schools. Students taking EDCI 231, PSY 321, and SPED 335/336/337 must complete this for each course in order to satisfactorily complete the course requirements. EDCI 231 students must also submit a background check. Students may not enroll in PSY 321 or SPED 335/336/337 until fully admitted into the teacher education program.

Internships & Student Teaching
All candidates, regardless of program, must complete an internship or student teaching experience in order to be recommended for North Carolina licensure. Many programs require a year-long internship, which involves spending one to three days in a public school classroom during the first semester observing, assisting, and teaching lessons. The second semester of internship is full-time, five days per week throughout the semester.

Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary/Middle Grades, Physical Education, Special Education, and English require the year-long experience. Other programs that encourage but do not require the year-long experience are Mathematics and Social Science. Music, Spanish, Art, Biology, Chemistry and Physics teacher candidates generally complete only one semester of full-time student teaching.

Handbook & Resources
The Undergraduate Internship/Student Teaching Handbook (PDF) outlines expectations, policies, and forms which candidates, cooperating teachers, and university supervisors may reference throughout the semester. Resources for interns/student teachers may also be accessed online.

For more information, please contact the Office of Field Experiences.