Overview for Regional Off-Campus Students

Field Placement Information for off-campus students in the following programs:

Early Childhood (PreK-2), Elementary (1-6), Middle School (5-8), Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8; 5-12), Severe Disabilities (all levels), Instructional Technology (all levels)

Placements for the Early Field Experience and the practicum (see below) are approved through the School of Education Field Placement Office. Yvonne Zollman Mosca, Assistant Director of Field Placement, will visit off-campus cohorts during the semester before the scheduled practicum to offer guidance and assistance with the placement process. Further assistance is available by phone or by making an appointment to come in to the Field Placement Office in Cambridge at Lesley's University Hall, 2nd Floor, room 2-074.

EARLY FIELD EXPERIENCE

Lesley requires all students to complete a 75-hour Early Field Experience in a classroom before doing a practicum (generally one day a week). Early in their program, students will receive an Early Field Experience handbook to further explain the requirement. If students have had significant classroom teaching experience, they may contact Yvonne Zollman Mosca for information on documenting their experience [pdf] to fulfill these requirements.

PRACTICUM

The Practicum should take place at the end of the program, after the majority of courses and all pre-requisite courses have been completed. The Practicum is a full-semester, full-time placement (minimum of 14 weeks) in an appropriate Massachusetts public school classroom. Certain licenses require a split practicum during which the time is divided between two classrooms at different grade levels or settings. A plan for the split practicum must be submitted for approval prior to the start of the practicum.

A two-and-a-half hour evening seminar meets weekly during the semester of the scheduled practicum, usually at the site of cohort classes (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, usually from 4:30 to 7:00 pm). Before beginning the practicum, students must complete the pre-practicum field-based assignments, Early Field Experience, and the pre-practicum courses listed on the program course of study. Students must have passing grades in all of their courses with a cumulative average of at least 3.0, and no outstanding incomplete grades. See also practicum prerequisites and MTEL requirements pages.

As part of the placement process, students should visit and observe the proposed school site. This allows students to meet teachers and view classrooms. At this point, students and teachers are encouraged to share ideas about teaching philosophies in order to insure that both students and teachers feel the placement is mutually agreeable. Students should bring a resume with them, to be given to the supervising practitioner. Off-campus students may contact the Assistant Director of Field Placement Yvonne Zollman Mosca at 617.349.8753 or toll-free 800.999.1959, ext. 8753, for assistance and information regarding all aspects of the student teaching experience.

The practicum and seminar is a six-credit course with an additional field experience fee of $395 and an insurance fee of $35 to be paid at the time of registration.

SUMMER COMPASS PRACTICUM OPTION

Summer Compass offers students the opportunity to do their practicum over the summer and fall. Please visit the Summer Compass page for details and eligibility requirements.

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