CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
Student teaching, internships and clinical work
All professional education programs at UW-Whitewater include a variety of clinical experiences in schools and other agencies.
These experiences provide teacher candidates with opportunities to complement their academic preparation with real world application under the guidance of expert university and field professionals. Researchers have found that clinical experiences, especially student teaching, are instrumental in setting the stage for careers that are personally fulfilling, professionally rewarding, and make a positive impact on the students our future teachers will serve.
Planning for clincial experiences starts with students mapping out their classes in advising and working with their program coordinators on details for their placements. The Office of Clincial Experiences works with the different programs and our partner institutions to create placements, ensure all learning goals are communicated, and to coordinate documentation for licensure.
Student teaching
Student teaching is the final activity before teacher candidates earn their degree and license. To prepare for this, all teacher candidates should be working with their advisors and program coordinators to meet all requirements on time.
Teacher Candidates can also apply for Internships while student teaching. Interns earn a small stipend and teach up to 50% of their day as a certified teacher would.
Important, mandatory dates for teacher candidates wanting to student teach in:
Fall 2025
- Orientation Meeting - November 18, 2024, 3:00-5:00PM or November 19, 2024, 4:00-6:00PM (You only need to attend one.)
- Required Tests for Licensure must be passed by March 1, 2025
- Send-Off Meeting - August 15, 2025, 9:00-11:00 AM
- Expected Window of Student Teaching Time - August 25, 2025 to January 19, 2026 (Exact dates may vary.)
Spring 2026
- Orientation Meeting - April 22, 2025 5:00-7:00PM or April 23, 2025, 4:00-6:00PM (You only need to attend one.)
- Required Tests for Licensure must be passed by October 1, 2025
- Send-Off Meeting - January 9, 2026, 9:00AM-11:00AM
- Expected Window of Student Teaching Time - January 19, 2026 to June 12, 2026 (Exact dates may vary.)
Fall 2026
- Orientation Meeting - November 17, 2025, 3:00-5:00PM or November 18, 2025, 4:00-6:00PM (You only need to attend one.)
- Required Tests for Licensure must be passed by March 1, 2026
- Send-Off Meeting - August 14, 2026, 9:00-11:00 AM
- Expected Window of Student Teaching Time - August 24, 2026 to January 22, 2027 (Exact dates may vary.)
Teacher Internship Program
Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
If you view yourself as confident, energetic, and creative and view teaching as a wonderfully challenging adventure, you may qualify for an exciting opportunity to fulfill your student teaching requirement by serving as a Teacher Intern during the semester designated on your licensure plan for student teaching. Individuals selected carry out their teaching under the supervision of a cooperating teacher and a university supervisor, as in student teaching, but generally assume more responsibility than student teachers. Prospective employers may view a Teacher Intern as a more valuable pre-service experience than student teaching.
School districts are charged $5000 per semester per intern. The Teacher Intern is paid a stipend of $4500, based on full-time field participation (50% teaching/50% study, observation, planning). Benefits are not included. Of the remaining $500, $225 is shared by the cooperating teacher and intern to attend a workshop or conference, or to purchase software or books for the classroom, and $225 is applied toward Teacher Internship Program expenses. Interns register and pay for 12 university credits, which fulfill the student teaching requirement for teacher certification. Additional costs are listed under Additional Steps and Information for UW-W Internship Candidates (#11 & #12).
Selection Criteria for Intern Candidates:
The admission of students to the Teacher Internship Program is based on:
- Evidence of teaching potential and professional commitment
- Strong Academic Record
- Admission to the College of Education & Professional Studies
Requirements before Applying:
You must have either:
- Passed Praxis II (if a program requirement), or have 3.0 GPA in your content area.
Special Requirements:
- Special Education majors must obtain permission from the Special Education Department BEFORE applying.
- Early Childhood Education majors must obtain permission from the ECE program BEFORE Applying.
- Email your program coordiantor to request permission
Review the Internship Process for specific informaiton
Application Materials:
- All application materials must be complete and submitted by the deadline. If you encounter problems with the website, please contact Jill Gerber.
Deadlines
- Fall 2026 Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Spring 2026 Applicaton Deadline: October 1, 2025
Important Note:
Many school districts begin interviewing for Fall internships as early as April and Spring Internships in early October.
Don’t miss out! Submit your completed application on time to be considered.
Contact for Questions or Help:
Jill Gerber
Data and Special Programs Assistant
Winther Hall 2003
262.472.1123
gerberj@uww.edu
Internship Application Materials
Spring 2026 (due October 1, 2025) and Fall 2026 (due March 1, 2026)
1. Teacher Internship Application Form [PDF]»
2. ONE (1) UWW Faculty completed Reference Form [PDF] »
- Applicants MUST have one reference from a UWW faculty member
- Most students will submit three to five references. If you reference has not observed you with students/children, the reference should submit a Letter of Recommendation in lieu of the reference form.
- Reference may complete the Reference Form online, print, sign and email to gerberj@uww.edu.
3. FERPA
- Submit a completed FERPA form to the Office of Clinical Experiences
- For help in completing the FERPA review the Internship PowerPoint material (Page 10)
- FERPA gives OCE permission to share your application materials with school.
4. Teacher Internship Clearance Form [PDF]
- Must be signed by Subject Area Coordinator
- Subject Area Coordinators are located at the bottom of form.
5. Resume
All forms should be completed online. Save the form to your computer and then use Adobe Reader to fill-out and save the form. You can download a free copy of Reader at the Adobe Reader Homepage. To save the form down to your computer, on a PC right-click on the link; on a Mac, control-click on the link.
Applications materials should be scanned and emailed to Jill Gerber at gerberj@uww.edu
Handbooks, Resources and Forms
These resources are organized to provide support for our current cooperating teachers. If you are interested in hosting a teacher candidate, the first step would be to let your building administrator know of your interest. Requets for cooperating teachers start with communication from the Office of Field Experiences to the building administrator.
General Expectations for Student Teaching [PDF] »
Coordinator Contact Information [PDF] »
Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) [PDF] »
Student Teaching
Clincial Experiences Handbook [PDF] »
Cooperating Teacher Grant Flyer [DOC] »
Sample Letter of Reference by Cooperating Teacher [DOC] »
- Observation Template-Danielson Framework [PDF] »
- Flexible Workday Arrangement Directions
- Creating an Expense Report in Workday»
Role and Responsibilities of the University Supervisor
Pre-teaching Period
- Serves as a Liaison Between the University and Cooperating School
- Provides a communication link between the university and the cooperating school and clarifies for the cooperating teacher the goals and objectives for student teaching.
- Orients newly appointed cooperating teachers to their roles.
- Communicates any suggestions made by cooperating teachers to appropriate personnel of the university.
- Maintains communication with the administration of the cooperating school to enlist its assistance in the development of the student teaching program.
- Functions as consultant or resource person to school administrators, curriculum directors, directors of instruction, and cooperating teachers.
Student Teaching Period
Observes
- Makes a minimum of four visits of at least one hour in length to observe the undergraduate student teacher during the student teaching period. - or - Spends a minimum of six hours with each graduate practicum student, consisting of at least two on-site visits.
Schedules visits based on the weekly schedules provided them by student teachers. The initial visits may be arranged in advance with the student teachers and/or cooperating teachers. Some or all visits may be unannounced.
Shares teaching and learning experiences in the classroom with student teachers and cooperating teachers.
Confers regularly with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher through three-way (student teacher, cooperating teacher, and university supervisor) or two-way (university supervisor and student teacher or cooperating teacher) conferences.
Evaluates
- Discusses with the student teacher logs, journals, or lesson plans which the student teacher has prepared and which may be required by the university supervisor.
- Discusses with the student teacher teaching/learning experiences.
- Confers regularly with the cooperating teacher.
- Reviews cumulative notes or observations made available by the cooperating teacher.
- Provides continuous reinforcement and encouragement.
- Assists the cooperating teacher in writing the final statement of reference.
- Completes an observation report signed by the student teacher for each of a minimum of four visits and a written statement of reference. The observation reports and written statement of reference must be submitted to the Office of Field Experiences within thirty days following the last day of the student teaching assignment.
- Conducts at least two conferences with the student teacher and the cooperating teacher.
- Determines a final grade for student teaching (Satisfactory or No Credit) in consultation with the cooperating teacher.
- Informs the Director of Field Experiences regarding special situations that may arise and areas of concern.
Have general questions or need to submit paperwork or evaluations?
clinicalexperiences@uww.edu
Contact Us
- Data & Special Programs Assistant, Office of Clincial Experiences - Observation & Participation
- International Student Teaching
- Internships
- Director, Office of Clincial Experiences - Placements
- CBC disclosures
- Qualifications for student teaching
- Communications with PreK-12 districts