Over 1,000 hours of field experience over all four undergraduate years
The University of Findlay provides education candidates with many different opportunities to engage in field-based observations and experiences during each of the four years in the undergraduate program and also throughout the post-baccalaureate program.
Field Placements
Findlay has partnered with schools around the state to create diverse opportunities for our students to perform their field experiences at.
Field experience year-to-year
Benefit from field experience beginning in the first year and continuing throughout the course of study. This helps student candidates determine if teaching is truly their preferred career field.
Year 1
Education majors in the first year of the program are must complete 10 hours of observation in a classroom as part of their class work. They have the choice of observing in a school located in the Findlay area or in a school in their hometown. Students also participate in the University of Findlay and Van Buren Experience, a tutoring and reading program with one of our partnership schools.
Year 2
During the second year as an education major, students enter into the Pre-Professional block. All undergraduate teacher candidates will attend classes on the University of Findlay’s main campus for the first eight weeks of the semester. They participate in a 6-week field experience from the start of school until the lunch hour and in other professional development such as: school board meetings, faculty professional development seminars at the district or building level, Individualized Education Planning (IEP) meetings or attending parent-teacher conferences. Students return to campus at the end of the semester for reflection on their time in the classroom.
Year 3The Methods Field Experience block is conducted during the third year. Students will be in their assigned schools for 6-weeks from the beginning of the school day to the end of the school day. Students periodically return to main campus for seminars to review their field/clinical experience and address issues and concerns.
Year 4Teacher-candidates complete their 16-week student-teacher experience during their fourth year as an education major. Students have the opportunity to choose the school where they will be teaching, provided the school district of choice is able to accept the student. While the only class on Findlay’s main campus is a monthly
seminar, mentors perform weekly visits to students at their placements to offer support and answer any questions.
Post-baccalaureate Program:
The post-baccalaureate program is for students who have a college degree in a different field and are looking to become teachers. All initial licensure candidates student teach for 16-weeks and have a very similar field experience to undergraduates.