Office of Field Experiences

Field Experiences Information

The Office of Field Experiences ensures candidates participate in a variety of field based opportunities in which they observe, assist, instruct, and/or conduct research in academic settings defined by their programs.

These experiences help to bridge the gap between theory and practice by presenting teacher candidates with firsthand matriculation in sites that have been carefully selected and monitored by the College of Education's faculty and staff, and our school partners.

 

Field Experience (FE) Application 

After you are admitted to TE, you must apply for Field Experience for any course that requires a field experience placement even if you are employed. If you do not receive a link to the FE application from your advisor or course assignment, you may contact the OFE. Please note, you must apply every semester that you plan to take an FE required course. Courses requiring an FE application are listed below priority submission dates.  

Priority Submission Dates:

• Fall Semester: March 15
• Spring Semester: October 15

Note: If you miss the priority submission, you will still be placed, but we will be more limited in where we are able to place you, and some preferences may not be met. The General Submission Application opens the day after the Priority Submission Application Closes.

Courses that require a Field Experience (FE) Application:

• ART: 4009, 4010, 4011, 4012, 4013
• CEPD: 6182, 6188
• ECED: 3282, 4283, 4284, 4286, 6266, 6291
• FORL: 4501, 4502, 4586
• MUSC: 3900, 4011, 4021, 4040, 4286, 4187, 4188 (some exceptions may apply speak to your advisor for details)
• PHED: 3670, 3671, 3675, 4686
• SEED: 4243, 4238L, 4243L, 4271L, 4286, 6260, 7288
• SLPA: 5792, 6794 (medical), 6796 (school)
• SPED: 3750, 3751, 3752, 3753, 3754, 4790, 4786, 6766, 6776, 6793

Application Processing:

1. We process applications in the order that they are received. This can take up to three business days from the time an application is submitted. If you are unable to register after five business days, please contact the OFE with a copy of your submission confirmation.
2. Students may not contact schools to request their own traditional placements

The implementation of deadlines ensures that we can swiftly request placements for our candidates. School districts require placement requests in bulk by program. District confirmations of placements can take up to several months. We cannot release placements until we receive them back from the districts. When we receive confirmations, we will release placements to students by county, not by cohort.

Application Key Words:

 

Special Education Observation Hours

Requests and Requirements 

The special education teaching programs require observation hours that students are responsible for requesting unless employed by a special district. At no time shall a candidate contact these districts to complete observation hours: Bibb, Cobb, Cherokee, Coweta, Dekalb, Fayette, or Gwinnett. If you are employed in one of the counties, you may only request hours within your own school if applicable. Failure to adhere to this restriction will result in being barred from completing observation hours in any of those districts for the remainder of your program. The application provides some additional information. If you still have questions, contact the OFE. Special districts are listed below: 

• Bibb  
• Cobb

• Cherokee  
• Coweta

• Dekalb  
• Fayette  
• Gwinnett  

The COE encourages students to begin fulfilling observation hours once they begin their program at UWG. It is common for students to have to take personal time off from work to complete these hours. The hours do not have to be completed in one setting.

• SPED M.A.T Program Requirements: You must document 40 total observation hours (10 in PreK-2, 10 in 3-5, 10 in a middle school, and 10 in high school). Please reach out to your advisor for the observation logs. If you are employed, you only need to schedule observation hours in the band outside of your employment. Your professor will provide details regarding log submission; this is not monitored nor collected by the OFE.  
• SEED M.A.T Program Requirements: You must document 20 total observation hours (10 in middle school and 10 in high school). Please reach out to your advisor for the observation logs. If you are employed, you only need to schedule observation hours in the band outside of your employment. Your professor will provide details regarding log submission; this is not monitored nor collected by the OFE. 
• ECED M.A.T Program Requirements 

 

Student Liability Insurance 

Traditionally placed students (those not employed in education) must have student liability insurance to complete field experience. We request this information when you complete the FE Application. Your proof of student liability insurance should show the effective and expiration date. The OFE will notate if your insurance is expiring during your field experience and will contact you during the month it is due to expire to request an updated copy. Students who do not have up-to-date proof of insurance by the end of February (Spring Semester) or by the end of September (Fall Semester) may be pulled from the field.  

Several insurers provide student teaching liability insurance, so find a plan that works best for your needs. Students often use SPAGE. Additional information can be found here: https://www.pageinc.org/student-membership 

Please do not upload car, health, or renters' insurance. The OFE will not keep applications on file with inaccurate, missing, or incomplete documents.

 

Field Experience and Hardships Forms

Field Experience Handbook 

Mentor Assignment Document 

Hardship Form (A student should submit a hardship form in the event they need a medical, transportation, or personal exemption from the Office of Field Experience's placement standards such as the 50 mile or two county rules; see the handbook for details) 

PSC Code of Ethics