Student Teaching/Field Experiences Frequently Asked Questions

All candidates must be admitted to the Education Preparation Program before they can apply for student teaching.

Early Childhood to Grade 6 and Grades 4-8

• Candidates pursuing Early Childhood to Grade 6 certification must complete all courses in their interdisciplinary major to be eligible to student teach (Block II). All candidates are required to complete Block I (ED 4309, ED 4311, ED 4314, RDG 4301 and RDG 4303) as a block prior to Block II (student teaching) when part of the degree plan.
• Candidates pursuing Grades 4-8 certification in English Language Arts and Reading, Generalist, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies must complete all courses in their interdisciplinary major to be eligible to student teach (Block II). Candidates are required to complete Block I (ED 4309, ED 4311, ED 4314, RDG 4301 and RDG 4303) as a block prior to Block II (student teaching).
• Candidates must complete all courses in the interdisciplinary major and in pedagogy and professional responsibility with grade point averages of at least 2.75. Candidates pursuing ECH to Grade 6 and Grades 4-8 certification must have completed all required advanced education courses with grade point averages of at least 2.75 (cumulative and in-residence). Except for courses used as electives, a grade of “C” or better is required on all coursework.

Grades 6-12 or 7-12

• Majors for which the semester hour requirement is 30-42 hours: Candidates must have grade point averages in their major of at least 2.75 (cumulative and in-residence) and no grade lower than a C in all required completed courses. They must also have completed a minimum of 24 semester credit hours (including nine advanced hours).
• Majors for which the semester hour requirement is more than 42 hours: Candidates must have grade point averages in their major of at least 2.75 (cumulative and in-residence) and no grade lower than a C in all required courses completed. They must also have completed a minimum of 48 semester credit hours (including 18 advanced).
• Candidates must have completed all required advanced pedagogy and professional responsibilities courses (RDG 4320, ED 4321, ED 4322, EPSY 3303, EPSY 3314) with grade point averages of at least 2.75 (cumulative and in-residence) and no grade lower than a C. Candidates seeking additional certification areas must meet the same requirements as listed above.

Note: Candidates should consult their degree plans for reference to required courses in their major and minor. Any deficiencies or requirements listed below must be corrected and/or completed:

• By the end of the second summer term for fall student teaching - or -
• By the end of the fall semester for spring student teaching.

To be eligible to apply for the Education Preparation Program, all candidates must have completed:

1. At least 60 semester credit hours (SCH) with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75. (no applicant will be accepted with a GPA lower than 2.75)
2. At least 12 SCH in their major/teaching field coursework (15 SCH if a math or science major) with no grade lower than a C and a GPA greater than 2.75. (no applicant will be accepted with a GPA lower than 2.75)
3. Course work to demonstrate proficiency across several subjects. Candidates must have earned a grade of C or better in these courses:
   • Reading – History 1301, 1302 and Political Science 2305, 2306
   • Writing – English 1301, 1302
   • Mathematics – Mathematics 1314 or an equivalent course
   • Communication – Communication 2301 or 2331
4. Submit an EPP Screening Essay
5. Complete a Digital Literacy Evaluation
6. Complete an EPP Interview with an EPI Center Staff Member

Candidates must also have met the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). The TSI skill requirements are normally met at the time of admission to the university or through required coursework. For more information about the TSI, visit the Angelo State University TSI website.

All applicants must possess sound physical health, sound mental health and acceptable moral character. The admission committee may require the candidate to undergo physical and/or psychiatric evaluation.

TExES Eligibility and Registration Procedures

For candidates to be eligible to take the Texas Examination of Educator Standards (TExES), they must have completed the approved certification program requirements for each examination. Candidates should consult with the appropriate ASU department or college concerning certification program requirements.

Before you can apply for student teaching, you must attend a mandatory student teaching application meeting during the long semester before your student teaching semester. For times and dates of these meetings, contact the EPI Center at 324-942-2209.

Candidates applying for the student teaching program must submit these materials to the EPI Center:

• An application for student teaching
• Biographical data/philosophy of teaching
• Two faculty recommendations, one recommendation from upper-level content coursework and one recommendation from pedagogy coursework
• EPP Module Training Certificate
• A copy of a post-baccalaureate certification plan (if the candidate already has a degree)

All applications must be approved by the field experience advisor. Candidates applying after the deadline for the student teaching semester must petition the field experience advisor.

At the time of application, candidates must have completed:

• All of the criteria for admission to the Education Preparation Program
• A minimum of 95 semester credit hours (SCH) with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75
• A minimum of 30 hours of field based experiences, 15 of those hours must be interactive and must include reflections.
• The process of establishing that they possess sound physical health, sound mental health and acceptable moral character. The admission committee may require the candidate to undergo physical and/or psychiatric evaluation.

Candidates may request an assignment in San Angelo or outside of the San Angelo area in school districts with which ASU maintains a Cooperative District Agreement. We have more than 700 school districts that have agreed to host our student teachers. However, there are several factors that determine whether a student teacher will be placed in one of those districts.  All contact with districts is made by the field experience advisor.  

All student teachers will be required to pay a $400 student teaching fee.  This fee will be added at the time of registration.

After candidates have been accepted into the student teaching program, their assignment requests are routed to the receiving schools. The building principals at those schools will approve and assign cooperating teachers for those student teachers.

For ASU to certify eligibility to take the TExES Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam, candidates are required to complete student teaching in residence.

Field supervision is conducted by an individual who meets the certification category and/or experience criteria for cooperating teacher, mentor, or site supervision if said supervisor is not available, the EPP and campus or district administrator shall assign an individual who most closely meets the criteria and document the reason for selecting an individual that does not meet the criteria.  

Upon review of eligibility, candidates will receive an email indicating which courses to enroll in (12 credit hours of student teaching courses will be shown on their degree or deficiency plan). The field experience advisor will release the holds on those courses, thus enabling the candidate to register. Candidates registered for 12 hours of student teaching are not allowed to enroll in any other classes conflicting with responsibilities of the student teaching semester (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday). Candidates may register online once they have received their registration email.  If for some reason the candidate does not satisfy requirements to student teach by the end of their current semester their schedule will be dropped.

Before you register, view your holds on RamPort. If you have any holds, identify the department that has entered the hold and clear it as soon as possible. Candidates are allowed until the end of the previous term to become fully eligible for student teaching. Applications are screened after the final term grades are posted. Any applicant not meeting requirements will be withdrawn from student teaching.

Any candidate taking a correspondence or online class is responsible for grade transfers to ASU. Candidates are encouraged to take correspondence and online final exams as early as possible to allow time for the final grade to transfer to ASU prior to the first week of classes. No grade is official until the registrar posts the grade.

Certification candidates must each complete 14 weeks of a full-day student teaching. Candidates must make serious decisions about any absences for personal reasons that would interfere with the requirements of the student teaching days. Lack of required minimum attendance will result in the candidate not meeting the state attendance requirement.

Student teachers must follow the public school calendar during their assignments and are expected to be in school every working day. Student teachers will also be required to attend planned in-service events. In the case of any situation in which a student teacher must be absent from school, the cooperating teacher(s) and the university supervisor should be notified as soon as possible.

All absences will be documented and must be made up according to a plan that is jointly developed by the student teacher, the university supervisor and the cooperating teacher(s). Normally, there should be no reason for the student teacher to be late for school or other responsibilities. If the situation is unavoidable, the cooperating teacher(s) and university supervisor should be notified. A full day of missed classes will be made up with a full day of instruction. After-hours tutoring, study hall, etc., will not be allowed to make up missed teaching time.

Contact the Educator Preparation (EPI) Center: