Clinical teaching (also referred to as Student teaching) is the culminating experience of the teacher certification process and is generally considered to be the single most important experience in a teacher preparation program. Clinical teaching is a one-semester, unpaid, full-time experience in a Texas public school classroom. In this experience, students work side-by-side everyday with veteran teachers to learn how to meet the varied learning needs of students from diverse cultures and backgrounds. This experience bridges professional preparation and professional practice.
Per Texas Administrative Code Chapter 228 Section 35, all students seeking Texas Teacher Certification must successfully complete a 14-week clinical teaching experience. For aggieTEACH-Arts & Sciences students, this requirement is fulfilled by taking one of MEFB 497, TEFB 429, or TEED 425. Before a student can enter the experience, all coursework (for the major degree and secondary education minor) must be completed and the TExES content certification exam must be passed. Furthermore, no other courses may be taken the same semester as clinical teaching. Students enroll in clinical teaching their last semester at Texas A&M University.
The Field Placement office in the School of Education and Human Development has partnerships with school districts all over Texas, so students have many options to consider for the clinical teaching placement.