Admission to Student Teaching or Internships

The student teaching or internship experience is generally completed during the final semester in residence.  Application forms for student teaching and internships are obtained online. Completed application packets are turned in one year prior to the student teaching placement semester - in October for a fall semester placement and April for a spring semester placement.” Per Wisconsin law, students teach full days for a full semester, as calculated according to the calendar of the cooperating school. Most cooperating schools are located within approximately a 50-mile radius of La Crosse, although students may elect to teach in the Milwaukee Public School system.

To be eligible for student teaching, students must:  

  1. Have and maintain a 2.75 cumulative grade point average, as well as a 2.75 in major, minor, concentration and professional sequence;
  2. Meet prerequisites specified for C-I 400, C-I 401, C-I 403 or C-I 409; 
  3. Declare the major(s), minor(s), and/or concentrations for which they are seeking certification at the time of admission to student teaching or internships.

Internships

Qualified students may indicate a preference for an internship rather than a traditional student teaching assignment. To qualify, students must be formally admitted to teacher education and must possess and maintain (through graduation) a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or more. Interns are assigned for an entire semester to schools that are part of the Wisconsin Improvement Program. The Director of Field Experience makes the final decision for the limited number of internships that are available. Application forms for the internship pool are obtained online. The completed application is due in 220 Morris Hall in early February for placement during the fall or spring semester of the subsequent school year. Once a student has been offered and accepted an internship position, the student must obtain a password from the Office in 220 Morris Hall to apply for their intern license online.

Certification to Teach

Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative grade point average and 2.75 in all certifiable majors and minors, concentrations and professional education courses. Exit exams may be required in certifiable areas.

Students who complete all university requirements and all teacher education requirements for student teaching or internship, but who fail to successfully complete the 15-credit student teaching or internship experience, may be awarded a degree in elementary education, physical education-teaching, school health education or secondary education. This degree will not earn Department of Public Instruction endorsement for licensure. See the Assistant to the Dean of the respective college/school for details.