Blind and Visually Impaired for NYS Certified Teachers (Advanced Certificate)

Students in the Blind and Visually Impaired for NYS Certified Teachers (Advanced Certificate) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork), and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) administered by the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE).

Students must apply for supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) and select fieldwork experiences to gain registration permission and placement. For registration and placement processes and procedures see below. Students must obtain fingerprint clearance.

COVID-19 Guidelines for Clinical Experiences

Students must follow COVID-19 protocols determined by the host organization or school.

Fieldwork and Supervised Teaching Requirements

For a full list of fieldwork and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) requirements consult the course catalog in conjunction with the course sequence and program trackers. The course catalog provides descriptions detailing fieldwork requirements per course, important progress standards, and exit requirements based on matriculation date. Students must meet with the faculty advisor to determine their particular course of study before registering for classes.

Course Catalog

Review the course descriptions, progress standards, and exit requirements in the Course Catalog based on start date.

Security Clearance Requirements

Fingerprinting is required for certification and select clinical experiences (fieldwork and student teaching/practicum). Visit Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students for complete requirements, processes and procedures.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.

Requesting Permission and Placement

For SPED courses with fieldwork components requiring 10 hours or more, students must request permission from their faculty advisor/program coordinator to register. There is no application. Students are placed by L. Beth Brady in Hunter College Partner sites including District 75 schools and private schools.

Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete their fieldwork requirements in their current job if it is aligned to their pending certification/area of study.

The following are required for eligibility:

Teaching position must be aligned with pending certification
Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
Students must submit documentation from worksite/school program director

Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form

Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form

Supervised Teaching: Student Teaching/Practicum

Students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week for one semester. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester. Students may complete practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.

Registration and Placement

All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and to be placed.

Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for Supervised Teaching:

Educating All Students (EAS)*
Content Specialty Test (CST) – Blind and Visually Impaired

*Students with initial certification do not have to take the EAS exam.

Student Teaching Placement

Students not working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher complete Student Teaching. Student Teachers are placed by the Office of Clinical Experience with a mentor/cooperating teacher at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City. Students teach alongside the mentor/cooperating teacher throughout the semester.

Practicum

Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete Practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.

The following are required for Practicum eligibility:

The classroom must be aligned with pending certification
Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
Students submit a letter from worksite/school program director

Practicum eligibility is approved by L. Beth Brady.

Practicum Site Approval Form

Practicum Site Approval Form

Application

All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences.

Student Teaching and Practicum Application

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester: April 1st
Spring Semester: November 1st
Summer Semester: N/A

Registration and Placement Process

L. Beth Brady and the Office of Clinical Experiences reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
L. Beth Brady grants registration permission.
One week before each semester registration opens, the Office of Clinical Experiences will inform students of next steps through their myhunter.cuny.edu email.
If placement is required, L. Beth Brady places students at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City.
L. Beth Brady notifies students via their myhunter.cuny.edu email.

Internship Certificate

Current students who are eligible for practicum and secure a teaching position that requires NYS certification may apply for an internship certificate. Students must apply for practicum first and will only receive instructions thereafter.

Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.

Supervised Teaching Time Record Form

Supervised Teaching Time Record Form

Support

The Office of Clinical Experiences administers and provides support for students regarding fieldwork and supervised teaching (student teaching and practicum). The Office is led by Marshall George, Olshan Professor of Clinical Practice, and the Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences Ileana Infante.

Each program has a Clinical Placement Specialist to work with students regarding fieldwork and supervised teaching.

Clinical Placement Specialist

Kendra Vasile, Clinical Placement Specialist

Contact for questions concerning the following:

Fieldwork placement
Student Teaching/Practicum application and placement