Blind and Visually Impaired (MSEd)
Students in the Blind and Visually Impaired (MSEd) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork), and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum).
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.
Requirements During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
We know that there are many unanswered questions. As the public health emergency around us is evolving daily we are committed to providing you with information and guidance as it becomes available. For up-to-date information visit the School of Education COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Updates page.
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
Course Sequence and Program Tracker
The course sequence and program trackers provide a suggested order of education courses for the program 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.
For SPED courses with fieldwork components requiring less than 10 hours and CEDF, and CEDC courses requiring less than 15 hours of fieldwork, after attending class and receiving instructions from the instructor, students are responsible for identifying placement within New York State. Please refer to the NYC Department of Education at schools.nyc.gov to find a school in a particular neighborhood.
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
Application
Students must apply for CEDC 729 through the Office of Clinical Experiences before registering and to be placed:
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st
- Spring Semester: November 1st
- Summer Semester: March 1st
Registration and Placement Process
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission and notifies students via their myhunter.cuny.edu email address one week before registration opens.
- Student registers for course once permission granted.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences places Students at a Hunter College School of Education partner site and notifies them via myhunter.cuny.edu email address.
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Letter of Introduction
Some P-12 schools may require a letter of introduction from Hunter College for students who need to complete observation hours. Students can download this document via the link below. Please note, for reasons of confidentiality, you will need to be logged in with your huntersoe.org credentials.
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
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
Application
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences.
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
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
- Zahra Ahmed, Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE)
Contact for questions concerning the following:
- Fieldwork placement
- Student Teaching/Practicum application and placement
Make An Appointment
To make an appointment please select from the options below.