Welcome to the Secondary Education Department
Candidates in the Traditional, ACT, FYI, JYI, and Dual programs complete two semester-long field experiences, normally in their final two semesters of the program.
- The first, SED 554/S is an early field experience, beginning with structured observations and preparatory assignments in a Mentor Teacher’s classroom, and leading to the gradual assumption of teaching duties.
- The second, SED 555/S, is formal student teaching, with the candidate assuming teaching responsibilities from the start, in a Mentor Teacher’s classroom.
A University Supervisor visits the classroom to provide support, feedback, and evaluation. And each experience includes a weekly seminar at CSUN (SED 554S or 555S), which provides additional support for the field experience and preparation for the edTPA.
Candidates in the Intern program are fulltime employed teachers, teaching independently in their own classroom. Each semester, Interns take a field-experience course (SED 554I, 593, or 555I), to receive support, feedback, and evaluation from a University Supervisor. Interns also take the SED 554S seminar in their first semester, and the SED 555S seminar in their final or second-to-final semester.
Early Field Experience and Student Teaching Information
- Fall 2024 Student Teaching Handbook (.pdf)
- Spring 2025 Early Field Experience and Student Teaching Handbook COMING SOON!
- Field Experience Fact Sheet
- Mentor Teacher Responsibilities - SED 554 (Early Field Experience) (.pdf)
- Mentor Teacher Responsibilities - SED 555 (Student Teaching) (.pdf)
- Fall 2024 Student Teaching Calendar
- Spring 2025 Field Experience Calendar
Field Experience Permission Numbers
Evaluation
(Non-Intern) candidates are formally evaluated at least once in SED 554, and twice, at midterm and end of semester in SED 555, both by the Mentor Teacher and University Supervisor. Interns are formally evaluated by their University Supervisor at midterm and end of semester, every semester (in SED 554I, 593, and 555I).
These evaluations assess the candidate’s competency in the California Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs). Mentor Teachers and University Supervisors will be emailed an Evaluator I.D. number, password, and link to the student-teaching evaluation form, which they will submit online. For problems accessing these evaluations, please email sedevals@csun.edu.
- Student Teaching Evaluation Forms (for reference only)