Overview
The Early Childhood Education Internship provides teacher candidates with supervised student teaching experiences in early learning programs serving children from birth through age 5.
Students may complete either a 6-credit-hour internship or a 12-credit-hour internship, depending on their academic standing.
Internship Requirements
6 Credit Hours
- 260 contact hours
- 3 weeks of lead teaching
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.0
12 Credit Hours
- 520 contact hours
- 3 weeks of lead teaching
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
Note: A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required for an off-campus internship placement.
Field Site Requirements
Internship placements must demonstrate a commitment to developmentally appropriate practices and should preferably be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
To locate an accredited early childhood program, visit:
https://ais.naeyc.org/search_programs
Students who do not have access to a NAEYC-accredited program in their area should contact the HDFS Early Childhood Education Internship Coordinator for assistance.
Eligible Field Sites
To qualify as an internship site, a program’s primary purpose must be educational rather than recreational or custodial. Following Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) guidelines, the daily schedule should include opportunities for:
- Active and quiet play
- Indoor and outdoor play
- Organized and child-directed activities
- Group and independent play
- Play using toys and imaginative materials
- Music, movement, instruments, and singing
- Art activities, puzzles, and books
- Individualized adult-child interaction
- Scheduled rest periods
- Scheduled meals and snacks
Internship at Your Place of Employment
Students who complete internship hours at their place of employment may not complete the experience in their own classroom. Field experiences must be completed in a classroom other than the one for which the student is primarily responsible.
Internship Planning
Students may not enroll in HD 495 until all internship planning requirements have been completed and approved. Enrollment in HD 495 requires approval from the HDFS Early Childhood Education Internship Coordinator.
Internship planning must be completed during the semester before the intended internship semester.
Steps for Securing an Internship Placement
1. Meet with Your Faculty Advisor
Complete mandatory advising with your faculty advisor during HDFS departmental advising before registering for courses.
2. Submit the Internship Application
Complete the Internship Application and carefully review all instructions before submitting.
3. Application Review
The ECE Internship Coordinator will review all submitted materials.
4. Receive Placement Notification
Students will be notified of their approved internship placement by the ECE Internship Coordinator.
- On-campus students are typically placed in one of the NAEYC-accredited early learning programs in the Tuscaloosa area.
- Distance-learning students complete internships in NAEYC-accredited programs within their local communities whenever possible.
The Internship Coordinator will send further instructions on how to register for HD 495, as well as required paperwork for students and the internship site.
5. Meet with Your Site Supervisor
Before the semester ends, candidates should meet with their assigned site supervisor to:
- Establish an attendance schedule
- Develop internship goals and objectives
- Complete any site-specific requirements
- Review internship responsibilities and expectations
Candidates should also attend the Internship Orientation meeting.
Important Internship Expectations
Lead Teaching Requirement
Teacher candidates completing student teaching are required to complete a lead teaching experience. During designated lead-teaching weeks, candidates must be present and assume primary teaching responsibilities every day for the full week.
Students should work closely with their advisor to ensure other coursework can be successfully completed alongside internship responsibilities.
Professional Certifications
While not currently required by the program, the following certifications are strongly recommended and may be required by some internship sites:
- Pediatric CPR Certification
- Pediatric AED Certification
- Pediatric First Aid Certification
Professional Liability Insurance
Students are strongly encouraged to obtain professional liability insurance prior to beginning their student teaching internship.
Early Childhood Development (Birth through Age 4) Certificate Approach
Teacher candidates pursuing the Pre-Kindergarten: Birth to Age 4 Child Development Teaching Certificate must also meet additional certification requirements established by the Alabama State Department of Education.
Students should review the Teacher Certification Checklist and consult with their academic advisor to ensure all certification requirements are completed in a timely manner.