Office Of Certification and Field Placement
Welcome to students, cooperating teachers, and university supervisors. The information on these pages will cover:
- Field placement application overview
- Courses requiring field placement observation hours (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate)
- Field placement application forms for Clinical Experience
- Clinical Intern (Student Teaching) requirements
- Forms required for Clinical Experience and Clinical Practice
- Applying for Certification
Field placement application overview
Students who have met the requirements to be admitted into the School of Education will also be required to complete a variety of field placement experiences. The classroom field observations are an integral part of the teacher preparation program. This provides the student with the opportunity to experience effective instruction by observing different teaching styles in diverse environments. Students will be responsible for securing their own placement for some observation requirements; the Office of Field Placement and Certification will coordinate other field hours. (See below) The field placement experience culminates in the students’ final two semesters as they complete their clinical internship (student teaching).
- All students will be required to complete a Criminal History Review (fingerprinting) through the New Jersey Department of Education. Information is available in the Office of Field Placement and Certification.
- A current Mantoux test (Tuberculosis (PPD) Screening) is required for anyone working with students in schools.
- Membership in the New Jersey Student Education Association (NJSEA) is also a requirement. One of the benefits included is a liability insurance program, providing protection to college students who are observing or student teaching in assigned schools. Please contact our office for more information.
Courses requiring field placement observation hours (Undergraduate)
**For admission into an educator preparation program, students must pass (or be exempt from) the Core Academic Skills for Educators Praxis exam #5751 (consisting of three subtests, 5712, Reading; 5722, Writing; 5732, Math). See Praxis Information.
| CODE | COURSE | HOURS |
| ED206 | Philosophical and Historical Foundations of School Curriculum for General and Special Education Students (pre-education course)**Pre-Education students will not be allowed to continue with education courses until a passing praxis score on the Core Academics Skills exam is submitted to the School of Education. | 9 |
| ED331* | Introduction to Education of the Exceptional Child and Children with Autism | 25 |
| ED332 | Methods in Early Childhood | 12 |
| ED333 | Curriculum in Early Childhood | 12 |
| ED340* | Teaching Reading/Language Arts-Elementary | 40 |
| ED348* | Secondary Content Area: Learning and Literacy | 40 |
| ED351 | Assessment Issues | 12 |
| ED360 | Behavior Management Strategies for Students with Autism/Inclusion and Self-Contained Classrooms | 25 |
| ED380 | Specialized Instruction in Reading | 12 |
| ED448E* | Instructional Design – Methods of Teaching Elementary Math | 75 |
| ED448S* | Instructional Design – Secondary | 75 |
| ED449E* | Instructional Design II-Methods of Teaching Elementary Social Studies/Science | 100 |
| ED449S* | Instructional Design II-Methods Secondary Ed | 100 |
| ED460 | Inclusive Practice | 12 |
| ED470* | Student Teaching | 535 |
* Observation hours coordinated by the Office of Field Placement and Certification
Courses requiring field placement observation hours (Post-baccalaureate)
| CODE | COURSE | HOURS |
| ED510 | Reading and Communication | 60 |
| ED520* | Professional Skills | 175 |
| ED470* | Student Teaching | 535 |
* Observation hours coordinated by the Office of Field Placement and Certification
Field placement application forms
Students will complete the Field Application Request Form for placements coordinated by the Office of Field Placement and Certification. Forms are due to Mrs. Friedman by September 15 for the following spring semester and February 15 for the following fall semester. A late fee of $25 will be imposed on applications received after due dates.
The field application is in a fillable PDF format and must be completed electronically.
Students are responsible for securing their own placements for certain courses (ED 332, ED 333, ED 351, ED 380, ED 460 and Post Bac ED 510) and are required to submit a Field Placement Verification Form to Mrs. Friedman in the Office of Field Placement and Certification by the second week of the semester.
Clinical Intern (Student Teaching) requirements
The clinical intern experience is designed so the student, when possible, spends two consecutive semesters with the same class and cooperating teacher. During the first semester the clinical intern will observe a minimum of 100 hours in the classroom and teach four lessons that will be observed by a university supervisor and three by the cooperating teacher. The clinical intern will spend the second semester entirely in the classroom gradually taking over all the instructional responsibilities. The intern will be observed six times by the university supervisor and four times by the cooperating teacher. The clinical interns will also participate in the Student Teaching Seminar one evening per week where they will reflect on their experience and prepare their final portfolio. No other courses can be taken during the final semester of student teaching without the approval of the Associate Dean.
Forms for Clinical Experience and Clinical Practice
Students are required to teach lessons as a requirement for ED448, ED 449, ED520 and ED470. The Observation Feedback Form will be completed by the university supervisor and the cooperating teacher. The number of required observations for each course is indicated on the form.
Mid and End of Semester Summative Evaluations are to be completed during Clinical Practice by university supervisors, cooperating teachers and clinical interns. These evaluations are completed and submitted through LiveText only.
Other Forms for Observation
The Attendance and Evaluation of Field Experience Form is to be completed by cooperating teachers for ED331, ED340, ED348, (TOSD) ED351, ED360, ED380, ED460 and (Early Childhood) ED 332, ED 333. The form must be submitted to the course instructors before the end of the semester.
The ED 510 Post Bac Evaluation of Field Experience/Attendance Forms are to be completed by cooperating teacher for ED 510. The form must be submitted to the course instructors by the end of the semester.
Students are required to submit a Student Field Experience Attendance Sheet for all other courses with a field requirement component {does not apply to clinical practice (student teaching semester)}.
Praxis Information
Certification
Applying for Certification
- Application for initial certification is processed through the Office of Field Placement and Certification.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to comply with New Jersey State Standards.
- You are not eligible for NJ State certification unless you have passed the appropriate Praxis exam.
- It is mandatory that your Social Security number is on your Praxis test or the New Jersey Department of Education will not be able to issue your certificate
- All students must send their test results to Caldwell University.
- Effective September, 2017, students must also submit a performance assessment portfolio to be reviewed by a third party in order to be eligible for certification.
- Complete the Application for Certification. Mrs. Friedman will coordinate with your seminar instructor to collect your application.
- Packet below includes information for all certifications including Graduate and Educational Administration.
State Certification Application Packet
DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Dr. Brian Bulger, Office of Certification and Field Placement Director • 973-618-3629
Gloria Friedman, Office of Certification and Field Placement Coordinator • 973-618-3551