Interns report to their school the day that their teacher reports and they work full-time at the school until WCU classes start. Students in Intern I work approximately the equivalent of two days a week in their school and they take a full load of classes at WCU. Internship I is structured differently in different majors. Students are encouraged to ask their advisors how the internship works in their particular major and the amount of time required.
Students in Intern II work full time in their assigned school only taking a seminar with the internship.
Students in Elementary, Middle Grades, Special Education and Physical Education are required to participate in the internship. It is an option for all other students.
Student teaching is the traditional, one-semester program during which students report to their assigned teacher on a date set by WCU. Students work full-time in the school until the end of the WCU semester. Student teachers may only take student teaching and the required seminar during that semester.
Students in Internship II and Student Teaching follow the calendar of the school system where assigned. For example, the Spring Holiday in the school system is likely to be different than Spring Break at Western Carolina University. Those in Internship II and Student Teaching will observe the school system calendar and will not have the WCU Spring Break.
Application to the internship or student teaching is required. For more information about Internship and Student Teaching, consult the Office of Field Experience website .