Q1
How many hours of Fieldwork do I have to complete?
- 20 hours of Fieldwork is required for each Fieldwork class
- The structure of the Fieldwork varies slightly, depending on the course you are taking
- You will receive an email at the beginning of the quad in which you have Fieldwork with specific instructions
Q2
May I do my Fieldwork at the school where I work?
- Candidates are usually able to use their own school sites, but not always
- If your school site does not offer a class/teacher that fits the course Fieldwork requirements you will have to do your observations at a school site that does
- It will be up to you to make arrangements with your supervisor or principal to leave your worksite to complete your Fieldwork observations at another school
- Here is a link on how to complete Fieldwork Forms for candidates who are using their own classroom (Select Fieldwork Form Instructions).
Q3
How do I know what needs to be done in order to complete my prerequisite requirements?
- Every candidate must have the following documents on file and up-to-date before Fieldwork can begin:
- Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- A clear TB test (valid for 4 years)
- Professional liability insurance
- FERPA training
- It is important to understand that these must be valid for the entire quad, before you begin class, and they have to be kept current throughout the program. You will need to renew them as needed.
- Here is the link with the information regarding these fieldwork prerequisites (Select Fieldwork Prerequisites).
Q4
Where can I find the deadlines for my Fieldwork application and prerequisites?
Please refer to our Teacher Preparation Red Calendar with the information you will need regarding Fieldwork deadlines.
Q5
What are the consequences of not submitting valid prerequisites on time?
All prerequisites must be current through the entire quad/semester in which the candidate is registered. Failure to submit one or more valid prerequisites on time may result in being dropped from the course.
Q6
Where can I find the Fieldwork forms?
Printable copies of the Fieldwork forms can be found here (Select Fieldwork Forms).
Q7
Where can I find the Fieldwork Application?
Please reach out to soefieldwork@pointloma.edu for a link to the Fieldwork Application.
Q8
When are my Fieldwork forms due?
- Host Teacher and Demographics forms are due by 4:30 p.m. on the 3rd Friday of each quad.
- Field Experience Evaluation forms are due on the last Friday of each quad at 4:30 p.m
Q9
When will I find out what school I have been placed at for Fieldwork?
Typically, you will receive a placement email from the Placement Coordinator by the first day of the quad. Summer quads will have slightly different fieldwork schedules.
Q10
May I do Fieldwork and Clinical Practice at the same school?
- Typically, you may not do Fieldwork and Clinical Practice at the same school. There are sometimes exceptions made for school employees.
- Having varied Fieldwork and Clinical Practice placements gives candidates exposure to different school settings and teaching styles. We believe these are extremely valuable experiences for preparing to be a teacher.
Q11
Am I guaranteed to be placed in the school site/district I requested for Fieldwork?
No, you will be able to list your top choices on the Fieldwork application form and PLNU will do its best to honor those requests. There are a number of factors that go into making a Fieldwork placement, some of which are out of our control.
Q12
Am I allowed to find my own Fieldwork placement?
No, if you have a specific request in mind, please share that with your Placement Coordinator. We will work with you to see if that particular school/classroom is a viable option for your Fieldwork observations. All placements must meet the CTC requirements.
Q13
Why can’t I choose where I complete my fieldwork?
It is the Placement Coordinator’s responsibility to ensure that you are placed at a school site that will meet both PLNU’s requirements and the state standards (including linguistic and ethnic diversity requirements). In addition, as a university, we must follow the school districts’ protocols for inviting visitors into classrooms, especially for the courses which require you to gather information about specific students or teach a lesson. Legally, we cannot place students in schools or districts for which we do not have a Memorandum of Understanding in place.
Q14
If it is okay with the school, why do I need to be cleared through the district?
As a professional community, universities, school districts, and county educational offices adhere to each other’s guidelines and standards. One of those guidelines is to clear all students with fingerprinting and TB results. School sites cannot verify these requirements and must begin at the district level. All districts in the county require universities to communicate first with the district before sending students out to school sites. We cannot jeopardize our partnerships with the districts by attempting to circumvent this process.
Q15
Can I complete my field experience in a friend’s classroom?
No, you may not complete any field experience hours in a classroom in which the host teacher is a relative or friend.
Q16
I am scheduled for Fieldwork in the Summer. What does that look like?
- For Summer Quad 1 Fieldwork: Please plan to get most/all of your hours done in May since school is out in late May/early June for most districts.
- For Summer Quad 2 Fieldwork: If you are placed in the San Diego area, we will use South Bay schools for Fieldwork since their school year begins in July. Candidates will have about 2-4 weeks to get their observation hours done in late July-August. The quad is over at the end of August. If you are employed at a school, you may be able to get in all of your hours at the beginning of the school year if your place of employment is a district that begins the school year in early August. If you have any follow-up questions, please reach out to your Placement Coordinator.
Q17
When do the observations have to be completed?
All observations must be completed during the quad in which you are registered for the course, and all fieldwork forms must be submitted by their due dates. Failure to submit the required documents will result in a non-passing grade for the course.
Q18
What are the maximum hours I can spend in a classroom each day?
You may observe up to five hours in one day. However, this practice is discouraged because you will lose some authenticity of the observation objectives by not observing within a longer span of time. The hours included in your log must only contain instructional hours. Recess, lunch, passing minutes, before school or after school hours cannot be counted toward your observation hours.
Q19
Can I combine fieldwork hours to complete them faster or when it is more convenient?
Fieldwork hours for separate courses cannot be combined. You must complete your observations during the semester for which you are registered for the course.
Q20
I am earning an Education Specialist Credential. Will I complete any observations in a general education setting?
Yes, some observations are completed in a general education setting. Fieldwork for the following courses is completed in a self-contained Special Education classroom setting: EDT/EDU 4004/6002, EDT/EDU 4061/6061, EDT/EDU 4062/6062, EDT/EDU 4063/6063, EDT/EDU 4064/6064, EDT/EDU 4065/6065, EDT/EDU 4066/6066
Q21
I am a University Intern. Can I complete fieldwork in my own classroom?
As a university intern, you will experience at least three fieldwork experiences (60 hours) outside of your own classroom, and you may be required to complete at least one placement at a different school site. Please take this into consideration as you plan your schedule and speak with your advisor if you are unsure you will be able to make the necessary time commitments. Please note that this also applies to Candidates teaching under a Short-Term Staff Permit or Provisional Intern Permit, or a Long-term Substitute.
Q22
Can I complete observations in my classroom as a long-term or regular substitute?
One of the purposes of fieldwork is to observe a veteran teacher. Therefore, you cannot complete observations in your classroom while in a substitute position.
Q23
I completed fieldwork hours for another university. Can I use those hours toward a PLNU program?
Possibly, if the hours were completed for a graduate/credential program and the hours meet all PLNU fieldwork requirements (including being properly logged). Please contact the Credential Analyst for more information.
Q24
I work during the day. How can I complete the fieldwork hours?
All university programs require their candidates to complete fieldwork hours as a standard of the state. Fieldwork is an integral part of the teacher preparation program and is required for all candidates. Prior to entering a teaching credentialing program, it is important that you understand the time commitment. You will be expected to set up a system with your employer to allow you to fulfill the necessary observations during the day.