GSEAP Teaching Internships
Teacher Internship Program
Teacher Internship Application (PDF) |
The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions offers teacher internships for both certified and non-certified teachers studying for a master's degree or certificate of advanced study at Fairfield.
The internship gives you a year of full-time, hands-on experience in a public school setting and $15,000 towards your studies, while offering local schools additional competent staff members and potential future employees.
The Internship for Certified Teachers
If you're a novice teacher or are considering re-entry into the profession, this program gives you a year's experience in a public school while pursuing either a master's degree or a certificate of advanced study.
During the internship year, you'll assume a variety of responsibilities that vary according to your placement. Generally, the principal of the school determines the intern's responsibilities, but they often include:
- Substituting
- Small group instruction
- Individual instruction
- Assisting in a classroom
As an intern, you'll become a member of the school community and attend meetings, professional growth activities, and other functions. Each semester, you'll attend a weekly non-credit seminar focused on issues pertinent to your internship experience.
The Internship for Non-Certified Teachers
If you're a prospective teacher, this program provides an opportunity to do field work in your future profession while pursuing a master's degree or certificate of advanced study and a concurrent program leading to state certification. It is available to graduate students in several certification programs.
Duties are similar to those of certified teachers in the internship program:
- Substituting
- Small group and individual instruction
- Assisting in the classroom
In the elementary school setting, you may be assigned to a mentor teacher in order to gain exposure to an exemplary professional.
In addition to your internship, you'll take courses toward your advanced degree and teacher certification. If a course requires field work, the internship experience may be used to meet that requirement if the course instructor approves.
Interns are supervised closely by a University faculty member and attend a non-credit weekly seminar on issues of professional development. The internship does not substitute for the state-required student teaching experience, and student teaching cannot be done at the same time as the internship.
Benefits
In addition to providing valuable work experience, the school district deposits $15,000 with Fairfield University for you. You may draw upon these banked funds for courses taken at Fairfield. The funds received help to defray a major portion of the tuition costs for the degree.
The internship program benefits both you and the school district in many other ways. You receive valuable real-world experience and a chance to demonstrate your capabilities. School districts receive well-trained staff members and a chance to observe potential job candidates performing their duties for an entire school year.
Apply
For more information or an application, contact Dr. Joseph A. Ricciotti, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2284, jricciotti@fairfield.edu. Specify whether you are interested in the internship for certified or non-certified teachers.
All applications for the internship program are reviewed on a rolling basis. You must be formally admitted to a master's degree program to be eligible.