The Practicum in Education course is designed to provide an opportunity for undergraduates to gain knowledge of research methods while working directly in educational settings, from classrooms to educational organizations, and research or policy contexts. We want students to become a better practitioner by learning to think like a researcher.
The final product of the course is a short paper in which practicum participants address a puzzle or phenomenon in their own practice or the practices of others to which they have regular exposure in the organization where they are placed.
3 units of approved field work are required of all Education Major and Minor students. Students may complete all 3 units in the same field studies program or may enroll in two or three separate programs. Please note:
EDUC W144 is offered all three semesters, is a variable unit course (meaning students may enroll in 1, 2 or 3 units of fieldwork within one semester), and can be repeated multiple times. A wide variety of education related fieldwork is possible through this course, including research, interning and suggesting your own placement. Students need to contact the course instructor to discuss possible placements in advance of the start of the semester. A list of practicum sites currently partnering with EDUC W144, along with the hours required per unit, is listed here: EDUC W144 Approved Sites
Fieldwork Units
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EDUC 140AC/W140A and EDUC 190AC/W190A each have an equivalent of 1 unit of approved fieldwork within the 4 units of the course. If you take either of these electives, you would only need 2 more units of fieldwork.
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Fieldwork outside the School of Education: There is one approved field studies program outside of the School of Education: the Youth Mentorship Program through Asian American Studies 197. Check the approved list of fieldwork as well as each semester's course list for this program's availability.
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Summer Field work: EDUC W144 is offered in the summer with a variety of placements available. Students may also request a specific placement by contacting the instructor.
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Petitioning field units: Occasionally, students have already completed or want to complete a unit bearing field program that is not on the Education approved list, and use those units for Education field units. Students in this situation should contact the Undergraduate Advisor as soon as possible to discuss the petition process. Please note: field experiences that are not unit bearing cannot be petitioned. All petitions must be submitted and approved prior to graduation.