Supervised Teaching
Interns receive support from an on-site support provider and a university supervisor throughout their program. The on-site support provider, an experienced teacher with a teaching credential in the same area sought by the intern, meets regularly with the intern to guide them through the first years of teaching. The university supervisor visits the intern’s classroom on a regular basis to support the application of MSMU credential coursework to the intern’s practice. Two-year interns register for 2 units of supervised teaching each fall and spring semester for a total of 8 units over the course of their two-year program. One-year interns register for 4 units a semester for a total of 8 units.
Supervised Teaching Policies
The supervised teaching experience in the Teacher Preparation Programs is structured to address candidates’ diverse levels of teaching experience. An important part of candidates' initial advisement is the determination of how they will fulfill the supervised teaching requirement based on their previous experience and present situation. Those planning to register for supervised teaching must meet with their advisor at least one semester before the beginning of the semester in which they plan to register for this experience and complete an Application for Supervised Teaching. The application deadlines are May 15 for fall supervised teaching and November 15 for spring supervised teaching. All prerequisites for supervised teaching must be met by these dates to be eligible for supervision.
The Education Department does not accept AP History scores as an equivalent to the U.S. Constitution Exam.
The candidate is supported by a university supervisor and a cooperating teacher (pre-service teachers) or on-site supervisor (private school in-service teachers and interns). University supervisors make regular visits to the candidate’s classroom and work closely with the candidate and the cooperating teacher or on-site supervisor.
Prerequisites for Supervised Teaching
- Official admission to the Teacher Preparation Program (includes passage of the CBEST).
- Official passing score report on the appropriate CSET examination or completion of the waiver.
- Successful completion of the appropriate prerequisite and professional preparation coursework with at least a 3.0 GPA.
- Certificate of Clearance issued by Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- Verification of current medical clearance for tuberculosis
- Eligible in-service teachers: Approved Equivalency Petition forms for waiver of 4 units of supervised teaching.
Options to Fulfill Supervised Teaching Requirements
Option I: Supervised Teaching for Pre-Service Candidates
Undergraduate and graduate pre-service candidates are required to complete a full-time supervised teaching experience of 8 units over one semester (see EDU 116A/EDU 116B, EDU 316A/EDU 316B, EDU 164A/EDU 164B, EDU 364A/EDU 364B, or EDU 378A/EDU 378B). Students are placed in Mount Saint Mary’s University approved sites with cooperating teachers for two assignments of six-to-seven weeks each. Students do not make their own arrangements for the supervised teaching placement. Students are guided in teaching techniques by the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor through two assignments at varying grade levels and with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations. A seminar course (EDU 110/210) supports the supervised teaching experience.
Option II: Supervised Teaching for Private School Teachers
Option II is available only to private school teachers whose schools are located in Los Angeles County. Students who are full-time, contracted (in-service) teachers may fulfill the supervised teaching component in their own classroom (see EDU 316C, EDU 364C, or EDU 378C). In-service teachers complete 8 units of supervised teaching, 4 units a semester for two semesters. Multiple Subject candidates must be teaching multiple subjects in a self-contained classroom in grades K-8. Single Subject teachers must be teaching in a departmentalized setting in the subject area in which they are pursuing a credential, typically in grades 6–12. Education Specialist teachers must be teaching in a Special Day Class, Full Inclusion Program or Resource Specialist Program for students with mild/moderate disabilities. A seminar course supports the supervised teaching experience (EDU 210).
Teachers who have taught successfully on a full-time, contracted basis (long-term substitutes are not eligible) in the appropriate subject area and level for at least two years prior to the supervised teaching semester may petition to have four of the required 8 units of supervised teaching waived. Equivalency petitions are available from the education advisor and must be submitted by the supervised teaching application deadline. The equivalency petition must be approved by the department chair prior to enrollment in supervised teaching. For those who waive four units of supervised teaching, the remaining four units may be fulfilled in their own classroom in one semester. If waived, units are not awarded. Teachers must submit documentation that their teaching assignment has been, and continues to be, a full-time, paid teaching position and that the subject matter and level are congruent with the credential sought. For secondary credential candidates, other requirements apply. Candidates should consult their advisor.
State regulations under SB 57 allow private school teachers with three or more years of appropriate experience to waive the entire supervised teaching requirement for the Preliminary Multiple Subject or Single Subject Credential. However, candidates must enroll in the Supervised Teaching Seminar (EDU 210) to complete the required Teacher Performance Assessments (TPA). SB 57 candidates are not recommended by the university for a credential; they apply directly to the state. State guidelines and procedures governing SB 57 are available from the program advisors.
Option III: Supervised Teaching for Public School Interns
Public school interns enroll in supervised teaching to receive support from a university supervisor throughout their program. Two-year interns register for 2 units of supervised teaching (EDU 316D, 364D, 378D) each fall and spring semester for a total of 8 units over the course of their two-year program. One-year interns register for 4 units a semester (EDU 316C, EDU 364C, EDU 378C) for a total of 8 units. Multiple Subject interns must be teaching multiple subjects in a self-contained classroom in grades K-8. Single Subject interns must be teaching in a departmentalized setting in the subject area in which they are pursuing a credential, typically in grades 6 – 12. Education Specialist interns must be teaching in a Special Day Class, Full Inclusion Program or Resource Specialist Program for students with mild/moderate disabilities.