Skip to main content
  • About
    • Dean's Welcome
    • College Academic Affairs
    • Accreditation
    • Assessment
    • CEP Award Programs
    • College Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
    • Data Summit
    • Recognition and Awards
  • Community Initiatives
    • Charles Butt Scholarships for Aspiring Teachers
    • Counseling and Training Clinic
    • Mobile Literacy Unit
    • Summer Camps
  • Academic Programs
    • Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability
    • Office of Field Experiences
    • Learning to Teach Lab
  • College Departments
    • Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies
    • Department of Counseling
    • Department of Organization and School Leadership
    • Department of Human Development and School Services
    • Department of Teaching and Learning
  • Research
    • Grants & Projects
    • CEP Research Hub
    • Faculty Spotlight Series
    • PNC Grow Up Grant
    • RGV STEM Education Consortium
    • C.B. Slemp Endowment
  • Resources
    • Faculty & Staff: Resources and Forms
    • Student Organizations
    • Equipment/Service Request Form
DIRECTORY
MAPS
MYUTRGV
UTRGV
The University of Texas
Rio Grande Valley
DIRECTORY
MAPS
MYUTRGV
News
GIVE
Open Search Menu
Menu
utrgv logo
College of Education and P-16 Integration
Division of Academic Affairs
  • About
    â–¼
    About Square placeholder image 300px
    About

    UTRGV's College of Education & P-16 Integration cultivates qualified leaders and promotes educational success through partnerships & accreditation.

    • Dean's Welcome
    • College Academic Affairs
    • Accreditation
    • Assessment
    • CEP Award Programs
    • College Annual Reports
    • Contact College of Education
    • Data Summit
    • Recognition and Awards
  • Community Initiatives
    â–¼
    Community Initiatives Square placeholder image 300px
    Community Initiatives

    Explore our diverse community initiatives designed to empower, inspire, and shape a brighter future for the Rio Grande Valley.

    • Charles Butt Scholarships for Aspiring Teachers
    • Counseling and Training Clinic
    • Mobile Literacy Unit
    • Summer Camps
  • Academic Programs
    â–¼
    Academic Programs Square placeholder image 300px
    Academic Programs

    Embark on a journey of educational excellence with our diverse array of academic programs, including Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. Contact our Program Coordinators for guidance.

    • Office of Educator Preparation and Accountability
    • Office of Field Experiences
    • Learning to Teach Lab
  • College Departments
    â–¼
    College Departments Square placeholder image 300px
    College Departments

    The College of Education & P-16 Integration offers a wide variety of degrees, certifications, and online programs to cater to the interests and goals of our students. We provide our students with tools and skills that will take them to the classroom and beyond. To explore your career options, please visit our academic department

    • Department of Bilingual and Literacy Studies
    • Department of Counseling
    • Department of Organization and School Leadership
    • Department of Human Development and School Services
    • Department of Teaching and Learning
  • Research
    â–¼
    Research Square placeholder image 300px
    Research

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) College of Education and P-16 Integration (CEP) is committed to educating future teachers and school leaders, while continuously innovating field practices.

    • Grants & Projects
    • CEP Research Hub
    • Faculty Spotlight Series in Research and External Grants
    • PNC Grow Up Grant
    • RGV STEM Education Consortium
    • C.B. Slemp Endowment
  • Resources
    â–¼
    Resources Square placeholder image 300px
    Resources
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • Student Organizations
    • Equipment/Service Form
Teaching classroom inside Library

Clinical Teaching Program

Hexagon Icon
  1. Home
  2. Academic Programs
  3. Office of Field Experiences
  4. Clinical Teaching Program
In This Section
Menu

Office of Field Experiences Menu

  • Clinical Teaching Program
    • Application and Requirements
      • STEP UP Program
      • Traditional Clinical Teaching Application and Requirements
      • Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency Application and Requirements
    • Clinical Teaching District Partner CBC
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Field-Based Experiences
    • District Partner CBC
    • Requirements
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • District Partners
  • Teacher Candidate Resources
  • Field Supervisor Resources
  • Cooperating Teacher Resources
  • Faculty Resources
  • Staff Directory

Contact Us

Dr. Zulmaris Diaz
Director
Office of Field Experiences
EEDUC 2.202
Edinburg Location Map
ofe@utrgv.edu
(956) 665-5910
(956) 882-4139


Clinical teaching is a full-day, full-time, school-based practicum supervised by an experienced certified teacher and a university supervisor or university faculty. Clinical teaching is the culminating experience during the professional development of teacher candidates. It gives them the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate instructional competence as beginning professional educators. The practical experiences and reflection gained during clinical teaching prepares candidates to become effective educators. The overarching goal of the clinical teaching program is to immerse teacher candidates in classroom experiences as they transition into the role of a professional teacher by developing high levels of competence through supervised teaching experience. The clinical teaching program is aligned to state and national teaching preparation standards, ensuring clinical teachers are prepared to be effective teachers in the classroom pathway must be requested by formal application during the semester before the teacher candidate plans to teach. Applications to the Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency and STEP UP Program pathway must be completed during the second semester of the teacher education program. 

Overview

Clinical teaching is an integral part of our teacher preparation program; it is a major requirement for initial teaching certification in the state of Texas. The clinical teaching assignment is the final demonstration by teacher candidates of their ability to perform successfully as beginning teachers. It is the time teacher candidates apply what they have learned in their teacher preparation courses to actual classrooms. 

Clinical Teaching Pathways

We offer three pathways for completing clinical teaching: STEP UP, the Traditional Clinical Teaching semester, and the Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency.  

  • The Student Teacher Educator Preparation: University Partnership (STEP UP) program is an exciting year-long internship that provides a variety of opportunities for candidates to experience what takes place on a campus over an entire year. STEP UP takes place during candidates’ final year of teacher preparation. Candidates attend one full day a week in their first semester in the STEP UP program, and then stay with the same cooperating teacher and classroom as they complete their 15 weeks student teaching semester.  
     
  • The Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency is a dynamic rigorous paid year-long teacher residency program, if district funds are available, that provides teacher candidates the opportunity to co-teach alongside a mentor teacher in a P-6 classroom while completing teaching methods courses. Under the mentorship of experienced teachers and university faculty, teacher residents engage in-deep clinical training which allows for multiple guided opportunities to practice their teaching skills while receiving financial compensation, in most cases. Teacher residents must be admitted into the clinical teaching pathway.  
     
  • The Traditional Clinical Teaching semester is a full-time commitment. It is 15 weeks, full-day, full-time, school-based assignment. The clinical teacher must follow the school schedule of his or her cooperating teacher; therefore, any other missing course work within the teacher candidate’s degree plan (i.e. not professional or educational coursework) must be taken after 4:30 pm or online asynchronous. Professional and educational coursework is required to be complete prior to clinical teaching.  

Admission

Admission to the Traditional Clinical Teaching pathway must be requested by formal application during the semester before the teacher candidate plans to teach. Applications to the Yearlong Clinical Teaching Residency and STEP UP Program pathway must be completed during the second semester of the teacher preparation program.  

Candidates applying for clinical teaching must be formally admitted into the teacher education program and must meet all clinical teaching program requirements. 

Criminal History Background Check

Pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching and field experience. A candidate may be ineligible for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP if an individual has been convicted of an offense that is considered inappropriate for an educator. 

Texas Education Agency (TEA) was notified by MorphoTrust, the Texas Department of Public Safety fingerprinting vendor, that effective August 1, 2015, a social security number will be required to complete the fingerprinting process, which is mandatory for the background check necessary for teacher certification in Texas. Visit Social Security Administration and UTRGV International Student Services websites. 

Notice

Teacher candidates may not reach out to districts directly as the Office of Field Experiences maintain an internal process to ensure accurate and successful placements. 

Contact College of Education and P-16 Integration


Brownsville

BMAIN 2.306
956-882-5708

Edinburg

EEDUC 3.102
956-665-3627
Fax: 956-665-2184

Email Us

cep@utrgv.edu

Request Information

Find us on Social Media


LIKE. FOLLOW. SUBSCRIBE. ADD.


UTRGV
  • CARES, CRRSAA and ARP Reporting
  • Site Policies
  • Required Links
  • Accreditation Statement
  • Fraud Reporting
  • Senate Bill 18
  • Clery Act Reports
  • Web Accessibility
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Reporting Sexual Misconduct
  • Contact UTRGV
  • 1-844-ATUTRGV
  • Facebook
  • X Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Cost and Financial Aid
  • Student Life
  • Search Programs
  • First-Year Students
  • Transfer
  • International Students
  • Graduate Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • UTRGV Careers
  • Visit Campus
  • Directory
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley