Initial teacher education certification programs at Winthrop University are designed
as clinically-based models with the philosophy that highly effective teachers are
developed through diverse field experiences around which content is applied.
Throughout your time at Winthrop, you will have multiple opportunities to work with
students, teachers, and administrators in our Partnership Network and beyond. These schools are committed to the shared responsibility of supporting
pre-service teacher candidates and often use the hosting of Winthrop students to hire
new educators for their school!
Early clinical placements include a focus on individual learners — understanding their
developmental process as well as diversities that make each learner unique. A more
intense field experience follows that allows candidates to integrate their knowledge
of adult learners with implementing content and maintaining a positive classroom climate.
Finally, the work of a Winthrop University teacher candidate is culminated by a year-long
internship. While many candidates remain in the same placement for the internship,
the critical piece to this experience is the calendar. Candidates begin the internship
with teacher workdays — participating in all of the pre-opening activities such as
setting up a classroom, conducting an open house, and preparing for a new group of
learners. In addition, candidates engage in professional development with their mentor
teachers and are there on day one when students arrive! Teacher candidates follow
the school district calendar until graduation including time at their placement school
leading to winter break and returning in early January.
The year-long internship and extensive field and clinical placements are what past
candidates claim contributed the most to their success as a teacher. Although rigorous
and time-consuming, spending time in schools with students is critical to developing
the skill and disposition to being a highly effective educator.
For information about specific programs, please visit the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences then click "Degree Programs" on the left. An overview of common curriculum experiences can be found by visiting the Education Core.