Field Placement

The SUNY Cortland Field Placement Office coordinates early field experiences and student teaching placements for teacher candidates in ten departments within the School of Education, the School of Professional Studies, and the School of Arts and Sciences, as well as internship placements for students majoring in health sciences and recreation and leisure studies. 

We are committed to providing diverse opportunities in a variety of settings in order to optimize student learning while meeting and exceeding programmatic, professional, partnering school district, and New York State standards and mandates.

• Early field experiences (also known as "pre-student teaching field work") provide teacher candidates with a minimum of 100 hours of experience in at least two different placements within schools, in order to allow for the acquisition of practical knowledge and many of the skills needed to be successful while student teaching.
These experiences allow students to observe experienced classroom teachers, work with students "one-on-one" or in small groups, tutoring students in after school programs, practice pedagogical skills in larger groups, and interact with school faculty, staff and administrators as well as parents and caregivers. 

• Student teaching provides the opportunity for students to integrate and apply learning from coursework and early field experiences within the context of two eight-week placements typically during their last year (and frequently their last semester) of study. 
SUNY Cortland's location in Central New York allows for diverse placements with a variety of urban, suburban, and rural school district partners in the region. 

• Students also have the opportunity to be placed within traditional, alternative and highly-specialized schools that focus on the learning needs of many different types of students (including those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, English language learners, and students with disabilities).

Teacher candidates may also have the option of completing student teaching in areas throughout New York State.

• Internships for students majoring in health sciences or recreation and leisure studies provide a semester-long opportunity for students to integrate theory with practice under the supervision of a faculty supervisor and a professional in the field, in what is often referred to as a "capstone experience" and usually occurs during their last semester of study. 
  
  The internship is intended to prepare the student for future employment and/or graduate studies, and may be completed in a wide variety of organizations and agencies in the Central New York region or throughout the United States, depending on the student's major, concentration and areas of interest.         

We look forward to meeting and working with you as you prepare to meet your educational professional goals; please do not hesitate to be in touch by phone or email, or stop in and see us, when you have questions or concerns!