Field Experiences – The Key to Being Ready for Your Classroom

College of Saint Mary education graduates are known for being effective teachers from the start because of what they have learned in classrooms and the field while at CSM.

Very early on at College of Saint Mary we’ll give you opportunities to apply what you’re learning in the classroom to real life through clinical and field experiences. We use our strong reputation as a leader in educating teachers and our community connections to set you up for success!

Field Experiences

Every student requesting a student teaching placement must have completed at least 100 hours in pre-student teaching experiences, and CSM undergraduates complete an average of 150 hours. These experiences are required and provided within course structures that meet certification requirements.

Operation S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math and Relevant Technology)

Operation S.M.A.R.T. is a partnership between Girls, Inc., Omaha and College of Saint Mary. The mission of Girls Inc. is to encourage girls and young women to be strong, smart and bold and to make career choices and develop leadership skills that have traditionally not been open to them. With Operations S.M.A.R.T., kindergarten through sixth grade girls of diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups receive instruction in natural and social sciences, math and technology. The girls from Girls Inc., come to campus in an after-school program two afternoons a week for instructional activities. These activities provide hands-on natural/social science and math experiences to increase their confidence in their ability to succeed, and excel, in these fields. The girls work extensively with computers, cameras, handheld devices and other technology.  Students enrolled in teaching math and natural/social science courses provide this instruction and complete 64 practicum hours in Operation S.M.A.R.T.

Clinical Experience 

In compliance with Rule 20 of Nebraska law, College of Saint Mary requires teacher candidates to teach full days, 16-20 weeks, in one or two placements, depending on area(s) of endorsement.  If students have two placements, they change schools, grade levels, and content areas of special assignments at the end of 8 or 10 weeks. All teacher candidates teach in fields or subjects for which they will be endorsed.