Supporting BA.Ed Students in All Aspects of Their Field Experiences

The Field Office assists teacher candidates in securing pre-practicum and practicum placements in order to fulfill their Massachusetts Elementary 1-6 and Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 initial license requirements. We work to create partnerships with a variety of districts enabling our students to gain valuable classroom experiences as they prepare for their future as educators. 
In addition to Pre-Practicum and Practicum placements, teacher candidates will also have the opportunity to visit classrooms during their first and sophomore years to complete their field-based coursework. All field-based coursework will be arranged prior to the start of semester and aligned with course outcomes. A student should plan to complete a minimum of 10 hours a semester in the field, completing field-based coursework.
Furthermore, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all teacher candidates be assessed for teacher readiness. This is done through the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) in relation to the Professional Standards of Teaching. At UMass Lowell, our classes and fieldwork are aligned with the Massachusetts Educator Evaluation Framework to make sure our students graduate with the confidence and skills needed to succeed as new teachers.

Planning for Your Pre-Practicum

As part of BA.Ed course completion, students complete their pre-practicum placement in the spring semester of their junior year. During Pre-Practicum, students will be in their placement one full day a week from the start of the school day until the end of the school day. By spending an entire day in the classroom, students are exposed to routines and activities that are a part of the classroom environment. They will spend the first six-weeks in a general education placement and the following six-weeks in a special education placement. Pre-practicum is a prerequisite for students entering their Practicum. 
Students entering pre-practicum must attend an introductory orientation and complete the pre-practicum application the fall semester before entering their pre-practicum. After both of these tasks are completed, the Field Office works with students individually to find the correct placement.
  • Pre-Practicum Application Deadline: Oct. 15
  • Documentation Requirements:
    • Prior to the start of pre-practicum, students are required to complete a CORI form and fingerprinting for their district of placement. The Field Office will support the student in securing the correct paperwork.
    • Once in the pre-practicum placement, students are required to submit supporting documentation to the Field Office, to guarantee the placement is a good fit. This documentation includes: a weekly time log, four check-in surveys and two self-assessments. All of this documentation will be reviewed during the introductory orientation. 
    • Documentation submission will be review during orientation.

Planning for Your Practicum

As part of BA.Ed course completion, students must complete two practicum placements in their senior year.
  • One placement will be in a general education 1-6 grade classroom. 
  • The other placement will be serving special education students grades K-8. 
Students will be in their practicum placement five days a week from the start of the school day until the end of the school day. They should be attending any professional development days, parent-teacher conferences and any other contracted responsibilities of their Supervising Practitioner. 
All placements must be approved by the Field Office. 

Steps for Applying

Meet with your advisor to discuss your readiness to complete practicum. The following requirements must be met to be eligible for practicum.
  • Complete all required prerequisites coursework for the program
  • Pass all Gateway Assessments
  • Complete Pre-Practicum experience
  • Hold a GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Have no incompletes or failing BA.Ed grades 
  • Have no concerning dispositions

We will be holding a mandatory practicum planning session in the first few weeks of the spring semester. All students currently in pre-practicum must attend, even if they are starting practicum the following spring.

Complete the online practicum application by April 1.

In April, the Field Office Coordinator will be scheduling one-on-one meetings with all students who completed the Practicum Application. This meeting will allow the Field Office to review the application, discuss any concerns and ensure a quality placement for the student. Students need to bring a completed Field Experience Map with them to the meeting.
  • Practicum Application Deadline: April 1
  • Documentation Requirements:
  • Prior to the start of practicum, students are required to complete a CORI form and fingerprinting for their district of placement. The Field Office will support the student in securing the correct paperwork.
  • Additionally, once students are in their practicum placement, they will be required to submit monthly surveys regarding their placement. All documentation requirements, forms and handbooks will be reviewed during the mandatory information session.
  • All documentation should be submitted to the Field Office. Submission procedures will be reviewed during orientation.

Pre-Practicum Forms

Practicum Forms