Current Student Information

The Luther Teacher Education Program (TEP) launches in your first year with Clinical Placement I in local schools. This early immersion allows you to discern your passion and potential for a teaching career firsthand.

As you progress, you will engage with a variety of school communities. We encourage you to complete your Clinical Placement II – Advanced Methods in a diverse setting to broaden your pedagogical perspective.

Your journey culminates in a full professional semester. During this 14-week student teaching placement (or two 8-week placements if required by your state), you will collaborate with faculty and K-12 cooperating teachers to refine your skills and finalize your professional teaching portfolio.

Primary licensure areas:

• Elementary education major
• Music education major
• Secondary education minor

If you have not done so already, it is recommended that before registration, you speak with a faculty member in the Education Department so you get started on the path to licensure in a way that serves you best.

To prepare you for a diverse career in education, your field experiences should cover a broad range of school environments and student populations.

Types of Field Experiences

1. Standalone Clinicals: Clinical I (EDUC 115/MUED 102), Clinical II (Methods), and Clinical III (Student Teaching).
2. Course-Integrated Practicums: These occur alongside methods courses, including endorsement areas such as ESL/ELL, Special Education, and Reading.

Placement Diversity

When selecting sites, we consider the following contextual factors to ensure you receive a well-rounded professional preparation:

• Socio-economic status of the community.
• Geographic setting (rural, suburban, or urban).
• Ethnicity and cultural diversity of the student population.

Placement Parameters & Requirements

All field experiences must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Logistics: You must have access to housing within a reasonable commute and provide your own dependable transportation. (Note: Luther only provides transportation for Clinical I).
• Credentials: The school must employ licensed teachers in your specific subject area and offer the program you are seeking (e.g., Orchestra).
• Conflicts of Interest: To ensure an objective professional experience, you may not be placed in a school where:
  • You attended K-12th grade.
  • A family member or friend currently works (or has worked within the last 5 years).
• Progression: Each new placement must offer different contextual factors than your previous sites.

Important: Students (and their families) must not contact schools or teachers directly. All placement arrangements are managed exclusively by the Education Department administrative team.

Direct questions to:

Field Placement Officer

The Luther College TEP Portfolio System serves two vital purposes:

1. Measuring Growth: To track your development over time according to the 2011 InTASC Standards.
2. Professional Articulation: To help you articulate what constitutes “good teaching” by using evidence to support your understanding and application of professional standards.

The InTASC Standards (developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers) outline what every teacher should know and be able to do. Most states, including Iowa, require candidates to demonstrate mastery of these standards for licensure.

Your Portfolio Journey

During Clinical Placement I (EDUC 115 / MUED 102), you will be introduced to the Anthology Portfolio system and required to purchase a subscription. This electronic platform will house your placement records and document your learning throughout the program across three stages:

• Introductory Portfolio: Focuses on your foundational understanding of InTASC standards through artifacts and assignments from 200-level coursework.
• Developing Portfolio: Completed during your advanced methods year and J-Term clinical. Here, you apply standards to real-world planning, teaching, and assessment. This stage is critical preparation for performance assessments like the edTPA.
• Advanced Portfolio: Your final demonstration of readiness. Completed during student teaching, this portfolio proves you are prepared to lead a classroom through sophisticated reflection and the use of professional academic language.

Account Access & Subscriptions

You will maintain access to your Anthology Portfolio account and clinical placement data indefinitely. Note that once your initial subscription expires, you can still view and download your information, but you will not be able to add new content unless you purchase a subscription extension through Anthology.

Direct portfolio questions to:

Assessment Coordinator

Direct technical issues or placement data questions to:

Administrative Assistant

To ensure the safety of the school communities we serve, all Luther College teacher candidates must undergo screening for criminal history.

Screening Process

Students must follow the specific background check guidelines required by their assigned school district.

• If the school manages its own screening: Please follow the district’s provided instructions.
• If the school does not have a system in place: Luther College will process an extensive National Background Check on your behalf. You will be responsible for the processing fee and must submit the final report to your host school.

A standard Luther-processed background check includes:

• National Sex Offender Registry
• National Criminal Database
• County-level Criminal Search (including Winneshiek County)
• ID Trace Pro

How to Begin

To start your background check, visit the Luther online candidate verification center.

Important: From the dropdown menu, you must select “Luther College – Education Department.” This ensures your authorization form is routed to the correct queue for processing.

Note: Luther College is not responsible for students who are denied access to agencies requiring proof of a background check prior to working with children.

Direct questions to:

Administrative Assistant

This introductory practicum occurs early in the program, giving you the unique opportunity to “try on teaching” during the January term. By working closely with a mentor teacher, you will gain firsthand insight into the daily rhythm of the classroom.

While the experience focuses on observation and reflection, you will also have opportunities to begin practicing your teaching skills. Throughout the month, you will maintain a regular journal with your professors and participate in on-campus seminars to share and process your experiences with your peers.

The online application deadline has passed.

What to Expect

You will be in the classroom approximately 80 hours during the month of January. You will actively observe and may assist, tutor, teach small groups, and perhaps even teach a few whole group lessons.

You will also be on campus in seminars to process your experiences with the guidance of your seminar leader, a faculty member in the education department.

Students taking this course in January must complete the online application above by the first of October.

There is a course fee assessed to all students registered for EDUC 115. This course fee covers transportation, background checks, 1-year subscription to Anthology and other administrative fees associated with this course.

Students will use Luther fleet vehicles to commute to the schools.

Driver Information

It is very important to the success of the EDUC 115 J-Term experience that we have student drivers. We need as many student drivers certified to drive as possible. The Education Department uses almost 20 Luther fleet vehicles during the J-Term practicum. This includes four large 12-passenger vans.

Some of the main things are:

1. You must be 18 years old
2. You must have had a valid driver’s license for at least 2 years
3. You must have health insurance coverage
4. You must watch a video and pass a short quiz
5. If you are willing to drive a large van you must be 20 years old and pass a driving test

Please read all of the information provided regarding driving a Luther fleet vehicle so that you are well informed about the position.

To complete the driver certification process you need to physically go to the Facilities Services Office.

You may also contact the Administrative Assistant (gunderre@luther.edu) if you have any questions or concerns.

All teacher candidates will have a Luther background check processed before they will be allowed into the schools.

Direct placement questions to:

Field Placement Officer

Direct driving questions to:

Administrative Assistant

Putting Your Knowledge Into Practice

Building on your fall methods coursework, this placement moves you beyond observation into active instruction. Luther’s unique academic calendar allows for a concentrated, three-week, full-time practicum during the January term. This immersive experience gives you a realistic look at the teaching profession, including unit planning, professional development, and parent-teacher interactions.

The Value of Diverse Perspectives

We encourage you to select a placement that differs significantly from your first clinical experience. By exploring different geographic settings (urban, suburban, or rural) or working with varying student populations (English Language Learners, Title I schools, etc.), you will develop the flexibility and cultural competency required of a successful first-year teacher.

Course-Specific Requirements

• Elementary Education (EDUC 321 & 322): You will observe and teach both small and large groups with a specific focus on literacy and mathematics. You are required to develop and document a mini-unit that covers planning, instruction, assessment, and reflection.
• Music Education (MUED 361): Under the guidance of a mentor teacher, you will plan, rehearse, and lead a vocal, orchestral, or band program at the elementary level, focusing on core teaching competencies.
• Secondary Education (EDUC 366): Designed for candidates in English, Math, Science, or Social Science. You will participate in your specific academic discipline, incorporating technology and inclusive practices for special education students. During the three-week block, you will teach a full unit to document your professional growth.

Direct questions to:

Field Placement Officer

As a teacher, you will encounter students from all walks of life. Your ability to work with a wide range of students will be key to your success as a teacher in the 21st century. In addition to your methods practicum, we encourage you to continue to experience more diversity during student teaching. You will have at least two seven-week student teaching placements.

You may choose to student teach close to home; in another state; in another part of the world. Ask an education faculty in your teaching focus area for suggestions.

Option 1: Main Partners

The Education Dept. works regularly with most school districts within a 100-mile radius of Luther’s campus.

• South to Waterloo, IA 
• West to  Clear Lake, IA; Mason City, IA; Forest City, IA 
• East to Lansing, IA; Prairie du Chien, WI; Dodgeville, WI 
• North to La Crosse, WI, Austin, MN, Winona, MN; Rochester, MN.

The option 1 radius offers our most experienced Luther supervisors who offer the strongest guidance and support, along with a broad variety of schools that offer diversity in school climate, culture, and size.

Option 2: Extended Partners

The Education Department also works with many districts in metro areas. Our most frequent partners are found roughly within a 50-mile radius of:

• Minneapolis, MN
• Cedar Rapids, IA
• Des Moines, IA
• Iowa City, IA

Option 3: Special Requests for Clinical II and III Experiences

If you wish to request a placement outside of our Main or Extended Partner regions (Options 1 & 2), you must submit a formal petition.

• The Process: The Education Department must review and approve your petition before any contact is made with the school district.
• Special Designations: Candidates may also petition for specific placements in Norway (International Schools) or the Lower Kuskokwim District in Alaska.
• Availability: Please be aware that special requests are not available for all content areas.

Important Note:

Special requests require significantly more lead time to coordinate school contracts, Iowa state compliance, transportation, housing, and supervision. While we strive to secure placements for all approved petitions, we cannot guarantee a placement or the same level of on-site support provided in Options 1 and 2.

Direct questions to:

Field Placement Officer

Luther College faculty and staff have developed relationships with international school district partners. Teacher candidates at Luther have the opportunity to complete one of their clinical placements at these diverse schools.

About the Program

• Provides an authentic cultural experience
• Students work with the Luther Center for Global Learning to arrange details for studying abroad
• The focus of the trip is the teaching experience internationally.

General Requirements

• Overall GPA of 3.0+
• Complete a petition form

Additional Costs

• $200 placement fee*
• Travel to/from the destination
• Housing
• Incidentals: food, entertainment, personal expenses

*Teacher candidates may be eligible for scholarship funds to help subsidize program costs.

Application Deadline

• For Fall student teaching – First Monday of March
• For Spring student teaching – Last Monday of September

Expected Professional Dispositions

• Attendance/Punctuality
• Appearance
• Initiative/Independence/Reliability/Leader
• Student Centered Focus
• Respect for Diverse Perspective
• High Personal Expectations
• Commitment to Ethical, Legal and Moral Practices
• Response to Feedback/Supervision
• Knows and Follows School Policies
• Communications/Demeanor

Direct questions to:

Department Head

Interested in Teaching Abroad after Graduating?

• UNI Overseas Recruiting Fair
• International School Services
• Search Associates

If you complete all the requirements of the Luther College Teacher Education Program (TEP) for the areas of teaching you wish to be licensed, you will be a “completer” of our TEP and entitled to an Iowa teaching license when you submit the application for Iowa licensure at the end of that semester.

Each state has its own licensure requirements. States constantly review, revise, and update their rules and regulations. For that reason, we do not post licensure requirements for other states. We cannot guarantee licensure in a state other than Iowa.

We do our best to keep up with the requirements in the states that border Iowa, but only Iowa alerts us to changes in its rules and requirements. If you successfully meet the requirements of Luther College’s TEP, Iowa licensure is assured upon completion semester.

If you want licensure in a state other than Iowa, keep looking at that state’s website to stay on top of the changes. This is the student’s responsibility. Below are links to the states where most of our candidates apply for licensure. Each link takes you to the state’s teacher licensure website. Be sure to notice the state’s testing requirements.

• Illinois
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin

Bring the information from the website(s) to your education advisor. With this information, the advisor can help you plan your Luther program to meet as many of these requirements as possible.

To find information for a state not listed above, Google: (State Name) Department of Education or Teacher Licensure (State Name).

So far, when our “completers” have passed the particular licensure test(s) the state requires, all of our completers have been granted a “provisional” or “initial” license in the states to which they have applied for licensure, even when there was a course or two required by the state our “completers” had not yet taken. Persons with a “provisional” or “initial” license usually have at least a year or two to complete the additional requirements after their initial application.

Direct questions to:

Licensure Officer

Luther College’s Teacher Education Department Professional Licensure Disclosure