WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Hands-on Experience that Prepares You for Your Career
Clinicals and Student Teaching that
Ensure You're Ready
For some degree programs at WGU you'll need to have hands-on, in-person experience that helps prepare you for your career. Healthcare degrees and teaching degrees both have this requirement to ensure you're prepared for the daily responsibilities of caring for patients or working with students. This in-person experience is usually a requirement of your state for licensure, and WGU helps set up these clinical and student teaching experiences so you can show your abilities and learn additional skill
WGU is focused on helping you be prepared for your in-person experiences by providing experts to guide you ever step of the way. Our field experience coordinators are there to ensure you have a placement that works well for your needs. They give you guidance, answer questions, and work with your placement location to ensure you have everything you need. You will also have support throughout your in-person experience, ensuring that you know how to proceed and get the information you need to successfully complete your experience.
Why do you need hands-on experience?
Gain Vital Experience
Hands-on clinical andstudent teaching work gives you vital experience you need to be successful in your career.
Prepare for certification
For many careers and programs, you'll need hands-on clinical experiences to be able to get official certification or licensure.
Hands-on Learning
For many careers, hands-on experience is the real teacher. In order to actually be prepared for the rigors of your career, clinical experiences are vital.
Enhance Your Résumé
Clinical experience may be a requirement, but it also gives you an opportunity to enhance your résumé by highlighting special skills/opportunities you acquired in your clinical program.
Student Teaching
Student teaching is the final, in-classroom element you must complete in order for WGU to recommend you for licensure or certification after graduation. This experience allows potential teachers to get real, hands-on experience in a classroom, ensuring they're prepared for the rigor of being an educator.
During your student teaching you will work with a cohort seminar facilitated by an experienced WGU educator. You'll have a clinical supervisor who will observe you as you work closely with your classroom host teacher.
The clinical supervisor and your host teacher will provide regular, detailed feedback about your performance and proficiency. You'll focus on several competencies as part of your classroom teaching experience, including:
- Student Learning - Demonstrate the ability to positively impact student learning through work samples, student artifacts, assessment results, and reflection.
- Ethical Responsibilities and Teaching Dispositions - Demonstrate ethical responsibilities and appropriate teaching dispositions, including those outlines in the Code.
- Collaboration - Recommend and utilize strategies for effectively collaborating with colleagues, parents, and community professionals to support student development, learning, and well-being.
- Community Resources - Select community resources that support students’ non-instructional needs in and out of the classroom.
- Academic Language - Recommend and utilize strategies that support the development of academic language for all students.
- Differentiated Instruction - Recommend and utilize various strategies to differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of individual students.
- Student Engagement - Recommend and utilize effective strategies to maintain high levels of student engagement.
- Maximizing Instructional Time - Recommend and utilize best practices for classroom management, effective transitions, and pacing to maximize instructional time.
- Professional Growth - Develop appropriate plans for professional growth in subject matter knowledge and pedagogical skills, including habits and skills of continual inquiry and learning.
- Reflection - Recommend improvements for instruction and professional practice through personal reflection.
How do we support your student teaching?
Getting Started
You will work with a field placement coordinator when it is time to get started with your student teaching placement. Your coordinator will have knowledge of regulations and rules in your state, as well as relationships with districts and teachers. Your placement coordinator will help you in establishing a proper setting for your student teaching, and ensure you know all the requirements for your state.
Regular Support
All throughout your student teaching you will have a clinical supervisor who will meet with you regularly to give support, guidance, and evaluation. They will conduct multiple observations of your classroom teaching and give you feedback to help you improve. Additionally, your clinical supervisor will meet with your host teacher several times to get insight that will help make your relationship a good one.
Group Cohort
As part of your student teaching you will have a cohort group to meet with regularly. Your cohort facilitator will give you advisement and support during your entire student teaching seminar program. Regular calls, discussions, and monitoring are key elements of what your cohort facilitator will do to ensure you are successful during your student teaching.
Which degrees require student teaching?
Education
Elementary Education – B.A.
An online teacher certification program for aspiring elementary teachers....
An online teacher certification program for aspiring elementary teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 63% of grads earned this degree within 30 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this program often include:
- Aspiring elementary school teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This elementary education degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This online teaching degree program helps you to be eligible for teaching certification in any of the 50 states.
Education
Science Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school science teachers. Leads to teaching license in all states that have a middle-grades general science teaching license.
Specific grade levels you are qualified to teach will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 61% of grads earned this science teaching degree within 31 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this online science teaching degree often include:
- Aspiring junior high or middle school science teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for science
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This science teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school chemistry teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 66% of grads earned this online chemistry degree within 32 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this online chemistry degree program often include:
- Aspiring junior high or high school chemistry teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for chemistry
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This chemistry teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Earn a chemistry degree online and be eligible for a teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school earth science teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 62% of grads earned this middle school teaching and high school teaching degree within 29 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this science teaching degree program often include:
- Aspiring junior high or high school geoscience teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for earth science
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This geosciences teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This high school teaching degree program prepares you for teaching licensure in any of the 50 states.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school biology teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 63% of grads earned this online biology degree within 31 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this online teaching degree often include:
- Aspiring junior high or high school biology teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for biology
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This biology teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school physics teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 62% of grads earned this online physics degree within 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this online teaching degree often include:
- Aspiring junior high or high school physics teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for physics
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This physics teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Graduates of this online teaching degree program will be eligible for teaching certification.
Education
Special Education (Mild to Moderate) – B.A.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring K–12 special education teacher. Leads to your teaching license in states that offer a single teaching license in K–12 special education.
- Time: 62% of grads finish similar online teaching degree programs within 29 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program.
If your state requires—or if you're interested in—dual licensure in both elementary education and K–12 special education, consider the B.A. Special Education (K–12) program.
Candidates for this special education degree program often include:
- Aspiring special ed teachers who currently lack a teaching license.
- Substitute teachers.
- Career-changers.
- School paraprofessionals.
- Others who feel the call to teach.
This online degree program includes a preclinical experience with face-to-face observation hours and a Student Teaching component hosted by an experienced teacher and directed by a clinical supervisor.
Education
Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) – B.A.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring K–12 special education teachers. Leads to dual licensure—elementary education teaching license and special education teaching license.
- Time: 61% of grads earned this degree within 27 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 46 total courses in this program.
(Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.) If your state offers a single K–12 special education teaching license and you are interested in focusing on teaching students with mild to moderate exceptionalities, consider the B.A. Special Education (Mild to Moderate) online teaching degree.
Candidates for this online teaching degree often include:
- Aspiring special ed teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This special education teaching online degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
An online teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math...
An online teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math teachers. Leads to teaching license in states that have a middle-grades math teaching license.
Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching licensure in your state.
- Time: 62% of grads earned this degree within 29 months.
- Tuition and fees: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this science teaching degree program often include:
- Aspiring junior high math teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for math
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This science teaching degree program includes requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This science teaching degree prepares you to be eligible for a teaching license in any of the 50 states.
Education
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math teachers and high school math teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 63% of grads earned this degree within 27 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 44 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this math teaching degree program often include:
- Aspiring junior high and high school math teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for math
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This online math teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This online math teaching degree program helps students become eligible for math teaching certification.
Education
Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
An online teaching master's degree and teacher certification program for...
An online teaching master's degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school or high school math teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on the teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 71% of graduates finish this high school math teaching degree within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,975 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this high school math education program often include:
- Aspiring junior high and high school math teachers who currently hold a bachelor's degree but lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for math
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This online teaching degree in secondary math education requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This program differs from the M.A. Teaching, Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) program in that it includes courses in upper levels of calculus, including advanced calculus and mathematical modeling. Graduates from this secondary math degree program will be eligible for a teaching license in any of the 50 states.
Education
Teaching, Elementary Education – M.A.
An online master's of arts in education degree and teacher certification...
An online master's of arts in education degree and teacher certification program for aspiring elementary school teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field.
Leads to a teaching license. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 83% of graduates finish within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,975 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 26 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this master's of arts in education degree program often include:
- Aspiring elementary teachers who currently hold a bachelor's degree but lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This online teacher's degree requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Teaching, Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
An online teaching master's degree and teacher certification program for...
An online teaching master's degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 66% of graduates finish this middle school math teaching degree within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,975 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 22 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this master's in math education degree often include:
- Aspiring junior high math teachers who currently hold a bachelor's degree but lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for math
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This M.A. Teaching program in middle grades math education requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. It differs from the M.A. Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary) program in that it does not require courses in upper levels of calculus, including advanced calculus and mathematical modeling. The curriculum of this online math degree is designed to prepare middle school math teachers for success.
Education
Teaching, English Education (Secondary) – M.A.
An online teaching master's degree and teacher certification program for...
An online teaching master's degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school English teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 88% of graduates finish this online English degree program within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,975 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 19 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this high school English teaching program often include:
- Aspiring junior high and high school English teachers who currently hold a bachelor's degree but lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for English
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This online English degree prepares students for teaching certification in any of the 50 states.
Education
Teaching, Science Education (Secondary) – M.A.
An online master's teaching degree and teacher certification program for...
An online master's teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school science teachers who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 70% of graduates finish this secondary science teaching degree within 24 months.
- Tuition: $3,975 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 20 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this high school teaching degree program often include:
- Aspiring junior high and high school science teachers who currently hold a bachelor's degree but lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for science
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. You'll be prepared to teach in middle school or high school settings, based on teaching certification in your state.
Education
Teaching, Special Education (K–12) – M.A.
An online master's degree for current or aspiring teachers looking to...
An online master's degree for current or aspiring teachers looking to further their careers with a focus on K–12 special education.
- Time: 73% of grads finish similar programs in 21 months.
- Tuition: $3,975 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 26 total courses in this program.
This program is ideal for students who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field and are looking to earn their initial teaching license.
Graduates of this program are prepared to teach in a variety of schools including:
- Inclusionary K–12 classrooms
- Middle/junior high schools
- High schools
- Private and charter schools
Find a rewarding career teaching students with diverse challenges and special learning abilities with this teaching master's degree.
WGU’s Teachers College provides a path for students to become licensed/certified teachers in each U.S. state and territory. In some cases, our program has already been approved for direct licensure/certification in your state. In other cases, you may apply for licensure/certification through reciprocity. Your Enrollment Counselor can give you specific information on your program of interest and how you may ultimately earn a license in your state. Please note that some programs do not have a corresponding license in certain states.
Healthcare Clinicals
Several WGU healthcare degrees require clinical elements in order for you to be recommended for licensure or certification. This hands-on experience gives you vital training and skills so you can be prepared for your work with actual patients after graduation.
Your clinical experience will be facilitated by a clinical supervisor with a partner facility for WGU. You will be observed by your clinical supervisor and your clinic administrator who will collaborate to ensure you meet all the requirements needed for your state.
It's important to work with your clinical supervisor to understand your state requirements so you can know exactly what is needed to prepare you for licensure or certification.
How do we support you during healthcare clinicals?
Bachelor of Science Health Information Management
As part of the Bachelor of Science Health Information Management degree program, you'll need Professional Practice Experience. This is set up with your Program Mentor and field experience coordinator. Your field experience coordinator works closely with you to ensure your application is complete, and then to find you a placement opportunity that will work well for you. Their job is to help you find the right placement, answer any questions you may have, and be with you through the entire process as you prepare for your clinical placement. You are supported by your field experience coordinator until you are set up with the right clinical location.
Health & Nursing
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM....
A program designed for future leaders in HIM.
- Time: 63% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $4,085 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Some careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Director of informatics
- HIMS chief
- Information systems auditor
- Outpatient coder
- Health records manager
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
Bachelor of Science Nursing (Prelicensure)
In order to be eligible to become a licensed nurse, you'll have to participate in clinical experiences in a hospital or clinic setting. During your clinical rotations you will have one-on-one guidance, supervision, and support from a clinical coach. Your clinical coach will be an experienced nurse staff and clinical expert. WGU prelicensure students are set up with specific clinical rotations based on the state they are in and agreements with partner hospitals and clinics. Our goal is to ensure your clinical experience is smooth and a great place for learning, so we ensure you always have the support and guidance you need.
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, NE, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $6,430 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Mentor Guidance
Discover how mentor guidance and student communities can help you be prepared for these in-person experiences.
