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?
Online Degree Options for Education Bachelor's Degrees
Education
Bachelor's Degrees Elementary Education
Online bachelor's degree programs built for aspiring elementary school...
Online bachelor's degree programs built for aspiring elementary school teachers who are looking to earn a teaching license.
Leads to a teaching license. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 68% of students finish within 36 to 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 to 45 (47 for Washington residents) total courses in your degree, depending on which program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Lesson Planning
- Ethics
- Behavioral Support Strategies
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Classroom Management
These online bachelor's degrees require in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Bachelor's Degrees Special Education
Online bachelor's degree programs built for aspiring special education...
Online bachelor's degree programs built for aspiring special education teachers who are looking to earn a teaching license.
Leads to a teaching license. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 61% of students finish within 34 to 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 38 to 39 total courses in your degree, depending on which program you pursue.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Lesson Planning
- Ethics
- Behavioral Support Strategies
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Classroom Management
These online bachelor's degrees require in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
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: 61% of students earned this online biology degree within 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program (43 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program:
- Zoology
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Health Sciences
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Heredity and Genetics
This biology 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: 65% of students finish this online chemistry degree within 37 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program (42 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program:
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Biochemistry
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: 63% of students earn this middle school teaching and high school teaching degree within 33 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program (43 for Washington residents)
Concepts included in this program:
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- General Physics
- Physical Geology
- Earth Systems
- Astronomy
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 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 students earn this online physics degree within 49 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program (42 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Educational Psychology
- Physics: Waves and Optics
- Space, Time and Motion
- Conceptual Physics
- Physics: Mechanics
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
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: 60% of students finish this degree within 40 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 41 total courses in this program (44 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program:
- Trigonometry and Precalculus
- Probability and Statistics I and II
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Abstract Algebra
- College Geometry
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
Educational Studies – B.A.
These online, non-licensure educational studies degrees prepare you to...
These online, non-licensure educational studies degrees prepare you to make a difference in a field that interests you.
Based on your career goals and interests, you can choose an educational studies program in one of 10 content areas that meets your needs while working toward employment in school settings, corporate training, or instructional design. These programs do not lead to a teaching license.
- Time: Completion time varies depending on the specialty track you choose.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- This bachelor's degree allows students to learn about education but does not include student teaching and it does not lead to a teaching license.
Focus areas of this educational studies degree program include:
- Elementary Education
- Elementary and Special Education
- Mild to Moderate Special Education
- Secondary Biology Science Education
- Secondary Chemistry Science Education
- Secondary Earth Science Education
- Secondary Physics Education
- Secondary Mathematics Education
Online Degree Options for Education Master's Degrees
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: 64% of students finish within 24 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 28 total courses in this program (29 for Washington residents)
Concepts included in this program:
- Lesson Planning
- Ethics
- Behavioral Support Strategies
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Classroom Management
This online teacher's degree requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Teaching, Special Education (K–12) – M.A.
An online master's degree for aspiring teachers looking to further their...
An online master's degree for aspiring teachers looking to further their careers with a focus on K–12 special education.
- Time: 64% of students finish similar programs in 22 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 30 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.
Concepts included in this program:
- Professional, Ethical and Legal Guidelines in Special Education
- Management Strategies for Academic and Social Behavior
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Methods of Instruction and Intervention
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Find a rewarding career teaching students with diverse challenges and special learning abilities with this teaching master's degree.
Education
Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
An online master's degree for current teachers who want to specialize in...
An online master's degree for current teachers who want to specialize in teaching science to middle school students.
Available in all states that offer a middle-grades general science endorsement.
- Time: 63% of students earned this degree within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 14 total courses in this program.
This program is for currently licensed teacher who want to add middle-grades science to their license.
Concepts included in this program:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Earth science
- Space science
Propel your career as a middle school or junior high science teacher with this M.A. degree.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Biology – Master's
Online master's programs for currently licensed teachers, or for those who...
Online master's programs for currently licensed teachers, or for those who want to pursue a teaching license. These programs prepare you to teach biology at the secondary level in your state. 68%
- Time: (((percentcomplete.masesb))) of students finish these programs within (((months.masesb))) and (((months.matsesb))) months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 13 to 20 total courses in this program.
WGU offers one program for currently licensed teachers and one for aspiring teachers to ensure you are able to pursue your master's degree, and support your teaching career.
Completion time and total courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Heredity and Genetics
Propel your career as a junior high or high school biology teacher with this education master's degree.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Chemistry – Master's
Online master's programs for both currently licensed teachers or for those...
Online master's programs for both currently licensed teachers or for those who want to pursue a teaching license. These programs prepare you to teach chemistry at the secondary level in your state.
- Time: 64% of students finish their program or similar programs within 18 to 24 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 14 to 20 courses for your degree, depending on which program you choose.
WGU offers one program for currently licensed teachers and one for aspiring teachers to ensure you are able to pursue your master's degree, and support your teaching career.
Completion time for your program and the total number of courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- General Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Propel your career as a junior high or high school biology teacher with this education master's degree.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Earth Science - Master's
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring...
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring teachers who want to pursue licensure. These programs prepare you to teach earth science at the secondary level in your state.
- Time: 60% of students earn these degree within around 14 to 24 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 12 to 20 total courses in this program.
Completion time and total courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Physical Geology
- Earth Systems
- Astronomy
- Ocean Systems
- Chemistry
Propel your career as a geoscience teacher with this education master's degree.
Education
Science Education, Secondary Physics – Master's
Online master's programs for aspring and currently licensed teachers....
Online master's programs for aspring and currently licensed teachers. These programs prepare you to teach chemistry at the secondary level in your state, and obtain licensure if needed.
- Time: 62% of students finish these programs or related programs within 15 to 24 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 14 to 20 courses for your degree, depending on which program you choose.
WGU offers one program for currently licensed teachers and one for aspiring teachers to ensure you are able to pursue your master's degree, and support your teaching career.
Completion time for your program and the total number of courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- General Chemistry
- Mechanics
- Waves and optics
- Electricity and magnetism
- Space, time and motion
Propel your career as a junior high or high school physics teacher with the help of a master's degree in education.
Education
Mathematics Education – Master's
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring...
Online master's program options for current teachers, and aspiring teachers who want to pursue licensure. These programs prepare you to teach math at the approved level in your state.
- Time: 64% of students finish these programs within 18 and 25 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 12 to 20 total courses in this program.
Completion time and total courses will vary based on the program you pursue.
Concepts included in this program:
- Trigonometry
- Calculus
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Statistics
Propel your career as a math teacher with a master's degree in mathematics education.
Education
Teaching, Social Studies (Secondary) – M.A.
This online master's degree program prepares you to become a licensed...
This online master's degree program prepares you to become a licensed social studies teacher in your state.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 63% of students finish similar programs within 21 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 19 total courses in this program (21 for Washington residents).
Concepts included in this program include:
- US History
- World History
- Economics
- Classroom Instruction Strategies
- Technology for the Classroom
This online social studies degree prepares students for teaching certification in any of the 50 states.
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: 63% of students finish this online English degree program within 21 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 17 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- English Pedagogy
- Reading Instruction and Interventions
- Disciplinary Literacy
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
This online English degree prepares students for teaching certification in any of the 50 states.
Education
English Language Learning (PreK–12) – M.A.
An online master's degree for current teachers whose next career goal...
An online master's degree for current teachers whose next career goal includes a focus on teaching in ELL or ESL settings.
- Time: 62% of students earn this degree within 17 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
This program is for current teachers who are looking to add ELL or ESL to their license.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Assessment Theory and Practice
- Language Production, Theory and Acquisition
- Instruction Planning and Implementation
- Theories of Second Language Acquisition
Grow your teaching career on a commitment to ensuring language barriers don't become a barrier to learning with this education master's degree.
Education
Educational Leadership – M.S.
An online master's degree for current teachers looking to move into a...
An online master's degree for current teachers looking to move into a school or district leadership position, like principal, vice principal, or administrator.
- Time: 60% of grads earned this degree within 23 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 13 total courses in this program.
This program is for licensed teachers who are ready to take the next step in their education career.
Concepts included in this program:
- School Law
- School Financial Leadership
- People & Talent
- School Operations and Management
- Leadership Ethics
Put your leadership skills to good use—in the service of America's children—with this education master's degree.
States that do not accept this program: Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota.
Education
Education Technology and Instructional Design – M.Ed.
The M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from WGU is for...
The M.Ed. in Education Technology and Instructional Design from WGU is for instructional designers tasked with creating engaging and immersive virtual learning experiences that can substitute for on-ground instruction.
No teaching license required.
- Time: 62% of students finish this program in 10 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term
- Courses: 12 total courses in this program.
This program includes two tracks for students to choose from:
- The K-12 pathway
- The Adult Learner pathway
Concepts included in this program:
- Learning Experience Design
- Assessment and Learning Analytics
- Learning Technology
- Research Methodology
Develop training and instruction expertise to help you in the classroom, in educational settings, or in corporate world.
Education
Curriculum and Instruction – M.S.
An online master's degree for those who have educational experience and...
An online master's degree for those who have educational experience and are looking to further their careers with a graduate program focused on curriculum development and design.
- Time: 62% of students earn this degree within 12 months.
- Tuition: $4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
Concepts included in this program:
- Differentiated Instruction
- Curriculum and Instruction Design
- Educational Research
- Assessment
Help schools create engaging, meaningful, and memorable learning experiences to improve learning outcomes for all students with this M.S. degree.
Endorsement Programs
Education
Secondary Biology Endorsement
An online endorsement program that prepares currently licensed teachers to...
An online endorsement program that prepares currently licensed teachers to add secondary biology to their license.
This endorsement program allows teachers to add junior high and high school grade levels, along with biology teaching, to their license.
- Time: Most students will complete this program within 12 months.
- Tuition: $2,550 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 8 total courses in this program.
This program is for current teachers who are looking to earn a Secondary Biology endorsement to add to their license.
Things you will learn in this program include:
- Molecular biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Zoology
- Genetics
- Probability and statistics
Take the next step in your teaching career by expanding your opportunities.
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: 61% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $4,210 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare System Applications
- Health Information Law and Regulations
- Healthcare Project Management
- Data Analytics and Information Governance
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 Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $8,755 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.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Mentor Guidance
Discover how mentor guidance and student communities can help you be prepared for these in-person experiences.
