Intern Program

Intern Institute

Intern Program Requirements
Intern Program Application
Intern Program Fieldwork Requirements

Intern Program Requirements

In order to participate in our Special Education Intern program, students must:

  • Have been admitted to an SJSU Education Specialist Credential program
  • Hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
  • Have met the Basic Skills requirement through one of the qualifying methods as outlined by CTC on the LCOE Credentials website
  • Have met Subject Matter Competency through one of the qualifying methods as outlined by CTC on the LCOE Credentials website
  • Have completed 135 clock hours (minimum of three 3-unit courses) of prerequisite coursework in the appropriate first semester credential program, which must include the course EDSE 224 Methodologies for Second Language Learners in Special Education, with a B or higher
  • Hold a GPA of 3.0 in all credential coursework
  • Have a job offer as a teacher in a district with which we hold an MOU
    Special Education Credential Program - Intern Pathway; Partnering School Districts

    The following Local Education Agencies (LEAs) partner with San José State University to support Education Specialist Intern Teachers:

    ● Alum Rock Union Elementary School District
    ● Cambrian School District
    ● Campbell Union High School District
    ● Campbell Union School District
    ● Castro Valley Unified School District
    ● Cupertino Union School District
    ● Dublin Unified School District
    ● East Side Union High School District
    ● Evergreen School District
    ● Franklin-McKinley School District
    ● Fremont Unified School District
    ● Gilroy Unified School District
    ● Hayward Unified School District
    ● KIPP Public Schools
    ● Livermore Joint Valley Unified School District
    ● Moreland School District
    ● Mountain View Whisman School District
    ● Newark Unified School District
    ● North Monterey County Unified School District
    ● Pajaro Valley Unified School District
    ● Palo Alto Unified School District
    ● Pleasanton Unified School District
    ● Rocketship Public Schools
    ● Salinas Union High School District
    ● San Ramon Unified School District
    ● Santa Clara County Office of Education
    ● Santa Clara Unified School District
    ● Santa Cruz City Schools
    ● Santa Cruz County Office of Education
    ● San Francisco Unified School District
    ● San Jose Unified School District
    ● Summit Public Schools
    ● Tracy Unified School District

    If the district you wish to Intern with is not on this list let us know so we can process an MOU with them. 

 

Apply for the Intern Program

Complete each of the documents below. Email completed forms to Dr. Lisa Simpson, email : lisa.simpson@sjsu.edu . Be sure to read all forms carefully and submit the required documentation with each form.

Once the completed application (all 5 items below) is reviewed and approved, you will be provided with an Intern Memo to take to our Credential Services Office to apply for the Intern Credential. 

Summer Intern Institute August 11 & 13, 2026

The Intern Institute will be held over Zoom from 4:00-5:30 each day. Interns are required to attend. Once your Intern Application has been submitted you will receive an invite to the session with the Zoom link. 

 

Completing Fieldwork Requirements in the Intern Program

Education Specialist Credential programs are three semester programs. Candidates are eligible to be part of the Intern Program in semesters two and three of their program. (Candidates who hold a Multiple Subject or Single Subject credential may become an Intern in their first semester.) Interns must be assigned a district support provider who provides weekly support to the intern and assists the intern in meeting the goals of the professional development plan.

In semester two, Interns enroll in EDSE 234 Early Fieldwork and are required to complete 200 hours of supervised student teaching in special education and general education settings, as are all credential candidates. This requirement must be worked out with the employer in advance of enrolling in the course. There are a number of ways to meet the student teaching requirement in the employment setting but it must include observation of the mentor while he/she is teaching and time spent co-teaching with the mentor teacher. Intern candidates should arrange a meeting with the fieldwork coordinator/ department chair and the employer to create a plan for meeting the student teaching requirement prior to enrolling in EDSE 234.

In the third semester of the program Interns enroll in EDSE 217A or EDSE 154 according to their program roadmap. Interns complete 400 hours of supervised fieldwork in their own classroom setting with guidance from the support provider and the University Supervisor. The University supervisor makes a minimum of 6 formal observations of lessons and provides feedback to the Intern. The supervisor also holds twice monthly seminars for additional support. 

Interns are assigned a University Supervisor who will make observations of their lessons and provide feedback in both fieldwork courses. University Supervisors also hold twice monthly seminars to provide additional support to the interns. Education Specialist Interns are responsible for logging 144 hours of general support and supervision across the academic year and 45 hours of support and supervision across the academic year related to teaching English learners. These logs are kept in the CANVAS shell for each fieldwork course and are reviewed by the University Supervisor. Options for accruing support hours are discussed in the intern seminars.