At the secondary level, the 24 credit hour program begins with a foundations course on the university campus followed by pedagogy courses taught in the field. At the elementary level the 24 hour program begins in the field. Students in the course work as interns with mentor teaches several hours each week. These internships preceed a full semester of student teaching. During the internship students tutor pupils, shadow teachers, and learn about the total teaching and learning environment and process.
Benefits accrue to all the partners.
For example, the university program is significantly more relevant to the contemporary teachers role than was the traditional program. The schools have extra people power for tutoring students and aiding teachers. ExCET scores for students who have gone through the program are higher than scores made by traditional students. Professional education courses are provided at public school sites where university students learn in the real world of teaching and learning. Field sites are in Nacogdoches, Lufkin, and Woden ISDs.