Western Carolina University

Students with a residential program status - including commuters - are restricted to the following partner school systems for all field experiences: 

• Buncombe 
• Asheville City (inside Buncombe County)
• Cherokee County
• Cherokee Central Schools (Federal - Block & Internship/Student Teaching only)
• Clay
• Graham
• Haywood
• Henderson
• Jackson
• Macon
• Madison
• McDowell
• Mitchell
• Polk 
• Rutherford
• Swain
• Transylvania
• Yancey

The Distance Programs placed by the Office of Field Experience allowed to be placed outside our region are:  BK, Most Certification Only Programs (non-degree), RALC, and Graduate Special Education Programs.  Note that some states do not allow placements from other states and this list is constantly changing.  Distance students should plan to complete the program in North Carolina as a result.  We cannot guarantee the availability of an out of state placement in the future.

Since our programs lead to North Carolina public school licensure, all internships and student teachers must be at a public school, including charter schools.  Remember that ultimately either the school or district will make the decision whether or not to host a particular student. 

The timeline for internship/student teaching placement confirmation is different for each student and school.  Some schools require an interview, some do not.  Some respond with their placements quickly, others take longer.  Once the application deadline has passed, students should expect to wait 1-3 months for their placement confirmations.  Students do not need to call for updates.  Calls go out to individual students as soon as a specific placement has been confirmed.