All Early Childhood & Childhood Education students complete a minimum of 30 hours of Independent Fieldwork with children 6th grade or younger, prior to the beginning of their junior-year methods courses.
Students arrange Independent Fieldwork in a structured setting such as a school, daycare center, camp, children's sports or religious education program. It may involve classroom observations, tutoring, coaching, assistant teaching, etc., and may be paid or volunteer. If the site where you wish to observe or volunteer needs verification from SUNY New Paltz, download this Independent Fieldwork Site Host letter.
Use our form to document your hours, or ask the supervisor/teacher with whom you worked to write a letter on the organization's letterhead documenting your experience. Download the Independent Fieldwork form here.
Submit your documentation to the Early Childhood & Childhood Education Office.
