PDS Student Teaching & InternshipPDS students may complete either their entire Professional Year or just the spring internship at a PDS site. The block of coursework taken during the fall semester is taught in a collaborative format as part of the program. This collaborative program is designed for PDS students only. The courses are taught from October to December in the fall semester at the various PDS sites. Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Therefore, students are at their PDS site on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and all day on Wednesday. All students accepted into the PDS program take part in the collaborative coursework (pdf) even if they are only completing the spring semester in a PDS site.
All Professional Year students who wish to apply to the PDS program must indicate this on their hard copy application forms as well as fill out the appropriate online request form. Visit the Field Experience Requests page and click on PDS Professional Year Placement Request (C&T Only). Indicate PDS preferences on this form and include two short paragraphs about why you are interested in the PDS program, your experiences working with youth and whether you are requesting a year-long assignment or a spring only PDS placement.
After all PDS applications are received, the principal and teachers at each PDS site review the applications to determine which student teachers and/or interns will be accepted into the program. Some PDS sites require students to come to the school for an interview. Acceptance into a particular PDS school may be limited to a few students, for example, not all students who apply to teach history will be able to be accommodated at their first choice.
If you have additional questions about PDS, please contact teup@ku.edu.
