Focused Studies in Education Handbook
York College of Pennsylvania
Department of Education
York, PA 17403
9/25/18
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General Information about Focused Studies in Education
Focused Studies in Education is offered to students enrolled in any Education major who initially
registered for and commenced Student Teaching. Focused Studies in Education is a ten (10)-credit
course. If a student is currently enrolled in other coursework (besides Student Teaching), that student
may stay enrolled in those courses, if they are graduation requirements. Students who do not complete
student teaching, but complete a Focused Studies in Education program instead, are not eligible to apply
for any state teaching certification. A student may still earn a baccalaureate degree without certification,
if all other course and credit requirements are met. Students who are entered into the Focused Studies
course are relieved of student teaching duties to pursue research and activities related to topics and/or
projects approved by the Department Chair. Students are only eligible for Focused Studies if they meet
all of the following criteria:
Admission to the Student Teaching semester
Approval of the Chair of the Department of Education
Student does not find satisfaction in the student teaching assignment, but wishes to graduate on
time OR College Supervisor and/or Cooperating Teacher feel as is the student teacher is
hindering the education of the students in the classroom
During Focused Studies, students take much of the responsibility when choosing this path and are
responsible for formulating a plan, in conjunction with their College Supervisor. Generally, the
experience topics and/or projects correlate to the student’s particular needs and interests. Those
electing, or being recommended for, this option may seek career paths that include work experiences
dealing with people and education in a variety of settings other than the traditional classroom.
Examples of career paths served by this non-certification degree are:
Positions involving training and development in a variety of businesses and corporations
Educational specialists or other positions within social service agencies, community agencies, or
other governmental agencies
Careers in public relations
Employment in youth organizations or youth programs
Some students, who successfully complete the Focused Studies Program and graduate, may be eligible
for Student Teaching and state teaching certification at a later date. If students choose to pursue Student
Teaching in the future, he/she must re-apply to the College. He/she must wait a minimum of one year
before reapplying. During this year, the student must pursue avenues of professional development and
improvement in the area of education. If the student would like to be reconsidered for Student Teaching
(after one year of successful completion of the Focused Studies Program), he or she must contact the
Director of Field Services and a student teaching application must be completed.
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The Focused Studies Program is not an option for any student if he/she is arrested for a crime or
possesses a clearance reflecting a violation.
Placement in Focused Studies in Education
Generally, a student is not permitted to choose and/or a recommendation is not made for a
student to enroll into Focused Studies until mid-term of the Student Teaching semester.
Students are only eligible for Focused Studies if they meet all of the following criteria:
o Admission to the Student Teaching semester and commencement of Student Teaching
o Approval of the Chair of the Department of Education
o Student does not find satisfaction in the student teaching assignment, but wishes to
graduate on time OR College Supervisor and/or Cooperating Teacher feel as is the
student teacher is hindering the education of the students in the classroom
If the Focused Studies Program is being considered, the College Supervisor, Cooperating
Teacher, and Student should meet regarding this option.
The College Supervisor will then notify the Director of Field Services.
Should the Director of Field Services feel as if the Focused Studies Program is a viable
alternative to Student Teaching, the Chair of the Department of Education will be contacted.
The Chair of the Department of Education has ultimate authority to approve or deny the Focused
Studies option.
The Student will contact his/her advisor should a Focused Studies Program be put into place.
Additional coursework, which was originally scheduled with Student Teaching, may continue
(so that graduation course and credit requirements will be met).
The College Supervisor, who was originally assigned to the Student, will remain supervising the
Student until the end of the Focused Studies Program.
The Student and College Supervisor will discuss a proposal, outlining activities and hours (see
chart of approximate hours, included in this Handbook). This proposal will include
topics/projects outlined by the College Supervisor, as well as the activities required by the
College (see “Student’s Portfolio/Notebook Contents” described later in this Handbook).
The student will formulate a written proposal (including activities, assignments, projects, and
timeline) in conjunction with feedback from the College Supervisor. The student has less than
one week to formulate this proposal, so that it may be implemented immediately. The College
Supervisor will submit the final proposal to the Director of Field Services.
The Student and College Supervisor will meet regularly throughout the remainder of the
semester.
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The Student will be required to log hours on their Reflection Log (see log in “Supporting
Documents” section of this Handbook) throughout the Focus Studies Program. The approximate
number of hours will be dependent upon the number of weeks remaining in the semester.
o The following chart provides the approximate number of required hours for Focused
Studies. All hours will be logged by the student and approved by the College Supervisor.
Focused Studies Weeks/Approximate # of Hours Required*
8 weeks
320 hours
7 weeks
280 hours
6 weeks
240 hours
5 weeks
200 hours
4 weeks
160 hours
3 weeks
120 hours
2 weeks
80 hours
1 week
40 hours
*If additional credits are needed for graduation, corresponding coursework must
be scheduled. Focused Studies must be completed the same semester that the
student plans to graduate.
The Student is responsible for applying for graduation.
The Role of the Student
Students are to conform to policies of the Department of Education at York College of
Pennsylvania.
Students are to be prompt, punctual, and dependable for any appointments and/or activities
pertaining to the Focused Studies Program. If a planned meeting or agreed-upon placement
activity must be canceled for any reason, it is imperative that the Student communicates in a
timely fashion with his/her College Supervisor and any other parties involved.
Students are required to demonstrate requisite professional and personal dispositions as follows:
o Competence in written and oral expression
o Professional attitude
o Personal enthusiasm
o Ethical, moral character
o Personal organization
o Ability to meet deadlines
o Good interpersonal skills
o Ability to accept and profit from constructive criticism
o Personal maturity
o Use of prudent judgment
o Dependability
The Student is responsible for completing all projects and activities in the approved proposal.
The Student is also responsible for any additional activities required by the College Supervisor.
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In addition to the agreed-upon activities required by the College Supervisor, the student will
complete the following:
o Reflective Log
o Career Development Project
o Alternative Professions Project
The student is responsible for arranging an on-site “shadowing” experience (see “Alternative
Professions Project” in the “Supporting Documents” section of this Handbook).
All activities (College Supervisor-required and College-required) may be logged as hours. This
includes any meetings that fulfill the requirements, as well as time-spent creating projects.
The Student will document all activities using a portfolio or notebook, organized as described
below.
Student’s Portfolio/Notebook Contents
Students are required to keep a portfolio of documentation throughout their experience. The
components are outlined below. All projects should be shared with the College Supervisor and the
notebook should be reviewed during each visit between the College Supervisor and Student.
Focused Studies Information
o Focused Studies Handbook
o Approved Proposal (list of activities, hours, etc.)
Reflective Log
o A minimum of one entry per week is required.
o Each entry should include a summary of activities and personal thoughts/reflections
by the student. The template, found in the “Supporting Documents” section of this
Handbook should be utilized for the Reflective Log.
o In addition to hours spent on projects, hours may also be logged for other activities
(i.e.- Meeting with College Supervisor; Independent completion of projects relating to
the placement; any hours relating to the Focused Studies Experience, etc.).
o The Log should be shared with the College Supervisor every week until the required
hours have been fulfilled.
Career Development Project
o The student will become acquainted with the resources found on the College’s Career
Development Center webpage (“for students and alumni” section) and office.
o The student will use an online resource (i.e.- “FOCUS”), found on the Career
Development Center’s webpage, to discover possible academic and occupational
options that are consistent with his/her interests, personality, skills, and values. An
online account will be needed. The student should contact the Career Development
Center about any questions regarding the account access.
o After completing the survey, the student will call or email the Career Development
Center to arrange a meeting to discuss the results of the survey. At this meeting,
future career possibilities should be discussed.
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o Upon completion of the survey and meeting, the student will write a paper (minimum
2 pages). The content of this paper should convey the results of the online
instrument, include a summary of the Career Counselor meeting, and weigh pros and
cons of all possible careers. In addition, the paper should include some research
results the student completed for the possible careers.
o A thorough description of the Career Development Project, including an
accompanying grading scale, can be found in the “Supporting Documents” section of
this handbook.
Alternative Professions Project
o This project should be completed after the “Career Development Project.”
o The student will arrange for a time to shadow a professional in one profession as
researched in the Career Development Project. The minimum amount of hours for
such an experience will be at least 10. The College Supervisor and Student will
consult on the exact amount of hours. The hours should be logged on the Focused
Studies Reflection Log.
o At the end of the “shadowing,” the student is responsible for procuring a “Letter of
Completion” that includes the following:
§ Position, name, and agency of employment of the selected profession
§ Number of hours spent “shadowing”
§ Signature of professional who the student spent time “shadowing”
o The student will write a reflection paper.
o A thorough description of the Alternative Professions Project, including an
accompanying grading scale, can be found in the “Supporting Documents” section of
this handbook.
Proposal Activities
o Artifacts from activities explained in proposal
College Supervisor’s Input
o Visitation Forms
o Final Evaluation/letter of recommendation
Miscellaneous
o Letter of completion signed by a professional (see “Alternative Professions Project”)
o Any other documentation or useful information gained from the experience
The Role of the College Supervisor
The College will award the College Supervisor a stipend, equivalent to that of supervising a
Student Teacher.
The College Supervisor acts as a coordinator and a liaison between the College and the Student
to ensure that the experience is productive.
The College Supervisor will initiate site visits as deemed appropriate and meet with the student
throughout the experience. Each visit will be documented with a “Focused Studies Visitation
Form” (see Supporting Documents section of this Handbook).
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The College Supervisor will be responsible to oversee all required assignments (explained in the
section of this handbook entitled “Student’s Portfolio/Notebook Contents”). He/she should be
reviewing the student’s notebook. Rubrics found in the “Supporting Documents” section of this
Handbook should be utilized.
The College Supervisor will write a final evaluation in the form of a letter on York College of
Pennsylvania letterhead. A final evaluation meeting will also be held with the student (and
Cooperating Mentor if he/she is available). The Focused Studies Final Evaluation instrument
found in the “Supporting Documents” section of this Handbook will be used.
The College Supervisor has the responsibility of assigning the final grade. The grade is a
combination of both the Student Teaching and the Focused Studies portions of the semester.
At the end of the experience, the College Supervisor will submit the following paperwork to the
Field Services Office (include Focused Studies College Supervisor Checklist provided in the
“Supporting Documents” section of this Handbook):
o Copies of all visitation forms (including those completed during the Student Teaching
portion of the semester)
o Cooperating Teacher Reference Letter from the Student Teaching portion of the semester
(if completed)
o York College of Pennsylvania Student Teaching Evaluation Forms (both Cooperating
Teacher’s and Student Teacher’s- if completed during the Student Teaching portion of
the semester)
o Pennsylvania PDE430 Student Teaching Evaluation Forms (College Supervisor’s- if
completed during the Student Teaching portion of the semester; this document should be
reviewed with the student)
o A copy of the student’s Reflective Log
o College Supervisor’s final evaluation letter
o Letter of Completion from Cooperating Mentor
o Focused Studies Final Evaluation form (completed by College Supervisor and signed by
both the Student and the College Supervisor), including a grade for the semester
Final Grading
The College Supervisor is responsible for assigning a final letter grade to the student.
The College Supervisor should combine the grade earned during the portion of the semester that
the Student taught and the portion of the semester that the Student completed a Focused Studies
Program.
The College Supervisor may review the student’s Notebook as he/she determines the student’s
final grade. The student ultimately keeps the notebook and its contents (The Supervisor will
need to procure copies of artifacts if needed).
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York College of Pennsylvania
Department of Education
FOCUSED STUDIES VISITATION FORM
Name: ____________________________________ Date:_________________________
Location:_______________________________ Time: _____________________
Summary of Visit/ Items Addressed:
College Supervisor’s Reaction and Suggestions:
Student’s Signature: ____________________________ Supervisor’s Signature: _________________________
Date: _________________________________________
Original: Supervisor
Copy 1: Student
click to sign
signature
click to edit
click to sign
signature
click to edit
Focused Studies
Reflective Log
Use this form to record the experiences you engage in during your Focused Studies. Each week,
log your hours of your experience, record your activities, and reflect on your professional growth.
Be sure to complete your running total in the “Total Cumulative Hours” section as well. Submit
this log to your College Supervisor each week.
Student Name:
College Supervisor Name:
Student ID:
Semester:
Week 1
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a comprehensive reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your
setbacks/successes? What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 2
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 3
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 4
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 5
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 6
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 7
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 8
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 9
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 10
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 11
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Week 12
Dates:
Activities
Please provide a detailed description of all tasks / projects / assignments completed.
Reflection
Please provide a robust reflection of your experience this week (i.e. What were your setbacks/successes?
What did you learn about professionalism? What surprised you this week? Etc.)
Total Hours Completed This Week:
Total Cumulative Hours Completed:
Career Development Project
1. This assignment will offer you an opportunity to learn more about the careers you might pursue
following the completion of your degree.
2. Begin by completing the FOCUS survey available from the Spartan Career Path. You may take
the survey by visiting https://www.focuscareer2.com/Portal/Login.cfm?SID=411 and signing in
with your YCP user name and password. You might also schedule a time to complete the survey
at the Career Development Center. Information about the center can be found at
http://www.ycp.edu/offices-and-services/academic-services/career-development-center/
3. Print the results of your survey.
4. Schedule a meeting with a Career Development Counselor. You can schedule the meeting by
logging in to the Spartan Career Path calendar application at https://ycp-
csm.symplicity.com/students/index.php
5. Present the results of your survey to your Career Development Counselor and discuss your career
options with him/her.
6. Prepare a written reflection summarizing your findings. The reflection should adhere to the
following requirements:
Address potential career options and next steps following graduation.
Reference lessons learned from completing the FOCUS survey and meeting with the
Career Development Counselor.
Describe how the Alternative Experience Project has affected their potential career choices.
Follow the following written conventions:
! Two or more typed pages
! Double spaced with 1 inch margins
! Utilized Times New Roman font
! Free of spelling, grammatical, or structural errors
7. Attach the following items to your alternative experience paperwork:
A copy of your completed FOCUS survey signed and dated by the Career Development
Counselor with whom you met.
A typed copy of your reflection essay.
8. Submit the above (signed survey and essay) to your College Supervisor with this document.
Distinguished (10 Points)
Proficient (9-8 Points)
Basic (7 or Fewer Points)
Comprehensively summarized career
options and next steps following
graduation.
Comprehensively summarized lessons
learned from completing the FOCUS
survey and meeting with the Career
Development Counselor.
Comprehensively summarized lessons
learned from the Alternative Experience
Project.
Followed all required conventions for
the assignment.
Flawless spelling and grammar.
Summarized career options and next
steps following graduation.
Summarized lessons learned from
completing the FOCUS survey and
meeting with the Career
Development Counselor.
Summarized lessons learned from the
Alternative Experience Project.
Followed nearly all required
conventions for the assignment.
Nearly flawless spelling and
grammar.
Failed to summarize career options and
next steps following graduation.
Failed to summarize lessons learned
from completing the FOCUS survey and
meeting with the Career Development
Counselor.
Failed to summarize lessons learned
from the Alternative Experience Project.
Did not follow required conventions for
the assignment.
Several spelling and grammar mistakes.
Comments:
Total Points Possible: 10 Your Points: _____
Alternative Professions Project
1. This assignment will offer you an opportunity to explore a possible career pathway in a more in-
depth manner.
2. This Alternative Professions Project must be completed after the Career Development Project.
3. The student should choose one profession that came to light from completing the Career
Development Project.
4. The student is responsible for securing a brief “internship” by contacting a professional from one
career as researched in the Career Development Project. The minimum amount of hours for such
an experience will be at least 10.
5. The College Supervisor and Student will consult on the exact amount of hours. The hours should
be logged on the Focused Studies Reflection Log.
6. At the the end of the “shadowing,” the student is responsible for procuring a “Letter of
Completion” that includes the following:
! Position, name, and agency of employment of the selected profession
! Number of hours spent “shadowing”
! Signature of professional who the student has spent time with “shadowing”
7. Prepare a written reflection summarizing your activities and reactions. The reflection should
adhere to the following requirements:
Summarize activities during the experience.
Reference lessons learned from the experience.
Describe how the Alternative Professions Project has affected their potential career
choices.
Follow the following written conventions:
! Two or more typed pages
! Double spaced with 1 inch margins
! Utilize Times New Roman font
! Free of spelling, grammatical, or structural errors
8. Submit the above written paper to your College Supervisor with this document.
Distinguished (10 Points)
Proficient (9-8 Points)
Basic (7 or Fewer Points)
Comprehensively summarized
activities.
Comprehensively summarized lessons
learned from completing the project
Included thoughtful reflections.
Followed all required conventions for
the assignment.
Flawless spelling and grammar.
Summarized activities.
Summarized lessons learned from
completing the project.
Included reflections.
Followed nearly all required
conventions for the assignment.
Nearly flawless spelling and
grammar.
Failed to summarize activities
adequately.
Failed to summarize lessons learned
from completing the project.
Included little or no reflections.
Did not follow required conventions for
the assignment.
Several spelling and grammar mistakes.
Comments:
Total Points Possible: 10 Your Points: _____
Focused Studies
Final Evaluation
A final experience meeting (including the supervisor and student) may need to be held prior to the
completion of this evaluation by the College Supervisor.
Professionalism
Distinguished (3)
Proficient (2)
Needs Improvement (1)
Student exhibited a professional attitude and demeanor.
Student exhibited personal maturity and good interpersonal
skills.
Student respectably accepted and profited from constructive
feedback.
Comments:
Products
Distinguished (3)
Proficient (2)
Needs Improvement (1)
Student completed required projects in a timely manner.
Student demonstrated care and attention to detail.
Student showed competence in written expression.
Comments:
Professional Experience Activities
Distinguished (3)
Proficient (2)
Needs Improvement (1)
Student comprehensively described the activities he/she
engaged in throughout the alternate experience program.
Student comprehensively reflects on experiences throughout the
experience.
Student has completed the requisite number of hours for the
focused studies program.
Comments:
Completed by College Supervisor Only:
Focused Studies Points (total from above):
___ / 27
Career Development Project Assignment (from project rubric):
___ / 10
Alternate Professions Project Assignment (from project rubric):
___ / 10
Total Points:
___ / 47
Focused Studies Grade Key (this is NOT the grade for the semester)*
“4”
47-43 points
“3.5”
42-40 points
“3”
39-37 points
“2.5”
36-35 points
“2”
34-31 points
“1-0”
30 or fewer points
*The grade from the Focused Studies Rubric will be combined with the grade earned during the Student Teaching
portion of the semester and placed in the box in the top right corner of this document.
Student’s Signature:
_________________________________________
Date: _________________
Evaluator’s Signature:
_________________________________________
Date: _________________
Evaluator’s Position: Student College Supervisor
Student Name:
Major:
College Supervisor Name:
Semester:
Completed by College
Supervisor:
*Final Grade for the
Semester-
Department of Education
Division of Field Services
________________________________________
(College Supervisor’s Name – Please Print)
College Supervisor Checklist for Focused Studies
Please print this checklist and use as a “coversheet” when submitting all paperwork (one packet
per Focused Studies Student). Please do not staple any documents. Please arrange paperwork in
the order below.
1. ___ YCP Employee’s Expense Form & Log (Mileage form and log; download form and
instructions on the YCP College Supervisor Webpage: http://www.ycp.edu/field-services -
click on “Student Teaching” near the middle of the page, then click on “College
Supervisors” at the bottom of the page under “What Participants Need to Know”)
2. ___ Your Final Evaluation letter – typed on YCP letterhead
3. ___ Cooperating Teacher Reference Letter from the Student Teaching portion of the
semester (if completed and applicable)
4. ___ Cooperating Mentor Letter of Completion
5. ___ PDE430 –Evaluation Forms (if completed during the Student Teaching portion of the
semester)
6. ___ YCP Student Professional Knowledge & Practice forms (both CT & ST’s if
completed during the Student Teaching portion of the semester)
7. ___ Copies of all visitation forms (including those completed during the Student Teaching
portion of the semester)
8. ___ A copy of the student’s Reflective Log
College Supervisor’s Signature: _______________________________________________