Are you looking for a career where you make a real difference on a daily basis? A career that gives you opportunities for professional development, collegial support and leadership? Do you simply care about kids and have a passion for working with youth? If so, then the teaching field is probably for you.
And you can work on getting your teaching certificate while you are pursuing a major. The undergraduate program at CU Boulder allows students to become certified teachers at the Elementary (K-6) and Secondary (7-12) level. Candidates for the undergraduate teacher licensure program are current students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program and have declared a major suitable for the area they want to teach.
Why the “degree + certificate” structure? Having a major in the area you intend to teach will provide you with in-depth knowledge of the subject. Combining this with the certificate, you will learn the theories and methodologies relevant to a public school teacher. And, in addition to working with faculty in the classroom, you will also be placed in public schools throughout the Denver/Boulder area, earning 800 hours of youth interaction. These experiences will expose you to a wide range of classrooms and student populations, and ensure that you are highly qualified to enter the teaching field.
You should ideally meet with an Education advisor right before you register for classes, but you can meet with an Education advisor at any time. The advisors can help you select an appropriate major, make sure you are on track to fulfill program requirements, and help you with the teacher licensure program application. And if you are interested in education, but aren’t sure if it is a good fit for you yet, that’s okay! We are a resource here to help you with that too! Just call 303-492-6555 to make your appointment (we can set up a phone or web appointment if you are not in the area) or send your inquiries via email to edadvise@colorado.edu.
By Travis Anderson, director of advising, CU Boulder School of Education