Secondary Master’s Plus Licensure Programs

The Secondary MA Plus licensure programs lead to a Colorado initial teacher licensure in secondary (7-12) education and a master of arts in education in Curriculum and Instruction (C & I).  The secondary fields include:

• English
• mathematics
• science
• social studies

Candidates for the Master’s Plus (MA Plus) program have earned a bachelor’s degree within the liberal arts from an accredited institution of higher education.  The degree does not have to be within the licensure field.  However, state-mandated licensure requirements must be fulfilled so that we may recommend candidates for licensure to the state. To be eligible for this program, candidates must have demonstrated academic strength and have a minimum number of academic preparation courses to complete.  Previous college course work will be evaluated for appropriateness toward the fulfillment of any applicable licensure requirements.

The MA Plus program is a full-time, two-year program.  Candidates progress as a member of a cohort — every member student teaches in the third semester and completes MA requirements in the fourth.  The teacher licensure course work combines on-campus learning with in-school experiences.  Field experiences within the program fall into two categories: practicum and student teaching.  Every licensure candidate will complete extensive practicum-based in-school experiences prior to student teaching.  Our aim is to phase-in responsibility across practicum settings, to elaborate and deepen the close connections between field work and course work, and to develop performance-based evidence of proficiency across a balance of grade levels and in diverse settings.  Student teaching is the culminating event in the licensure sequence, in which candidates spend one entire semester, full-time, in a school.

In the fourth semester, each candidate will choose from master’s elective courses those that will enhance and strengthen their teaching interests.  Candidates work closely with their faculty advisor to select the most appropriate courses.  Candidates also complete the comprehensive examination in the fourth semester.

Click for more information:
C & I MA Plus Secondary English
C & I MA Plus Secondary Math
C & I MA Plus Secondary Science
C & I MA Plus Secondary Social Studies

Admission Criteria

• Minimum 3.0 GPA overall and in area of content area
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• 25 hours of satisfactory, age-appropriate youth experience
• Demonstration of basic skills

• Fall admission only:  January 1

Admission Requirements

How Do I Apply?
All applicants are encouraged to read the application instructions before applying.


Thank you for your interest in the MA Plus program. We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2012.

1. CU Graduate Application for Admission (Please note: The MA Plus program only begins in the FALL semester. The application allows you to select any admission term that you wish, but you must select a Fall term to be considered. Failure to select a Fall term may disqualify your application).
   
   
2. Four (4) Letters of Recommendation. Two letters of recommendation should come from a college-level instructor who can speak to your academic competencies. If you cannot acquire an academic letter, the letters should be from someone who can provide anecdotal evidence of how you interact with youth and your suitability to the teaching profession, or from someone (e.g. an employer) who can provide some anecdotal evidence about the following skills: written and oral communication, analytical reasoning, and/or the ability to read complex material. Letters may not be from a neighbor, friend, or relative.
   
   
3. Personal Statement. The statement should be 1,000 words in length, and must be uploaded prior to submitting the CU Graduate Application for Admission. Please address each of the following:
• Why you want to become a (level/subject) teacher and why now.
• Description of a powerful learning experience in your life and how it might inform your own teaching in the future.
• Reflection on personal strengths (e.g., intellectual passion, academic abilities, dispositions to work with youth and professional colleagues) and lived experiences that you will build upon to reach and teach all learners.  
  
  
4. $50 University Application Fee. The application fee may be paid online when you submit your CU Graduate Application for Admission. You may also submit a check payable to University of Colorado at Boulder .
   
   
5. Youth Experience Verification Form. Evidence of your ability to interact positively and work constructively for a minimum of 25 hours with school-aged children of the appropriate age for the licensure you seek.  All applicants must submit a Youth Experience Verification Form completed by a supervisor who can verify the amount, level, and kinds of interactions performed.
• Acceptable age ranges: Secondary 11-18
• Unacceptable experiences:  Peer counseling performed in high school, babysitting or nannying, any experience supervised by a relative or friend, any experience involving your own children, child relatives, or a friend’s children.
• Time limit: 5 years from the application deadline
  
  
6. Two official transcripts from every college you have attended, issued directly to the Office of Student Services in the School of Education.
   
   
7. CDE Authorized Fingerprint Card and Fee for $39.50 exactly payable to Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Review the School of Education Fingerprinting Policy & Instructions for full details on completing this requirement.

Submitting Materials Other Than Fingerprints

The CU Graduate Application for Admission and Personal Statement must be submitted electronically. Electronic submissions of the letters of recommendation and application fee are preferred. Remember, if you are having letters of recommendation submitted electronically, you need to submit your application earlier than the deadline. MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS ON ALL MATERIALS.Any materials not submitted electronically (i.e. transcripts, Youth Experience Verification Forms, application fees paid by check, or recommendations submitted on paper) must be mailed to:

Submitting Fingerprints
Your Fingerprint Card and Fee for $39.50 must be submitted directly to the School of Education. Remember, your fingerprint card and fee must be submitted together, we will not accept them separately. Additionally, the fee of $39.50 must be payable to Colorado Bureau of Investigation and must be a cashier’s check or money order – no cash or personal checks.

For Questions:

Come by the Office of Student Services in the Education building, Room 151; or call (303) 492-6555.

Or, write to: Ed Advise at edadvise@colorado.edu