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

1. School of Education Graduate Application.
2. A completed Graduate School Application for Admission, Parts I & II. You may use online application. 
3. $50 university application fee.  Make check or money order payable to the University of Colorado at Boulder. 
4. Two official transcripts from every college you have attended, issued directly to the Office of Student Services.
5. 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:
• Elementary 5-12
• 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. A well-written personal statement that addresses the prompts below.  The statement should be 1,000 words in length, typed, double-spaced, and in a standard size typeface.
• 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.
7. Four letters of recommendation. Two letters should be from a college-level instructor who can speak to your academic competencies. If you cannot acquire an academic letter, you may submit a letter from someone (e.g., an employer) who can provide anecdotal evidence about the following skills: written and oral communication, analytical reasoning, and/or the ability to read complex material. Other letters should be from someone who can provide anecdotal evidence of how you interact with youth and your suitability to the teaching profession. Letters may not be from a neighbor, friend, or relative. If you have been recently employed, please submit one letter from a recent employer.
8. Demonstration of basic skills competency in mathematics and verbal skills prior to admission.  Competence is proven with a grade of B- or better in an appropriate course or adequate scores on standardized tests, such as the SAT, ACT, or GRE.    If you plan to use a standardized test score and did not attend CU-Boulder, please contact your high school to inquire if those scores are included on your transcript.  If so, please have them send a transcript to us.  Please complete and turn in the Basic Skills Form.