Post-BA Elementary Education Teacher Licensure

The School of Education is dedicated to preparing teachers who are committed to equity and social justice and who seek to serve and educate diverse students.

This program leads to a Colorado provisional license in kindergarten through 6th grade.

Key Features of Program

Four Semester Course Sequence: The program is a four-semester sequence. Candidates may apply to start either fall or spring semester. Two courses may be taken prior to admission, EDUC 3013 School and Society and/or EDUC 4411 Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools. The sequence of courses allows candidates to build a coherent understanding of best teaching practices and theories informing those methods  as they move toward student teaching.

Cohort Community: The program is cohort-based. Candidates take a four-semester sequence of courses and complete field experiences with the same group of teacher candidates from admission through student teaching. Each cohort will be guided by two faculty advisors for the duration of study. A cohort allows candidates to develop a community to support learning and to challenge thinking.

Well-Designed Field Experiences:  Each semester candidates engage in a field-based experience that might include work with students, teachers, or families in schools or communities within one of our partner school districts. Practicum experiences provide opportunities for candidates to examine the places where children, teachers, and learning intersect. Each field experience is carefully constructed to support each candidate’s learning so candidates develop the practices and habits of mind that characterize excellent teachers. At least one field experience is in a school in Denver Public Schools. Please review the School of Education’s Student Handbook to learn more about field experiences.

Outstanding Faculty: Faculty are recognized nationally for their expertise in education and for their deep interests in children, teaching, and schools. They are exemplary teachers who model best teaching practices in education courses.

Individualized Support: Because the program is small and cohort-based, candidates will know the professors that teach the courses, and they will provide candidates  with academic and career guidance.  The Elementary Education program faculty are committed to helping each candidate become an effective teacher and enjoy a lasting career as an educator. Support staff in the School will work with each cohort and cohort faculty advisors to ensure that individual candidates receive necessary guidance on program advising and field experience.

Option to Continue in Master’s Programs:Candidates who complete the post-baccalaureate program and wish to continue their studies in the master’s program in Instruction & Curriculum in the Content Areas may transfer six credits of coursework from their initial teacher preparation program (note: there are restrictions on transferring credit if enrolled in the PIE program). The first years as a teacher are critical to a teacher’s development; accordingly, our master’s programs allow individuals to stay connected with the university in these formative years. The master’s program provides a supportive framework while individuals deepen and extend what was learned during initial teacher preparation. Some master’s degrees allow individuals to complete requirements for an advanced teaching endorsement in either literacy or linguistically diverse education. Candidates must meet admission requirements for the master’s degree program. Admission to the master’s program is competitive.

Course Requirements for Elementary Licensure

Post-BA candidates must satisfy the academic preparation requirements that ensure appropriate depth and breadth of content knowledge for teaching.

Transcripts will be evaluated during the admission process for courses that fulfill those req

PBA Program of Studies Checklist for Elementary Education (PDF)

Professional Course Work
Course work in the Elementary Education program is designed to provide a coherent learning experience that culminates in a successful student teaching semester. The program is a four-semester sequence that candidates may start in either fall or spring semester. Two courses are pre-requisite courses that may be taken prior to admission to the program or in the first two semesters.

Prerequisite Courses
We recommend candidates take the following two courses prior to admission to the program. These may also be taken while enrolled in the program.

EDUC 3013-3 School and Society. This course is offered every semester, including Maymester. It satisfies the Cultural & Gender Diversity or Contemporary Issues core requirement.

EDUC 4411-3 Educational Psychology in Elementary Schools. This course is offered every semester, and frequently in Maymester.

Semester I Courses
In the first semester candidates take two courses focused on literacy, an essential part of the elementary school curriculum. Candidates complete a practicum experience one morning a week when teachers are engaged in literacy instruction. First semester courses are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

EDUC 4321-5 Integrated Reading & Writing Methods

EDUC 4311-3 Children’s Literature

Semester II Courses
The second semester courses and field experiences allow candidates to deepen their understanding of children, schools, and the elementary school curriculum. Each course has a field-based practicum. The elementary social studies methods course meets on-site in an urban/diverse school setting in Denver Public Schools. Candidates will be engaged in service-learning practicum that develops candidates understanding of diverse students and communities and teaching for social justice. The reading methods course extends your knowledge of how children learn to read and best instructional practices in reading. Second semester courses are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

EDUC 4331-3 Elementary Social Studies Methods

EDUC 4341-3 Elementary Reading Assessment & Intervention 

Semester III Courses
In the third semester candidates engage in three courses that are each designed around a common practicum experience within the Boulder Valley School District. The unique element of this semester is a full-day practicum that will give candidates a glimpse into the entire school day and the varied roles and challenges teachers embrace between welcoming their children to the classroom in the morning and dismissing them to their parents/guardians in the afternoon. Course assignments will be coordinated throughout the term to take advantage of the unique opportunity to develop relationships with teachers and students. Assignments in this term will also prepare candidates for the Teacher Work Sample requirement to be fulfilled during the student teaching semester.  Third semester courses are offered on Monday-Wednesday-Fridays. Wednesday is the full-day practicum.

EDUC 3023-3 Teaching in American Schools 

EDUC 5205-3 Elementary Math Methods

EDUC 5215-3 Elementary Science Methods

Semester IV Student Teaching
In the final semester, candidates student teach for 16 weeks. This involves a full-time (all day) commitment. To student teach, candidates must complete all course requirements and pass a state-approved content area licensure exam prior to the Student Teaching semester. 

EDUC 4513-2 Student Teaching Seminar

EDUC 4691-10 Student Teaching

Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria

• Minimum 2.75 GPA overall among all institutions attended. (Applicants that do not meet the minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA requirement may request to be considered for admission based upon their most recent 60 semester hours of college-level coursework and must submit the Request for Consideration Based Upon Recent Coursework form.)
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum of 25 hours of satisfactory, age appropriate youth experience
• Demonstration of basic skills

Deadlines

The application deadline applies to ALL materials. Deadlines are strictly enforced.

• Spring admission:  September 15
• Fall admission:  February 1

Application Process

How Do I Apply?
All applicants are encouraged to read the application instructions before applying.
For best results, open the instructions using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

1. CU Undergraduate Application for Admission.
   
   
2. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation. One letter of recommendation should come from a college-level instructor who can speak to your academic competencies. Two academic letters are preferred. 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 Undergraduate 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 Undergraduate Application for Admission. The fee is waived for current CU students and CU alumni.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: Elementary 5-12
• 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. One official transcript from every college you have attended.
   
   
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 Undergraduate 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