Post-BA K-12 Music Teacher Licensure

This program leads to a Colorado Provisional license in kindergarten through twelfth grade Music Education. This program is completed in conjunction with the College of Music. All applicants should first contact the College of Music to set up an interview and audition with the Music Education Chair. Music Education candidates must have a minimum 3.0 Music GPA.

Course Requirements for Secondary Licensure<
Post-BA candidates must satisfy the academic preparation requirements. Transcripts will be evaluated during the admission process for courses that fulfill those requirements. The following Program of Studies Checklist shows the required courses for K-12 Music licensure seekers.

PBA Program of Studies Checklist for K-12 Music Teacher Licensure (PDF)

Professional Course Work – PBA K-12 Music Teacher Licensure Program
Course work in the K-12 Music Teacher Licensure Program is designed to provide a coherent learning experience that culminates in a successful student teaching semester.

EDUC 3013-3 School and Society. Students take this course prior to admission or in the first semester; it also satisfies the cultural and gender diversity Core requirement.

EDUC 3023-3 Teaching in American Schools.(Pre-requisite: EDUC 3013). Includes up to 5 hours per week of school-based practicum in a diverse school. Focus: Fostering and managing effective classroom learning communities and supporting all learners, including English language learners and students who have special needs.

EDUC 4112-3 Educational Psychology and Adolescent Development. Students take this course prior to admission or later in the program.

Student Teaching
All licensure candidates who wish to student teach must complete all course requirements and pass a state-approved content area licensure exam prior to the Student Teaching semester.  Click here for more information on licensure exams. 

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
• Recommendation from the College of Music Education Chair

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

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.

Admission Requirements

All applicants should read the Application Checklist & Instructions prior to beginning the application.

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: K-12, 5-18 years
• 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.

Deadlines

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

• Ed Advise at edadvise@colorado.edu
• Office of Student Services, School of Education, University of Colorado at Boulder, 249 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0249