Post-BA Secondary Education Teacher Licensure

This program leads to a Colorado Provisional license in 7th through 12th grade. Teachers at the secondary level are licensed in one teaching field. The fields are English, mathematics, science, social studies, or a foreign language: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, or Spanish. Secondary licensure candidates must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in their content area.

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 Checklists shows the required courses for Secondary licensure seekers by content area.

PBA Program of Studies Checklists for:
Secondary English Education (PDF)
Secondary Mathematics Education (PDF)
Secondary Science Education (PDF)
Secondary Social Studies Education (PDF)

Checklists for Langauges:
Secondary French Education (PDF)
Secondary German Education (PDF)
Secondary Japanese Education (PDF)
Secondary Latin Education (PDF)
Secondary Russian Education (PDF)
Secondary Spanish Education (PDF)

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

Several courses have co-requisite practicum requirements.  Experiences in schools and communities provide opportunities to work with students, teachers, and families where you develop the practices and habits of mind that characterize effective teachers.  Practicum experiences range from four to six hours per week in a classroom in one of our partner school districts.  In each semester, students may take up to two courses with co-requisite practicum requirements; therefore, careful planning is necessary to ensure efficient progress.  Students should meet with the Education Advisor to develop a plan to meet all core, major, and education requirements in four years.

EDUC 3013 is a pre- or co-requisite to all courses below with the exception of EDUC 4112.

EDUC 3013-3 School and Society. Students take this course prior to admission or in the first semester.

EDUC 3023-3 Teaching in American Schools. 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.

EDUC 4122-3 Principles and Methods in Secondary Education. Includes up to 5 hours per week of school-based practicum. Focus: Planning and implementing sound instructional practices in the secondary classroom.

EDUC 4232-3 Language and Literacy across the Curriculum.  Explores the relationship between language and learning with the goal of developing teaching practices that engage students in using language as a tool for understanding and constructing meaning across the curriculum. Explores how language/literacy take on different forms and functions in different social contexts and academic disciplines. Must be admitted to the secondary or K-12 teacher education program.

EDUC 53X5-4 Methods and Materials in the teaching field (mathematics, English, science, social studies, etc.). (Pre-requisite for English and social studies: EDUC 4122). Includes up to five hours per week in a school-based practicum. Focus: Planning and implementing sound instructional and assessment practices in the content area.

• EDUC 5325-3 Literature for Middle/Secondary Teachers (fall only)
• EDUC 4342-3 Composition for Teachers (spring only)

• EDUC 5315-3 Nature of Science & Science Education (fall only)

• EDUC 5316-3 Nature of Social Studies Education (fall only)

• EDUC 5317-3 Nature of Mathematics & Mathematics Education (fall only)

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

Deadlines

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

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

Admission Requirements

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

1. CU Undergraduate Application for Admission. We are no longer accepting applications for Spring 2012. However, the application for Fall 2012 is now available.
   
   
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. 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 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

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