Undergraduate 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
Course Requirements for Elementary Licensure
Admission Requirements
Deadlines
For More Information

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.

Course Requirements for Elementary Licensure

To complete the Elementary Education program and be eligible for a Colorado provisional teaching license, you must complete the Arts & Sciences Core, major requirements for a state-approved major, and the professional education courses.

With careful planning and regular advising, candidates may complete degree and licensure requirements in four years. Please meet with the Director of Advising for the School of Education with specific concerns about a course of study.

Academic Preparation and the Arts & Sciences Core. Undergraduates must satisfy the Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum and academic preparation requirements for elementary education. Course requirements for elementary education align with A&S Core requirements, but are more selective in some areas. Select courses from the Elementary Education Program of Studies Checklist in order to satisfy Core and Education courses most efficiently.

UG Program of Studies Checklist for Elementary Education (PDF)

Arts & Sciences Approved Major. Under rules described by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, A&S students who apply to an initial licensure program must have declared a state-approved major. Below follows a list of state-approved majors for elementary education:

Professional Course Work — Undergraduate Elementary Teacher Licensure Program
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 strongly recommend candidates take the following two courses prior to admission to 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 4351-3 Differentiating Instruction in Diverse Elementary Classrooms  

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
• At least 56 semester hours completed or in progress
• A minimum of 25 hours of satisfactory, age appropriate youth experience
• Declaration of a state-approved major
• Demonstration of basic skills

Application Process

1. A completed Application for Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
2. Evidence of ability to interact positively and work constructively for a minimum of 25 hours with school-aged children of the appropriate age for the licensure type.  All applicants must submit a Youth Experience Verification Form completed by a supervisor who can verify the amount, level, and kind 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
3. 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.
4. One letter of recommendation from a college-level instructor who can speak to your academic competencies.  The letter may not be from your youth experience supervisor, a neighbor, friend, or relative. 
5. A successful interview with faculty or instructors from the School of Education. Group interviews will be required beginning for fall 2008 admission.

Deadlines

• Spring admission:  September 15
• Fall admission:  February 1
• Summer admission to the elementary education program is suspended beginning summer 2008.

For More Information
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