The Music Education program leads to a Colorado provisional license in Kindergarten through 12th grade Music Education.

To be eligible for licensure, candidates must successfully complete all academic and field experience requirements, pass a state-approved licensure exam, and complete one student teaching semester.

Coursework in the Music Education program is designed to provide a coherent learning experience that culminates in a successful student teaching semester. This program is completed in conjunction with the College of Music. All applicants must be Music Education majors and must be recommended to the School of Education by the Music Education Chair Leila Heil.

 

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Incoming first-year students can now apply directly to all of our teacher licensure programs! If you are an incoming student, please see instructions here. If you are a current CU Boulder student, see steps below. 

Admission to the undergraduate teacher education program is competitive; satisfying the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance. 

To be considered for admission, applicants must:

  1. Earn a minimum 2.5 GPA overall.
    • Demonstrated passion for justice and equity
    • Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations
    • Demonstrated experience working with youth or in community leadership and organizing
  2. Have 24 college credits completed or in progress (not including credit by examination, e.g., AP or IB credit).
  3. Meet with a School of Education academic advisor to review program requirements and timeline to completion.

We are excited that you are ready to pursue a career in education! Admission to the teacher education program is competitive; satisfying the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance. Please also note that some requirements will take longer than others to complete. All applicants should plan accordingly.

Music students applying to K-12 licensure should select the "ADD" option on the intra-university transfer application. Students must already be in the College of Music's Bachelor of Music Education program to be eligible to apply to the School of Education for K-12 licensure. Music education students need not submit an additional essay as part of their application. 

You will need to submit:

  1. The intra-university transfer application.

Start the application process

The School of Education follows the campus-wide application deadlines as detailed on the intra-university transfer website and detailed below. However, due to the structure of School of Education programs, the emphasis on fieldwork, and the need for individualized advising, we strongly recommend that you apply by the registration access deadlines during the fall (October 1) and spring (March 1).

IUT application open dates:

  • September 15, 11:59 p.m. MT: Spring Application
  • February 15, 11:59 p.m. MT: Summer and Fall Application 

IUT change/add registration access dates: 

  • October 1, 11:59 p.m. MT: Spring Registration Access or Admission 
  • March 1, 11:59 p.m. MT: Summer and Fall Registration Access or Admission 
  • June 1, 11:59 p.m. MT: Fall Registration Access or Admission

IUT change/add final dates:

  • First day of classes for each term

 

Post-BA Admissions Requirements

If you have bachelor's degree and want to pursue teacher licensure, you have two potential pathways: the Post-Baccalaureate (Post-BA) teacher education program or the MA+ teacher licensure program (Please note that Elementary licensure is not included in the MA+ program).

Admission to the teacher education program is competitive; satisfying the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance. Please also note that some requirements will take longer than others to complete. All applicants should plan accordingly.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following:

  1. Hold a Bachelor’s degree in music from an accredited institution of higher education.
  2. Minimum 2.75 Cumulative GPA. Applicants to a Secondary (7-12) program must also have a 2.75 GPA in all content area coursework. Applicants to the K-12 Music program must have a 3.0 GPA in all content area coursework.
  3. A completed program application with all required documents, including documentation of 25 hours of youth experience

 For more information about courses and program requirements, visit the CU Boulder Course Catalog

We are excited that you are ready to pursue a career in education and the Post-Baccalaureate (Post-BA) teacher licensure program! Keep in mind that some requirements will take longer than others to fulfill. Also, satisfying the minimum application criteria does not guarantee admission. Please plan accordingly. 

You will need to submit:

  1. The Post-BA Teacher Licensure Application online for new Post-BA students.
     Tip: Choose First-Time User and then choose the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Application. Please follow the instructions provided and upload required documentation.
  2. One official transcript from every institution of higher education that you have attended regardless of the length of attendance, the number of credits earned/not earned, overall academic performance, or perceived coursework relevance. Electronic Transcripts (Official) may be submitted to gradprocessing@colorado.edu.
  3. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from a college-level instructor, professor, graduate student instructor, lab instructor, or a teaching assistant. As an alternative, a letter can be provided by an employer who can provide anecdotal evidence regarding: your written and oral communication skills, analytical reasoning, and/or the ability to read complex material.
  4. A Personal Statement of 1,000 words addressing each of the following:
    1. Why you want to become a (level/subject) teacher and why now.
    2. Description of a powerful learning experience in your life and how it might inform your own teaching in the future.
    3. Reflection on personal strengths (e.g. intellectual passion, academic abilities, disposition to work with youth and professional colleagues) and lived experiences that you will build upon to reach and teach all learners.

The Post-BA Application and personal statement must be submitted electronically. Electronic submissions of recommendations are preferred. Remember, if you are having letters of recommendation submitted electronically, you need to submit your application earlier than the deadline. By providing your recommenders contact information within the application, your contacts will receive an automated email requesting their letter after you have submitted the online application.

 Any materials not submitted electronically (i.e. transcripts, print recommendation letters) must be mailed to:

Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine St Suite A122
553 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0553  

For International Students 

International applicants must have a United States social security number before they are eligible to apply. The Colorado Department of Education requires a social security number in order to be licensed to teach in the state of Colorado.

For international transcripts, you must provide a printed course-by-course transcript equivalency report provided by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

Questions can be directed to the School of Education at 303-492-6555 or edadvise@colorado.edu.

For Current CU Boulder Graduate Students

Current CU Boulder graduate students should work directly with the School of Education. For current graduate students, complete and print a separate Post-BA Application for Current Graduate Students. Current graduate students should submit application materials directly to the School of Education.  

Questions can be directed at 303-492-6555 or edadvise@colorado.edu.

All application materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the deadline.

Fall Term:

  • February 15

Spring Term 

  • October 1

For questions, contact the School of Education by email at edadvise@colorado.edu or by phone 303-492-6555.