CU Teach Engineering Science Concentration (63-75 credits)

Earn an engineering degree and secondary science teacher (grades 7-12) licensure simultaneously.

  • Includes a semester-long student teaching experience in a middle or high school math classroom.  
  • Students must choose a science area of focus—Physics, Chemistry, or Biology—to ensure deep content knowledge. 

The concentration includes 30 to 38 additional science credit hours, depending on concentration focus chosen and 33 education credit hours. 

  • Physics concentration: 30-32 credits
  • Chemistry concentration: 32-34 credits
  • Biology concentration:  33-38 credits

CU Teach Engineering students must meet requirements for the Undergraduate Teacher Licensure program through CU Boulder’s School of Education

To be considered for admission to the Undergraduate Teacher Licensure program, applicants must meet the following:

  • Minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA (engineering students may be provisionally admitted with a lower GPA).
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA in IDE Emphasis and Concentration courses.
  • At least 26 hours of college coursework completed or in progress.
    • Within the past five years, at least 25 hours of interaction with children ages 12-18, excluding any form of high school peer counseling, babysitting (or serving as a nanny) and any other experience with youth that is supervised by a relative or friend. 
    • Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching and Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design count towards this requirement. 
  • Demonstration of basic math and verbal skills (mandated by the State of Colorado). Students may complete an appropriate course in mathematics and composition with a grade of B- or better, or submit an approved standardized test score.

Admission to the Undergraduate Teacher Licensure program through CU Boulder’s School of Education is competitive; satisfying the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance.

Please refer to the School of Education's Secondary Science Licensure Page to learn more about the application process and access application materials.

Required Education Courses (33 credit hours)

Course Names

Course Code

Credits

Notes

Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching

EDUC 2020 

1 credit

EDUC 2020 also counts as an engineering H&SS course for the CU Teach Engineering Math Concentration.

Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design

EDUC 2020 

2 credits

 

Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science 

EDUC 4050

3 credits

EDUC 4050 must be taken the same semester as EDUC 4060.

EDUC 4050 also counts as an engineering H&SS course for the CU Teach Engineering Math Concentration. 

Classroom Interactions 

EDUC 4060

3 credits

EDUC 4060 must be taken the same semester as EDUC 4050. 

EDUC 4060 is restricted to students admitted to School of Education’s Secondary Math/Science Teacher Licensure Program. 

Language and Literacy Across the Curriculum

EDUC 4232

3 credits

EDUC 4232 is restricted to students admitted to the School of Education’s Secondary Math/Science Teacher Licensure Program. 

Take EDUC 4232 whenever it fits into your schedule. 

Teaching Design 

GEEN 4400

3 credits

GEEN 4400 is offered in the spring only.

GEEN 4400 should be taken in your junior or senior year.

Differentiating Instruction in Diverse Secondary Classrooms 

EDUC 4023

3 credits

EDUC 4023 is restricted to students admitted to the School of Education’s Secondary Math/Science Teacher Licensure Program.

EDUC 4023 must be taken the same semester as EDUC 5375. 

EDUC 4023 is best taken during your senior year. 

Project-Based Instruction

EDUC 5375

3 credits

EDUC 5375 must be taken the same semester as EDUC 4023.  

EDUC 5375 is best taken during your senior year. 

Student Teaching and seminar

EDUC 4742, EDUC 4513

12 credits

EDUC 4742 and EDUC 4513 must be taken in your final semester. 

EDUC 4742  and EDUC 4513 are restricted to students admitted to the School of Education’s Secondary Math/Science Teacher Licensure Program.

General CU Teach Engineering Science (24-26 credits)

Required courses (10 credits)

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

General Chemistry 1 with lab

CHEN 1211 and CHEM 1221

5 credits

General Chemistry 2 with lab

CHEM 1133 and 1134

5 credits

  • Choose either the general biology set or the cellular and molecular biology with lab and microbiology set (7-8 credits): 
CU Teach Engineering Science Additional Courses (choose one set)

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

General Biology 1 with lab and General Biology 2 with lab

 

EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1230, EBIO 1220 and EBIO 1240

8 credits

Cellular and Molecular Biology with lab and Microbiology

MCDB 1150 and EBIO1230, EBIO 3400 

7 credits

Choose Two Additional Options (7-8 credits)

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

Introduction to Geology with lab 

GEOL 1010 and GEOL 1030 

4 credits

Introductory Astronomy 1 or Accelerated Introductory Astronomy 1

ASTR 1010 or ASTR 1030 

4 credits

Teaching & Learning Earth Systems

EDUC 4833

3 credits

Physics Focus Required Course

Course Name

Course Codes

Credits

Notes

Teaching & Learning Physics

PHYS 4460

3 credits

PHYS 4460 is only offered in the Fall semester.

Choose One Additional Physics Focus Course (3 credits)

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

General Physics 3 

PHYS 2130

3 credits

Foundations of Modern Physics

PHYS 2170

3 credits

Chemistry Focus Required Courses

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

Notes

Organic Chemistry 1 with lab

CHEM 3311 and 3321

5 credits

 

Teaching & Learning Chemistry

EDUC 4822

3 credits

EDUC 4822 is only offered in the Fall semester.

Biology Focus Required Course

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

Notes

Teaching & Learning Biology

EDUC 4811

3 credits

EDUC 4811 is only offered in the Fall semester.

Biology Focus Additional Courses (choose two)

Course Names

Course Codes

Credits

Principles of Ecology 

EBIO 2040

4 credits

Genetics: Molecules to Populations

EBIO 2070

4 credits

Human Anatomy with lab 

IPHY 3410 and IPHY 3415

5 credits

Molecular Cellular Biology 1 

MCDB 3135

3 credits

Introduction to Human Physiology

IPHY 3430

3 credits

Anatomy and Physiology for Engineers

MCEN 4117

3 credits

Scholarships for CU Teach Concentration Students

$1,000 for EDUC 2035: Designing STEM Learning Environments and Experiences

  • Invites science, mathematics and engineering students to explore teaching as a career by providing first-hand experiences teaching science/math lessons in local elementary classrooms.
  • Introduces theory and practice necessary to design and deliver excellent instruction.
  • Master teachers provide ongoing support and feedback.
  • Meets weekly on CU campus (1.5 hours/week) and involves five visits to an elementary school.

Students must remain in the course for a full 10 weeks or else the scholarship allotment will need to be returned. Just Try It! scholarships are not for graduating seniors within 2 semesters of graduation.

Contact IDE Professor, Dr. Malinda Zarske, for more information and to apply for these scholarships.

Up to $25K in scholarship funds for your last 5 semesters: 

  • $4,000/semester for your 5th and 4th semester out from graduation
  • $6,000/semester for your 3rd, and 2nd semester out from graduation
  • $6,000 for your actual student teaching semester at DSST 

The CU Teach Engineering Bechtel Scholarship is offered to CU Teach Engineering students ONLY, by meeting the following requirements:

Contact IDE Professor, Dr. Malinda Zarske, for more information on the CU Teach Engineering Bechtel Scholarship.