Secondary teacher candidates in this program have typically declared a major suitable for the subject they want to teach. By pairing a focus with your teacher licensure, you will gain added knowledge that will better prepare you to teach in a given area.

This program leads to a Colorado provisional license in Secondary (7-12) Science.ÌýTo be eligible for licensure, candidates must successfully complete all academic and field experience requirements, pass a state-approved licensure exam, and complete student teaching.

We recommend that undergraduate students in theÌýSecondary Science programÌýdeclare one of the following majors, as an efficient, content-centric pathway:

  • Astronomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • EBIO

  • IPHY
  • Physics
  • Geology
  • MCDB

ÌýFor more information about courses requirements,Ìý. Ìý

CU Teach Science Support

ÌýSTEM teacher education students gain added support from ourÌýrenownedÌý.

Ìý

Undergraduate AdmissionÌýRequirements

Incoming first-year students can now apply directly to all of ourÌýteacher licensure programs! If you are an incoming student, pleaseÌýsee instructions here. If you are a current CU Â鶹ӰԺ student, see stepsÌýbelow.Ìý

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

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.

Undergraduate students interested in pursuing secondary licensure in English, social studies, math, science, or Spanish will select the "ADD" option on the intra-university transfer application. Secondary licensure is pursued in conjunction with a different BA program related to the content area in which the student wishes to be licensed. Options will be discussed in students' pre-application meetings with School of Education academic advisors. In addition to the IUT application, secondary licensure applicants must submit an essay addressing the questions below:

You will need to submit:

  1. The intra-university transfer application.
  2. A personal statement of 1000 words that addresses each point:
    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

Start the application process

The School of Education follows the campus-wide application deadlines as detailed on the 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 ApplicationÌý

IUT change/add registration access dates:Ìý

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

IUT change/add final dates:

  • First day of classes for each term

Ìý

Post-BA AdmissionsÌýRequirements

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

Admission to theÌýteacher 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 from an accredited institution of higher education.
  2. Minimum 2.75 Cumulative GPA.ÌýApplicants 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.

ÌýFor more information about courses and program requirements,Ìý.Ìý

We are excited that you are ready to pursue a career in education and theÌýPost-Baccalaureate (Post-BA) teacher licensure program!ÌýKeep 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.Ìý

You will need to submit:

  1. TheÌýÌýonline for new Post-BA students.
    ÌýTip: Choose First-Time User and then choose theÌýPost-Baccalaureate Teacher LicensureÌýApplication.ÌýPlease follow the instructions providedÌýand upload required documentation.
  2. OneÌýofficial transcript from everyÌýinstitution 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.ÌýElectronic Transcripts (Official) may be submitted toÌýgradprocessing@colorado.edu.
  3. TwoÌýletters of recommendation,ÌýpreferablyÌýfrom a college-level instructor, professor, graduate student instructor, lab instructor, or a teaching assistant. As an alternative, a letter can be provided byÌýan 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 wordsÌýaddressing 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-BAÌýApplicationÌýand 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 yourÌýrecommenders contact information within the application, your contacts will receive an automated email requesting their letter after you have submitted the online application.

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

Graduate Admissions
Â鶹ӰԺ
3100 Marine St Suite A122
553 UCB
Â鶹ӰԺ, CO 80309-0553ÌýÌý

For International StudentsÌý

International applicants must have a United States social security number before they are eligible to apply.ÌýThe 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 theÌý.

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

For Current CU Â鶹ӰԺ Graduate Students

Current CU Â鶹ӰԺ graduate students should work directly withÌýthe School of Education.ÌýFor currentÌýgraduate students,Ìýcomplete and print a separateÌýPost-BAÌýApplication for Current Graduate Students.ÌýCurrent graduate studentsÌýshould submit application materialsÌýdirectly to the School of Education.ÌýÌý

Questions can be directedÌýat 303-492-6555 orÌýedadvise@colorado.edu.

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

Fall Term:

  • February 15

Spring TermÌý

  • October 1

For more information, please contact the School of Education by email atÌýedadvise@colorado.eduÌýor by phone 303-492-6555.