Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Secondary Education Licensure


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The Secondary Education Licensure Program prepares candidates to teach content-area courses in grades 7-12. Through the sequence of courses and field experiences, the candidate satisfies all of Colorado's performance-based standards for licensure in Secondary Education. Degree seeking Secondary Education Licensure candidates must choose from one of the following approved majors in order to complete a licensure program in Secondary Education.

Majors with Secondary Education Licensure

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Physics)
  • Social Studies (Africana Studies, Chicana/o Studies, Economics, History, or Political Science)

The requirements of each major are designed to ensure licensure programs meet Colorado Licensure Standards to prepare candidates to pass required licensure content examinations and teach the Colorado Academic Standards within their discipline.

*All secondary licensure candidates must consult two advisors, one in the Secondary Education/K-12 Department in the School of Education and one in their major department (licensure content area).

Candidates seeking teacher licensure must gain admission to the Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program. You can learn about the application process by visiting the Student Services Office within the School of Education. Each Major program might have a different minimum grade requirement. However, all courses required for Secondary Education Teacher Licensure Program need to be passed with a grade of C- and above.

Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Candidates

Post-baccalaureate licensure candidates may need to fulfill some general studies requirements and complete additional content area courses that are required for licensure. Students interested in the Post-Baccalaureate program should meet an academic advisor located in the Students Services Office within the School of Education as well as an academic advisor in their licensure content area. This advisor will review prior transcripts to ensure required content coursework for licensure is complete.

General Studies Requirements


Content area knowledge for secondary education is provided by the student’s major, licensure coursework, any additional content courses required for licensure, and by the specific general studies requirements listed below. The footnotes contain information about the exceptions. A student’s major program may have some specific General Studies requirements/restrictions that must also be met to complete the baccalaureate degree.

*Students should consult with both their major and School of Education advisors about specific General Studies requirements as some of these requirements can be fulfilled by licensure coursework as well as the additional content courses required for licensure.

General Studies Required Courses


  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3
  • Credits: 3 *
  • Credits: 3
  • General Studies Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
  • General Studies Historical (3 credits)
  • General Studies Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
  • General Studies Social and Behavioral Sciences I and II (met in licensure sequence by EDS 3130 and EDS 3150 for some majors)
  •  

    General Studies Total: 27-33

  •  

    Note:

    *Natural science, economics, and mathematics secondary licensure candidates must consult an advisor in their major department for the General Studies Quantitative Literacy requirements.

    **Included in General Studies courses, students must select one that satisfies the Global Diversity requirement.

English Major with Secondary English Licensure


The secondary education concentration in English, offered in conjunction with the licensure program, prepares degree seeking, future secondary teachers of English to understand and teach the diverse subject matter required for licensure. This program equips students with a wide variety of language principles and skills; practical experience in developing and teaching the processes of writing; sound knowledge of approaches to literature and literary genres; periods and authors (including a special focus on young adult literature); and an understanding of communication and media as used in English studies. In addition to meeting specified state and departmental requirements, this program offers students the opportunity to develop further specialization in writing, language, or literature to complement the major. The major provides student with a background in the Colorado Academic Standards for English and prepares them to pass the required content exam for licensure.

Mathematics Major with Secondary Mathematics Licensure


The Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences offers a major in Mathematical Sciences with a concentration in Mathematics Education. The goals of this program are to provide degree-seeking candidates with: (1) broad-based and coherent preparation in the various disciplines that constitute the mathematical sciences and; (2) the pedagogical knowledge of mathematics needed to begin a career as a middle or high school mathematics teacher. Candidates are required to meet with one or more of the faculty advisors in the area of mathematics education as well as a teacher licensure advisor as they plan their academic program.

Mathematics Major


For information on specific major requirements for Mathematics majors pursuing secondary licensure please go here: Mathematics Major, B.S.  

Majors with Science Licensure


Biology Major with Secondary Science Licensure


Candidates who wish to obtain Colorado licensure for Secondary Science Education with a major in Biology must earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Included in the requirements for the Biology major with a concentration in Secondary Science teaching is a core curriculum designed to ensure that the Biology education program meets the Colorado Science Licensure Standards and addresses the objectives of the Science content area examination. The core curriculum adds a firm foundation in Physics, Chemistry, Earth-Space Science, Environmental Science, and Mathematics. The Colorado Academic Standards in Science are strongly emphasized in the curriculum. Science Licensure candidates must declare their major with the appropriate concentration in Secondary Science Licensure.

Additional Content Courses Required for Biology Majors Pursing Science Licensure


Biology Major


For information on specific major requirements for Biology majors pursuing secondary licensure please go here: Biology Major with Secondary Science Licensure  

Chemistry Major with Secondary Science Licensure


Degree seeking candidates who wish to obtain Colorado licensure for Secondary Science Education with a major in Chemistry must earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Included in the requirements for the Chemistry major with a concentration in Secondary Science teaching is a core curriculum designed to ensure that the Chemistry education program meets the Colorado Science Licensure Standards and addresses the objectives of the General Science content area examination. The core curriculum adds a firm foundation in Biology, Physics, Earth-Space Science, Environmental Science, and Mathematics. The Colorado Academic Standards in Science are strongly emphasized within the curriculum. Science Licensure candidates must declare their major with the appropriate concentration in Secondary Science Licensure.

Additional Content Courses Required for Chemistry Majors Pursuing Science Licensure


Chemistry Major


For information on specific major requirements for Chemistry majors pursuing secondary licensure please go here: Chemistry Major with Secondary Science Licensure  

Environmental Science Major with Secondary Science Licensure


Degree seeking candidates who wish to obtain Colorado licensure for Secondary Science Licensure with a major in Environmental Science must earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The interdisciplinary requirements for the Environmental Science major with a concentration in Secondary Science is designed to ensure that the Environmental Science education program meets the Colorado Science Licensure Standards and addresses the objectives of the Science content area examination. The core curriculum provides a firm foundation in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth-Space Science, and Mathematics. The Colorado Academic Standards in Science are also strongly emphasized within the curriculum. Science Licensure candidates must declare their major with the appropriate concentration in Secondary Science Licensure.

Additional Content Courses Required for Environmental Science Majors pursuing Secondary Science Licensure


Environmental Science Major


For information on specific major requirements for Environmental Science majors pursuing secondary licensure please go here: Environmental Science Major, B.S.  

Physics Major with Concentration in Secondary Science Licensure


Candidates who wish to obtain Colorado licensure for Secondary Science Education with a major in Physics must earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Included in the requirements for the Physics major with a concentration in Secondary Science teaching is a core curriculum designed to ensure that the Physics education program meets the Colorado Science Licensure Standards and addresses the objectives of the Science content area examination. The core curriculum adds a firm foundation in Physics, Chemistry, Earth-Space Science, Environmental Science, and Mathematics. The Colorado Academic Standards in Science are strongly emphasized in the curriculum. Science Licensure candidates must declare their major with the appropriate concentration in Secondary Science Licensure

Physics Major


For information on specific major requirements for Physics majors pursuing secondary licensure please go here: Physics Major with Secondary Science Licensure Concentration  

Majors with Social Studies Licensure


Candidates who wish to obtain Colorado Licensure for Secondary Social Studies must earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in one of the following disciplines: History, Political Science, Economics, Chicano Studies, or African American Studies. In addition to course requirements in the major, all Social Studies licensure candidates must complete a core curriculum that provides a foundation in History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, and Behavioral Science and prepares them to pass the appropriate Social Studies Content examination. The core curriculum is supported by courses in the major. Social Studies Licensure candidates must declare their major with the appropriate concentration in Secondary Social Studies Licensure.

History Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure


Additional Content Courses Required for History Majors Pursuing Social Studies Licensure


Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in History with recommendation for Secondary Social Studies Licensure must complete the following coursework in anthropology, economics, geography, and political science in addition to the major requirements.

History Major


For information on specific major requirements for History majors pursuing secondary social studies licensure please go here: History Major, B.A. with Secondary Social Studies Licensure  

Chicano Studies Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure


The Chicana/o Studies Department offers this concentration, which prepares students to become social studies teachers in secondary schools. The requirements include core courses in Chicano Studies, a sequence in history and additional courses required for social studies licensure. Students seeking teacher licensure should stay in regular contact with both their major advisor and School of Education advisor to assure the proper course progression and that they meet requirements

Chicano Studies Major


For information on specific major requirements for Chicano Studies majors pursuing secondary social studies licensure please go here: Chicano Studies Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure  

Africana Studies Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure


The African American Studies major will provide candidates with a comprehensive understanding of African heritage in this country through examination of African links; the contributions of African American people in the growth and development of the United States; African American community, culture, lifestyles, political activity, religious development, community service and resource assistance; as well as the prognosis and potential for social change.

Africana Studies Major


For information on specific major requirements for Africana Studies majors pursuing secondary social studies licensure please go here: Africana Studies Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure  

Political Science Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure


Degree seeking students who wish to obtain Colorado Licensure for Secondary Social Studies with a major in Political Science must earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. In addition to course requirements in the major, all Social Studies licensure candidates must complete a core curriculum that provides a foundation in History, Geography, Economics, and Behavioral Science and addresses the objectives of the content area examination. The core curriculum is supported by courses in the major. The Political Science major will take courses in political theory, political analysis, and coursework in American or international/comparative political systems.

Political Science Major


For information on specific major requirements for Political Science majors pursuing secondary social studies licensure please go here: Political Science with Secondary Social Studies Licensure  

Economics Major with Secondary Social Studies Licensure


Additional Content Courses Required for Economics Majors pursuing Social Studies Licensure


Economics Major


For information on specific major requirements for Economics majors pursuing secondary social studies licensure please go here: Economics Major, B.A.  

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