Application requirements
for CU Teach Secondary Teacher Licensure Programs
New Incoming Â鶹ÒùÔº
Incoming first year students can now apply directly to our teacher licensure program! Learn about the application process.
Undergraduate application (for current CU Boulder students)
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following:
- Minimum 2.75 GPA overall
- Minimum 2.75 Content GPA (secondary only)
- At least 26 semester hours of college coursework completed or in progress
- A completed program application with all required documents, includingÌýdocumentation ofÌý25 hours of youth experience.ÌýÌý
For more information about courses and program requirements,Ìý.Ìý
Interested in the Middle School Mathematics Licensure Program?ÌýFor more information about sample courses,Ìývisit the School of Education website.
We are excited that you are ready to pursue a career in education!ÌýAdmission 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.
You will need to submit:
- °Õ³ó±ðÌý,Ìýavailable online through the School of Education.
- Personal Statement ofÌý1,000 wordsÌýaddressingÌýeach of the following:
- 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, disposition to work with youth and professional colleagues) and lived experiences that you will build upon to reach and teach all learners.
- °Õ³ó±ðÌýYouth Experience Verification FormÌýdocumentingÌý25 hours of youth interaction within the past five years andÌýwithin the age group you would like to teach.
ÌýTip:ÌýUnacceptable youth experiences includeÌýany form of peer counseling performed in high school, any work as a babysitter or nanny, any experience supervised by a relative or friend, and any experience involving your own children, relatives, or a friend’s children.Ìý
ÌýTip: Applicants who take EDUC 2035: Designing STEM Learning Environments may use their experience in place of youth experience form.ÌýIf admitted, the students will be provisional pending completion of the course.
ÌýÌý
All materials must be submitted by email or in personÌýto:
edadvise@colorado.edu
University of Colorado Boulder
Miramontes Baca Building
303-492-6555
Note: There are a number of reasons that an applicant may be denied admission, such as limitedÌýspaceÌýin eachÌýcohort and the overall strength of the applicant pool. Â鶹ÒùÔº whose applications are rejected are encouraged to improve their application and reapply for a future term.
Post-BAÌýApplication
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:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
- 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.
- A completed program application with all required documents, includingÌýdocumentation ofÌý25 hours of youth experience
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:
- °Õ³ó±ðÌýÌýonline 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. - 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.
- 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.
- A Personal Statement of 1,000 wordsÌýaddressing each of the following:
- 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, disposition to work with youth and professional colleagues) and lived experiences that you will build upon to reach and teach all learners.
- °Õ³ó±ðÌýYouth Experience Verification FormÌýdocumentingÌý25 hours of youth interaction within the past five years andÌýwithin the age group you would like to teach.
ÌýTip:ÌýLetters of recommendation may not count towards the youth experience requirement. Youth Experience Verifications must be submitted as an additional application item.
ÌýTip:ÌýUnacceptable youth experiences are any form of peer counseling performed in high school, any work as a babysitter or nanny, any experience supervised by a relative or friend, and any experience involving your own children, relatives, or a friend’s children.Ìý
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 infomation 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,ÌýYouth Experience Verification Forms,Ìýor print recommendation letters)Ìýmust be mailed to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine St Suite A122
553 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0553ÌýÌý
For International Â鶹ÒùÔºÌý
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 Boulder Graduate Â鶹ÒùÔº
Current CU Boulder graduate students should work directly withÌýthe School of Education.ÌýFor currentÌýgraduate students,Ìýcomplete and print a separateÌýPost-BAÌýApplication for Current Graduate Â鶹ÒùÔº.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 Term: October 1
MA+ Application
This program offers an efficient and experiential route to earning a Master's degree with your teaching licensure.ÌýTo be eligibleÌýfor admission to the MA+ program, applicants must meet all of the requirements below. Please note, satisfying the minimum criteria does not guarantee acceptance.
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
- Minimum 3.00 GPAÌýcumulatively among all institutions attended.ÌýApplicants must also have a 3.00 GPA in all content area coursework. However, if you have less thanÌýa 3.00 GPA in content or cumulative coursework, we are able to handle exceptions on a case-by-case basis.ÌýPlease note, GRE Scores are not required for the MA+ programÌý
- If content courseworkÌýis not completed by the start of the program, up to nine (9) semester credit hours may be completed during the program.Ìý All content coursework must be completed prior to the start of the second fall of the program, before student teaching.
- A completed program application with all required documents, includingÌýdocumentation ofÌý25 hours of youth experience
For more information about courses and program requirements,Ìý.
Please follow the instructions within the application and upload required documents.Ìý
You will need to submit:
- The onlineÌýMA+ Teacher LicensureÌýApplication
ÌýApplication Tips:Ìý- Choose first time user and create an account byÌýfollowing the directions.
- Once logged in, choose start new application.Ìý
- Complete personal background section to move on to other parts of the application
- Under program details choose:ÌýDepartment/Program:ÌýCurriculum and Instruction;ÌýDegree:ÌýCurriculum and Instruction MA;ÌýSubplan/Track:ÌýChoose from Secondary Science orÌýSecondary Math; andÌýEntry Term:ÌýFall
- Unofficial TranscriptsÌýfrom each undergraduate and graduate institution that you have ever attended.Ìý.ÌýOnly after you are recommended for admission, will you need to provide official transcripts. Official Transcripts must be submitted by July 1.ÌýElectronic Transcripts (unofficial and official) may beÌýsentÌýdirectlyÌýtoÌýgradprocessing@colorado.edu.
- ThreeÌýletters 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.
- A Personal Statement of 1,000 wordsÌýaddressing each of the following:
- 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, disposition to work with youth and professional colleagues) and lived experiences that you will build upon to reach and teach all learners.
- °Õ³ó±ðÌýYouth Experience Verification FormÌýdocumentingÌý25 hours of youth interaction within the past five years andÌýwithin the age group you would like to teach.
ÌýTip: Letters of recommendation may not count towards the youth experience requirement. Youth Experience Verifications must be submitted as an additional application item.
ÌýTip:ÌýUnacceptable youth experiences are any form of peer counseling performed in high school, any work as a babysitter or nanny, any experience supervised by a relative or friend, and any experience involving your own children, relatives, or a friend’s children.Ìý
For International Â鶹ÒùÔºÌý
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.
Submitting Materials
°Õ³ó±ðÌýÌýand personal statement must be submitted electronically. Electronic submissions of recommendations are preferred.ÌýRemember, if you are having letters of recommendation submitted electronically, you need to submit your application earlier than the deadline. By providing yourÌýrecommenders contact infomation 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,ÌýYouth Experience Verification Forms,Ìýor print recommendation letters)Ìýmust be mailed to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine St Suite A122
553 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0553
Questions can be directed to the School of Education at 303-492-6555 orÌýedadvise@colorado.edu.
Applications to the MA+Ìýprogram are only considered for fall admission.
Fall Term Only: JanuaryÌý10,Ìý9:59pm MSTÌý
All application materials must be submitted by 11:59Ìýp.m. on the deadline.Ìý