2022-2023 Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Elementary Initial License Certificate


The Elementary Initial License Certificate program allows students to meet licensure requirements in elementary education (grades K-6). This program includes a one-year intensive combination of methods courses and fieldwork known as the Professional Year. Upon successful completion of the Professional Year, teacher candidates are recommended for initial teacher licensure from the State of Colorado in elementary education (grades K-6). Undergraduate students seeking a baccalaureate degree from LAS select an approved major and fulfill the requirements for both the BA and licensure. Candidates who have already earned a baccalaureate degree apply for the Licensure Only (post-baccalaureate) option with the opportunity to apply nine (9) credits toward the MA in Curriculum and Instruction. The course requirements for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate licensure pathways differ and are listed below.

Post-baccalaureate students have the option to take up to nine (9) credit hours at the graduate level and apply them to an MA in Curriculum & Instruction within a five-year period.

Undergraduates, however, cannot use those credits toward both their BA degree and their MA degree.

**Please note: Undergraduates must map their program of study with their academic advisor/LAS advisor prior to consulting with a faculty advisor from the College of Education.

Central Features of Elementary Initial License Certificate

  • Integration of education courses with professional field experiences
  • Over 1000 hours of supervised and mentored field experiences
  • Focus on embracing diversity and social justice throughout coursework and experiences
  • Preparation of teacher candidates with evidence-based pedagogy and best practices through carefully designed methods courses
  • Cohort model situated in partner schools with support from mentor teachers, building liaisons, and university supervisors
  • Set sequence of courses from May to May, commonly known as the Professional Year 

Faculty

  • Katie Anderson-Pence, Ph.D., Department Chair, Associate Professor
  • Timothy Callahan, M.A., Senior Instructor
  • Grant Clayton, Ph.D., Associate Professor
  • Leslie Grant, Ph.D. Associate Professor
  • Mary Hanson, M.A., Instructor
  • Christi Kasa, Ph.D., Associate Professor
  • Ji Hyun Oh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
  • Kylie Swanson, Ph.D.,  Program Coordinator of Elementary Education, Assistant Professor

Foundation Courses


Undergraduate students require 13 credit hours with an additional 3 credits (recommended but not required EDUC 3800)

Post-Baccalaureate students are required to take 16 credit hours (includes EDUC 3800)

Post Baccalaureate Disciplinary Foundation Courses - 28 credits


3 credits are required in US History
3 credits are required in Cultural or Physical Geography
3 credits are required in Political Science
3 credits are required in Economics
4 credits are required in Natural Science
3 credits are required in English Composition
3 credits are required in Public Speaking

Spring Semester (Professional Year)


8 hours per day for 16 weeks, 3 weeks solo; 640 hours total

Traditional Placement Track:

Residency Placement Track:

Additional Information on Licensure


Upon completion of the program, students can apply for an initial teaching license in Elementary Education (grades K-6) from the Colorado Department of Education.

Exam Requirements

In order to receive an initial license or added endorsement students will need to complete the following exams:

  • PRAXIS II Elementary Education: Three Subjects Bundle - Mathematics, Social Studies, & Science #5901. All subtests of this exam must be passed by July 15 just prior to Professional Year courses. Students will not be allowed to continue with Professional Year coursework unless they have passed this exam.
  • PRAXIS II Teaching, Reading: Elementary #5205. This exam must be passed by December 15 just prior to beginning the final semester of student teaching (IELM 4950 or IELM 4955).
    Teacher Candidates will NOT be allowed to student teach unless they have passed this exam.

When registering to take the Praxis exam(s), students need to send their scores to UCCS (4874) and the Colorado Department of Education (7040).

For more information, students should visit: www.ets.org/praxis