Elementary Initial License Certificate

About the Program

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).

Complete this certificate either as a post-baccalaureate student or concurrently with a degree in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.

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Focus of Study

• 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
• A set sequence of courses from May to May, commonly known as the Professional Year 

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Program Requirements

• A minimum of 46 credits must be completed with a cumulative CU grade point average of 2.75.
• All Professional Year courses must be completed with a grade of B- or better.
• UCCS undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s degree outside of the College of Education must fulfill their major requirements in addition to the licensure certificate requirements. Undergraduate students must map their program of study with their academic advisor prior to consulting with a faculty advisor from the College of Education.

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Program Coursework

	Courses
Foundation Courses 13-15 Credit Hours	EDUC 1000 Introduction to Inclusive Education    EDUC 2000 Intro to Educational Psychology    EDUC 2700 Schools, Society, and Diversity    EDUC 3800 English as a Second Language for Educators   or  CURR 5750 English as a Second Language for Educators   (Recommended) EDUC 3900 Early School Diversity Practicum     EDUC 3992 Introduction to Professional Year - Elementary    (Must be taken the semester prior to the Professional Year)
Professional Year Courses 33 Credit Hours	EDUC 4100 Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Classroom Management    IECE 4010 Literacy Development, Instruction, and Interventions K-Grade 3    IELM 4015 Teaching Reading and Writing Grades 2 - 6    IELM 4025 Teaching Elementary Mathematics    IELM 4035 Teaching Elementary Science    IELM 4045 Teaching Elementary Social Studies    IELM 4900 Field Placement III - Elementary    IELM 4950 Student Teaching - Elementary

 

Professional Exam Requirements

The Praxis exams measure the academic skills and subject-specific knowledge needed as an educator. Students must pass the state-approved elementary education licensure exams to be recommended for licensure.

Students are required to take the following Praxis exams no later than May 1 prior to their Professional Year. 

• #5903 Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Mathematics
• #5904 Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Social Studies
• #5905 Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle - Science

Students that have not passed these three exams (listed above) before August 1 of their Professional Year must submit an application for multiple measures of content competency to CDE by that date.

Students must receive a passing score on the following exam no later than January 1 prior to the student teaching semester:

• #5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary

If these requirements are not met by the deadlines, the student must withdraw or defer their Professional Year until the requirements are met.