Master of Arts in Teacher Education

Our Teacher Education Program (TEP) offers an intensive, integrated, professional preparation experience. As an apprentice teacher, you will be in one field placement for the entire academic year with a gradual release of teaching responsibility over the year. You can pursue a master’s degree and licensure within this program, or just licensure.

Applications are currently under review, look for decision emails coming soon!

Applications Open for 2024

Explore Admission Requirements
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    Complete in 1 Year: Get your MA degree and CO Teaching License

    Our accelerated program will help you start your next journey sooner.

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    Get Hands-on Experience in the Classroom From Day One

    Learn how to engage, plan, teach, and lead as an apprentice teacher.

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    Guaranteed Scholarships: Save up to 50% on Tuition

    Additional merit and need-based scholarships also available. Visit Tools for Tomorrow's Teachers for more financial resources.

Degree Options

The TEP MA program can meet your specific needs as an educator.

TEP in Curriculum and Instruction and Teacher Licensure

Gain the skills needed to become a successful, effective educator. Our program offers small class sizes, extensive peer support (we follow a cohort model), high academic standards, conveniently scheduled classes, and a closely supervised field experience with linguistically and culturally diverse students. Approximately 95% of TEP apprentice teachers pursue a master’s degree with a teacher licensure. It takes just one year to complete licensure requirements and the Master’s degree.

Program requirements Upon acceptance into TEP, you must complete the PRAXIS® test which will assess your content knowledge. To graduate, you’ll need to complete 52-quarter credit hours, a 10-month field placement in a diverse elementary or secondary school, and program coursework and expectations.

  • You will choose a licensure content area: Elementary Education (K–6), Special Education (K-12), Secondary Science (6–12), Secondary Math (6–12), Secondary Social Studies (6–12), or Secondary English (6–12).
  • To qualify for the Curriculum and Instruction M.A., you will complete nine-quarter credit hours of courses in a specific cognate specialization area. Cognate areas include Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Education, Gifted Education, Mathematics, or Special Education.
  • As an apprentice teacher, you will be required to complete 840 hours of fieldwork in public school classrooms with diverse student populations. You will be at your fieldwork site three days a week during fall and winter quarters and four to five days a week in the spring quarter. A gradual release of responsibility leads to solo teaching throughout your ten-month residency.

Licensure and endorsements:

  • Upon completion of your degree, you’ll be able to apply for a Colorado Initial Teacher License from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
  • If you complete the Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLD) cognate, you will have completed an approved program for the CLD added endorsement from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).
  • If you complete the Gifted Education (GT) cognate, you will have completed an approved program for the GT added endorsement from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). To gain this endorsement, students will also need to take the GT PRAXIS® test.

TEP Teacher Licensure Only

Pursue teaching licensure without completing a master’s degree. Comprehensive coursework and a 10-month field placement in a diverse elementary or secondary school ensure you fulfill the requirements for licensure by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). To graduate, you will need to complete 43-quarter credit hours, a 10-month field placement in a diverse elementary or secondary school, and program coursework and expectations.

  • You will choose to specialize in one of seven concentration areas: Elementary Education (K–6), Special Education (K-12), Secondary Science (6–12), Secondary Math (6–12), Secondary Social Studies (6–12), or Secondary English (6–12).
  • As an apprentice teacher, you will be required to complete 840 hours of fieldwork in public school classrooms with diverse student populations. You must be at your fieldwork site three days a week during fall and winter quarters, and four or five days a week in the spring quarter. A gradual release of responsibility leads to solo teaching throughout your ten-month residency.

Licensure and endorsements Upon completion of this program you will earn a graduate certificate that allows you to apply for a Colorado Initial Teacher License from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). If you want to pursue licensure and/or endorsement in a state other than Colorado, contact the state’s Board of Education to determine whether the program meets licensure and/or endorsement requirements.

Learning Outcomes

The program learning outcomes for the Teacher Education Program are as follows:

  • Engage: The Teacher Candidate engages students in an inclusive and supportive learning community.
  • Plan: The Teacher Candidate plans rigorous and relevant, standards-and outcome-based lesson and unit plans.
  • Teach: The Teacher Candidate teaches equitably by establishing high expectations for student achievement and providing support.
  • Lead: The Teacher Candidate leads by exemplifying standards of professional practice.

Accreditation

We are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation in the following teaching areas: Elementary Education (K-6), English Language Arts (Secondary Grades 7-12), Mathematics (Secondary Grades 7-12), Science (Secondary Grades 7-12), Social Studies (Secondary Grades 7-12), and Special Education Generalist (Ages 5-21). For details and documentation, visit TEP CAEP Accreditation.