Secondary Initial License Undergraduate Certificate

The Secondary Initial License Certificate allows students to meet licensure requirements in secondary education (grades 7-12). The program includes an intensive combination of methods courses and extensive fieldwork required throughout the duration of the program.

Upon successful completion of certificate requirements, teacher candidates are recommended for initial teacher licensure from the State of Colorado in secondary education (grades 7-12) in one of the following content areas: English language arts, social studies, world languages, mathematics, or science.

This certificate may be completed as an undergraduate or as a post-baccalaureate student.

• Integration of education courses with professional field experiences
• Over 800 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
• Field experiences occur in partner schools and teacher candidates are provided support from mentor teachers, building liaisons, and university supervisors
• Culminating student teaching experience during the final year of the certificate program

• 33-39 credits must be completed with a cumulative CU grade point average of 2.75.
• All education 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.

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

UCCSTeach

UCCSTeach, a collaboration between the College of Education and the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, offers a unique STEM and teaching program.

Undergraduates can earn math or science degrees and teaching licenses in just four years, with classroom experience starting in their first semester. Post-baccalaureate students with STEM degrees can also obtain secondary math and science licensure. To learn more about the program, please visit the UCCSTeach website.

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

In order to receive an initial license, students will need to receive a passing score on one of the following Praxis II exams, according to their content area. 

• English Language Arts: Content Knowledge #5038
• Social Studies: Content Knowledge #5081
• Mathematics: Content Knowledge #5165
• Science: Content Knowledge #5434
• Spanish: World Language #5195
• French: World Language #5174

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

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