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M.Ed. and Teacher Licensure (Hybrid)

1
Year to Earn Your Masters
95%
CSU Online Grad Students have Plans Related to their Career
93%
Grad Students would choose CSU Online Again
$498M
In research expenditures in FY23
Degree Overview Open Accordion

Earn your Colorado teacher licensure

Prepare for a career as a teacher with a master's degree in teaching and earn your teacher licensure. Colorado State University's coursework will allow you to:

  • Obtain strong pedagogical skills.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of effective theories of learning.
  • Work in local school districts to gain experience in real schools with real students.

Learn and collaborate in a community of fellow educators

To help support your growth, you will move through the Master of Education program with the same group of students. This cohort-model provides you with a network of professionals who are working through the same course materials and teaching internships. CSU recognizes the importance of having a cohesive support structure as you enter your career.

Gain teaching skills and credentials in just one year

This intensive program allows you to complete your Master of Education and Colorado teacher licensure requirements in as little as 12 months. In order to complete the program within a year, you will need to start the program during the summer semester. It also requires that prerequisite coursework is completed before starting. Contact an advisor to determine the required prerequisite courses for your content area.

As a student in the program, you will have the opportunity to participate in one of two cohorts:

Meet the demand for qualified teachers

The Master of Education and teacher licensure program strives to meet the growing needs of public and private schools for highly qualified educators. In the program, you will:

  • Gain knowledge that can be applied immediately to your career.
  • Learn from highly qualified Colorado State University faculty members who are content experts in their fields.

Meet in the greater Fort Collins/Loveland area

Locations for classroom instruction and internship placement vary within Fort Collins and Loveland in Northern Colorado.

Health and Human Science Matters Podcast

Find out how CSU’s research is making an impact by tuning into the Health and Human Science Matters Podcast, a collection of lively, engaging conversations with members of the college community.

Early Childhood Education Cohort Open Accordion

Prepare for a career as an early childhood educator with this teacher licensure and master's degree program. Early childhood education is a field encompassing a broad age range of the lifespan, from birth to age 8 (up to grade 3). An early childhood education degree can be used in a variety of settings including public and private schools, childcare centers, and home-based programs. It also encompasses many roles beyond the traditional role of "teacher."

  • Through your coursework you will work in school districts and early childhood centers to gain experience in real schools with real students.
  • The program is designed for the working professional who meets the prerequisite qualifications, and is committed to the accelerated format.
  • With a cohort structure, the same group of students begins, proceeds through, and completes the program together. This fosters support and allows you to network with others who are preparing for a career as a teacher.

Add an endorsement to your Early Childhood Education licensure

The M.Ed. + ECE Teacher Licensure program will give you a strong foundation in educational practices to prepare you in a variety of roles, including Infant/Toddler Specialist and Preschool through 2nd/3rd grade teachers with the option to add an Elementary Education endorsement to your initial Early Childhood Education license.

Students who are interested in taking additional elementary education content exams should review the Colorado Department of Education’s website for more information.

Secondary Education Cohort Open Accordion

Our master's in education sciences program strives to meet the growing needs of public and private schools for highly-qualified secondary (grades 7-12) and K-12 teachers, including those in high-demand areas such as science, technology, engineering, math and world languages. The secondary teacher licensure program is designed for individuals who have already received an undergraduate degree in a specific content area, or have completed all prerequisite coursework. Please contact cep-medinfo@colostate.edu to determine the required prerequisite courses for your content area.

Below are the approved content areas for the M.Ed. + secondary education cohort at CSU.

Grades K-12
  • Art
  • World Languages (French, German, or Spanish)
  • Instructional Technology (Computer Science)
Secondary: Grades 7-12
  • Business/Marketing
  • English
  • Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Technology Education (Engineering)

With a cohort structure, the same group of students begins, proceeds through, and completes the program together. This fosters support and allows you to network with others who are preparing for a career as a teacher.

Frequently Asked Questions Open Accordion
Where are classes and internships located?

Classroom instruction and internship placements will be located throughout the greater Fort Collins/Loveland area.

Does CSU offer licensure for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL)?

The teacher licensure program does not offer an endorsement in ESL. However, the CSU English department does offer graduate programs in Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language.

Does CSU offer licensure for teaching special education?

The teacher licensure program does not offer an endorsement in special education.

Does CSU offer licensure for teaching physical education?

The teacher licensure program does not offer an endorsement in physical education.

Curriculum Open Accordion

Requirements

This degree requires 41 graduate-level credits be completed for the teacher licensure and master's degree. An internship in student teaching is also required. The program is designed in a cohort-based format to ensure these requirements are met.

Curriculum

The Learning Experience

Classes are taught in school classroom settings to provide maximum time in real classrooms with real educational experiences.

This program is an intensive 12-month cohort model that places you in local schools where you learn from master teachers and university faculty. This cutting-edge Professional Development School model provides you with the experience and skill set that will serve you well in your future role as a teacher. This model fosters the development of strong pedagogical skills, as well as a deep understanding of effective theories of learning. Due to the nature of the Professional Development School model, this program requires on-site attendance, with one course offered in an online format.

You start the program in June with a summer session that runs Monday through Friday for three weeks at local schools. In August, your cohort meets for two full days per week as you and your fellow students participate in practicum experiences and complete licensure courses. In January, you complete your student teaching experience, which requires a full-time commitment Monday through Friday.

Hear from Our Students Open Accordion

Hear what students have to say about CSU's education sciences master's and licensure program, and learn how a CSU education is helping people from all walks of life meet their career goals.

Steven Ray Parker

See how the program helped Steven hone his instructional skills and get the teaching career he always wanted.


Why Choose CSU? Open Accordion

As a student in CSU’s Master of Education and teacher licensure program, you receive a degree from a regionally accredited, renowned research institution while taking courses at times and locations that fit your busy life. Additionally, you can expect:

  • Two Areas of Focus Options: Prepare for a variety of career settings by choosing to focus in one of our two areas of endorsement: early childhood education (birth through age eight) and secondary education.
  • A Hands-On Learning Experience: Gain real-world experience through a total of 15 weeks of student teaching internships in local school districts. Refine your skills as an educator while receiving valuable guidance from faculty mentors and teaching professionals.
  • The Ability to Finish in One Year: Earn your Master of Education and Colorado teacher licensure in as a little as 12 months through our intensive program. Completion of the program within a year is dependent on a summer start date and requires that prerequisite coursework is completed before starting.
  • Instruction from Expert Faculty: Become a successful school leader by learning from active scholars who incorporate their experience as administrators and teachers into coursework. Our faculty are skilled educators with industry expertise, providing you with academic preparation and practical day-to-day knowledge.
  • A Strong Tie to Local School Districts: Because our master’s in education program partners with local school districts, we evaluate our student teachers in the same way as district teachers are being evaluated. This benefits our graduate students as they obtain local teaching jobs because they are prepared to meet district expectations, while districts can rely on the quality of teachers graduating from our program.
  • A Cohort Model: The same group of students goes through the program together, offering a cohesive support structure and built-in professional network.

Learn more about CSU's rankings and accolades.

How to Apply Open Accordion

Before applying to the degree and licensure program, it is strongly recommended that you contact cep-medinfo@colostate.edu well in advance of the application deadline to understand and fulfill all requirements.

Application Deadlines

Summer semester April 25

Start your application online and upload materials directly into the online system. You can save your progress and return any time.

Apply Now

1 Review Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Completion of all content prerequisite coursework (received an average of a B- or above in all content courses) required for licensure in one of the following areas:
    • Early Childhood Education ages (0-8)
    • K-12 Licensure: Art, Foreign Languages, Instructional Technology
    • Secondary Licensure (Grades 7-12): Agricultural Education, Business Education, English, Family and Consumer Studies, Marketing Education, Science, Social Studies, Technology Education, Trad and Industry Education
  • Contact Juliana Searle to review your unofficial transcripts and determine if additional prerequisite coursework is required for your content area.
  • Minimum 3.00 GPA
    Applicants whose GPA is lower than 3.00 must demonstrate their potential for academic success by providing additional evidence such as: additional recommendation letters showing strong potential for graduate studies; completion of six credits of graduate level coursework; or GRE scores.
  • GRE scores are not required

Meeting the minimum requirements does not ensure admission. Admission is based on a number of factors, including prior academic and professional experience, your personal statement, and fit with the program.

2 Prepare Application Materials

Prepare the materials below and upload when you apply online.

  • Three letters of recommendation
    Three professional recommendations are required. References should speak to your current or potential abilities as a teacher, plus your potential success in graduate studies. You will provide information about your recommenders in the online application. CSU will contact them with instructions and a link to a secure form they will submit on your behalf.
  • Statement of purpose
    The Statement of Purpose is a summary of long-term professional or personal goals and is required for all applicants. Your statement should be written in 12-point font, double-spaced, and include the following:
    • Your purpose for pursuing graduate education and how it will contribute to your long-term goals and career plans
    • Why you have selected Colorado State University and the School of Education as the place to pursue your graduate studies
    • A description of teaching, research/creative, or other academic work you have engaged in relevant to the qualifications
  • Resume or vita
    Include job duties and dates of all professional employment.
  • Supplemental documents
    When you begin your application, you will be asked to complete additional forms related to your teaching experience. The application process will provide these documents and allow you to upload your responses. You will also need to meet with an advisor to receive the Coursework Contract and the Curriculum Check Sheet. You will then scan and upload these forms to your application.
  • In addition, please download these documents to include with your application:

    Contact Juliana Searle for more information.

  • Follow-up forms
    The following forms will be due upon acceptance into the Education Sciences-Teacher Licensure specialization. Once admitted, you will receive directions on how to submit these materials.
    • Background Check
    • Admission Agreement
    • A passing score on the PLACE or Praxis II exam

3 Complete Online Application

Complete the online graduate application and pay the nonrefundable application processing fee (payable online). As soon as you have completed the required information, please submit your application. Your application will not be reviewed until it is complete and all required materials have been received.

  • Please select "Education and Human Resource Studies / Teacher Licensure (M.Ed.) - Distance".

For any documents that cannot be uploaded, submit paper copies directly to the Office of Admissions at:
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

4Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript of all collegiate work completed from all institutions attended. Transcripts from Colorado State University are not required. Transcripts must be received directly from the originating institution to be considered official.

Please Note: Students may be unconditionally admitted and registered in their first semester of courses with an unofficial transcript. Official transcripts must be submitted, prior to or during your first semester, before you can register for your second semester of graduate work. Failure to meet this condition will result in your dismissal from the Graduate School.

Electronic (preferred):
Digital Transcripts must be submitted by the originating institution using a secure service such as parchment, eScrip-Safe, the National Student Clearinghouse, or e-Quals. Transcripts received via emails are considered unofficial.

Use institution code 4075 for Colorado State University or gradadmissions@colostate.edu if the secure service requires an email address.

Mail (if necessary)
Graduate Admissions
Colorado State University – Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

Check Your Application Status

View your application status at any time to ensure your application checklist is complete or to check on updates.

Selection Timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Application reviews will begin after February 1. Admit decisions will be made approximately 3-6 weeks after application completion.

For International Applicants

Proof of English language proficiency is required for applicants from countries or United States territories where there are official languages other than (or in addition to) English. This includes the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Learn more about English language proficiency requirements.

Questions?

We love learning about your goals and answering any questions you have.

Program Details

Courses
Online with in-person components in northern Colorado
Credits
41
Tuition
$650 per credit
Same in-state tuition for all.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships Tuition/fees are just part of the cost to attend CSU. Learn more about the full Cost of Attendance
Degree Awarded
Master of Education in Education and Human Resource Studies and teacher licensure; transcript reflects the education sciences specialization
Time Frame
Can be completed in 1 year, beginning in summer only. Additional prerequisite coursework in your content area may be required and must be completed prior to starting the summer cohort
Admission Reqs.
  • 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate coursework
  • Early Childhood Education
  • K-12 Licensure
  • Math Entrance Exam scores recommended for applicants who have not taken the required prerequisites within the past 10 years

Application Dates

Summer semester
April 25

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