The Secondary and K-12 Licensure (with a 3+2 Mast of Arts in Education) allows students to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Education in five or more years. To be accepted into the 3+2 Elementary Education Program, each student must:
- Provide letters of recommendation from at least one Education Department faculty member and one faculty member of a core content area department
- Have demonstrated content knowledge by either:
- Completing the requirements for a degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA in the endorsement area sought, or
- Passing the relevant Praxis exam(s) as defined by the Colorado Department of Education
- Be accepted into Western's Teacher Licensure Program
- Successfully complete EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice or show proof of registration
- Be on track to complete all coursework required within the academic major
Upon completing these requirements, students will be designated as "MAED candidates with provisional acceptance." Students will be designated as "MAED degree-seeking students" once they select their degree. Students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 Elementary Education Degree Program and all Western undergraduate requirements yet choose to leave the MAED program before Year Five will still have completed the BA in Elementary Education and are eligible to apply for their initial teacher license.
Program Requirements
Students seeking licensure in the 3+2 Secondary and K-12 Licensure Program must complete the requirements of their major, all other University requirements, and the Secondary/K-12 Licensure requirements set forth by the Colorado Department of Education. For specific major requirements and degree plans, please see the appropriate discipline's page.
Available majors that can lead to teacher licensure:
Art, English, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Exercise and Sports Science, Geology, History, Mathematics, Music, Politics and Government, Spanish
The Secondary and K-12 Licensure Program requires 30 credits of Education coursework:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 000 | Education Gateway Course | 0 |
| EDUC 340 | Application of Pedagogy and Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Secondary and K-12 Licensure Coursework to be taken year 4 of 3+ 2 Secondary and K-12 Education MAED Program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 403 | Instruction & Assessment in Content Area | 3 |
| EDUC 405 | Data-driven Instructional Practices | 3 |
| EDUC 604 | Learning Environments | 3 |
| EDUC 606 | Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas | 3 |
| EDUC 607 | Rethinking Learning in the 21st Century | 3 |
| EDUC 624 | Managing to Differentiate | 3 |
| EDUC 629 | Inclusion and English Learners | 3 |
| Six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| One class taken twice: | ||
| Secondary Student Teaching | ||
or EDUC 610 | K-12 Student Teaching | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
The residency for Secondary or K-12 Licensure must be completed in a classroom that corresponds with the grade level and endorsement area sought. Students are expected to work cooperatively 24 hours per week with qualified mentor teachers. During this year-long clinical residency, students are applying and extending the pedagogical knowledge they are learning in their education courses. The Secondary and K-12 licensure coursework and the post-licensure coursework are taught online
Once accepted to the 3+2 Secondary or K-12 Licensure MAED Program, students must declare their MA emphasis and the School of Graduate Studies will designate the student as a "MAED degree-seeking student." Students in the Elementary, Secondary, or K-12 Licensure 3+2 Program may choose an MA emphasis in K-12 Online Leadership, Teacher Leadership, Reading Leadership or endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education.
All Secondary and K-12 Licensure 3+2 students will be required to take 3-6 credits of 600 level education electives. The only exception is Master of Arts in Education with Endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education which has a pre-determined 22 credit course series.
Elective Education Coursework to be taken in year 5 of the 3+2 Secondary and K-12 Education MAED Program. Please see the Graduate Catalog for program overviews and requirements for completing Master’s degrees and additional Colorado Teacher Endorsement areas.