Responding to increasing diversity and inequality in public schools, the BA in Elementary Education, with the endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, is designed to dramatically change schooling for the underserved students of Colorado and the nation. The program aims to prepare reflective, ethical, anti-racist and inclusive elementary (K-6) teachers who are committed to making the world more equitable and just, through their work in public schools.

The program requires that students take a range of education courses, including those focused on the roles of schooling in the broader society and on theories of learning as they relate to historically underserved students and communities. The program also requires numerous “methods” courses, which engage students in the practices and skills needed for teaching all subject areas in self-contained classrooms, and for teaching students with a range of identities and abilities, who represent diverse cultural, linguistic, ethnic, racial, economic and religious communities. In order to be recommended for teacher licensure, students must additionally complete extensive fieldwork in public elementary classrooms serving diverse learners.

The BA in Elementary Education’s guiding principles that students will work on across their courses and field experience include learning how to engage in humanizing pedagogies; becoming critically conscious educators; developing a holistic understanding of bilingualism and a dynamic understanding of culture; designing curriculum and instruction, and enacting teaching practices, grounded in research centered on learning and learners; and viewing themselves as agents of change, who advocate on behalf of minoritized students, including bilingual learners.

To learn more, contact the Education advisors at 303-492-6555 or edadvise@colorado.edu. To apply, visit the CU Boulder Admissions website.

Requirements

A total of 120 credit hours required. Students must complete all EDUC coursework in the final two years with a grade of B- or better. All other requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or better. 

Please note that course EDUC 3013 fulfills several requirement areas: Elementary Licensure Requirement, Social Science Distribution and U.S. Diversity.

Required Courses and Credits

Core Requirements

Elementary Major Requirements
EDUC 2015Elementary Mathematics and Science Teaching for Social Justice1
EDUC 2050Step Up to Social Justice Teaching1
Elementary Licensure Requirements
EDUC 2311Children's Literature and Literacy Engagement in Elementary Schools3
EDUC 2411Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools4
EDUC 3013School and Society3
EDUC 3320Literacy in the Elementary Classroom 1 13
EDUC 3321Literacy in the Elementary Classroom 2 13
EDUC 3350Dis/Ability in Contemporary Classrooms 13
EDUC 4205Elementary School Mathematics Theory and Methods 13
EDUC 4215Elementary Science Theory and Methods 13
EDUC 4331Elementary Social Studies Methods 13
EDUC 4340Advanced Issues of Assessment, Teaching, and Learning in Reading, Mathematics, and Science 13
EDUC 4710Elementary Student Teaching for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 1,Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Part 1 13
EDUC 4715Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Part 1 13
EDUC 4720Elementary Student Teaching for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 2 19
EDUC 4725Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Part 2 13
Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education Endorsement Requirements
EDUC 2425Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education3
EDUC 2615Foundations of Language Acquisition for Bilingual Learners3
EDUC 4035Family and Community Engagement 13
EDUC 4435Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies for Bilingual Learners 13
EDUC 4455Methods of Biliteracy Instruction 13
EDUC 4535Assessment for Bilingual Learners 13
EDUC 4595Practicum for Bilingual/Multicultural and ELD Education 13
Total Credit Hours72

Elementary Education Content Area Requirements 

Distributions
Arts & Humanities Distribution
U.S. History3
Colorado: History, Ecology, and Environment
The American West
Economic History of the United States
Industrial Organization and Regulation
History of American Public Education
American Frontiers
Themes in American Culture 1
Critical Issues in Native North America
Themes in American Culture 2
African American History
Survey of Chicana/o History and Culture
Asian Pacific American Communities
Ethnic-American Autobiography
American History to 1865
American History since 1865
Themes in Early American History
Issues in Modern U.S. Politics and Foreign Relations
The Vietnam Wars
America Through Baseball
African America in the Arts
From Wops to Dons to Movers and Shakers: The Italian-American Experience
The American Presidency and the Executive Branch
American Political Thought
State Government and Politics
RUSS 4301
United States Race and Ethnic Relations I
World History3
Maritime People: Fishers and Seafarers
Origins of Ancient Civilizations
The Archaeology of Human History
Modern Issues, Ancient Times
Islamic Culture and the Iberian Peninsula
Trash and Treasure, Temples and Tombs: Art and Archaeology of the Ancient World
Pompeii and the Cities of Vesuvius
The World of the Ancient Greeks
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome
Bread and Circuses: Society and Culture in the Roman World
Economic History of Europe
History and Literature of Georgian Britain
Medieval Worlds
Inside Nazi Germany: Politics, Culture, and Everyday Life in the Third Reich
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities Distribution (2 courses) 16
Natural Science Distribution
Biological Science3
Introduction to Biological Anthropology 1
Primate Behavior
The Human Animal
Biology and Society
General Biology 1
General Biology 2
Introduction to Nutrition
Introduction to Molecular Biology
Fundamentals of Human Genetics
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
Biology of the Cancer Cell
Science of Human Communication
Physical Science3
The Solar System
Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System w/Lab
Accelerated Introductory Astronomy 1
Stars and Galaxies
Ancient Astronomies of the World
Modern Cosmology-Origin and Structure of the Universe
Space Astronomy and Exploration
Black Holes
The Search for Life in the Universe
Environmental Chemistry 1
Introductory Chemistry
General Chemistry 1
Foundations of Chemistry
Energy and Interactions
Energy and the Environment
Environmental Systems: Climate and Vegetation
Exploring Earth
Environmental Geology
Global Change: The Recent Geological Record
Evolution of Life: The Geological Record
Natural Catastrophes and Geologic Hazards
Physics of Everyday Life 1
General Physics 1
Light and Color for Nonscientists
Sound and Music
General Physics 1
Biological Psychology
Science Lab 21
Laboratory in Biological Anthropology 1
Weather and the Atmosphere Laboratory
Biology and Society Laboratory
Laboratory in General Chemistry 1
Foundations of Chemistry Lab
General Biology Laboratory 1
Introduction to Geology Laboratory 1
Exploring Genetics Laboratory
Experimental Physics 1
Social Science Distribution
EDUC 3013School and Society3
U.S. Government3
Introduction to American Politics
Cultural Geography3
Geographies of Global Change
Environment-Society Geography
Global Geographies: Societies, Places, Connections
Human Geographies
Advanced Introduction to Human Geography
Contemporary Southeast Asia: Environmental Politics
Climate Politics and Policy
Natural Hazards
Conservation Practice and Resource Management
Geography of American Cities
Cities of the Global South
Who Runs the World? Sex, Power, and Gender in Geography
Gen Ed Social Sciences Distribution (1 course) 13
Total Credit Hours31
Skills
Diversity Requirement
U.S. Diversity
School and Society
Global Diversity0-3
Gen Ed Diversity - Global Perspective (1 course) 1
Mathematics Requirement
The mathematics requirement is fulfilled by either an approved calculus course or two approved mathematics courses.4-6
Calculus course option:
Calculus 1
Calculus for Life Sciences
Calculus 1 for Engineers
Approved mathematics courses option:
Mathematics for Elementary Educators 1
Mathematics for Elementary Educators 2
College Algebra
Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills
Finite Mathematics for Social Science and Business
Calculus for Social Science and Business
Precalculus Mathematics
Data and Models
Pre-Calculus for Engineers
Calculus 1 with Algebra, Part A
Calculus 1 with Algebra, Part B
Written Communication
The written communication requirement is fulfilled by taking an approved lower-division course and an approved upper-division course.
Lower-division3
College Writing and Research
Writing in Arts and Sciences
Argument from Evidence: Critical Writing about the Ancient World
Writing, Reading, Culture
First-Year Writing in Energy, Environment and Sustainability
Introduction to Scientific Writing in Integrative Physiology
Reading, Writing and Reasoning
Extended First-Year Writing and Rhetoric
First-Year Writing and Rhetoric
Advanced First-Year Writing and Rhetoric
Upper-division3
Multicultural Perspective and Academic Discourse
Adv Wrtg Topics on Chinese & Japanese Literature and Civilization
Written Communication in the Sciences
Advanced Writing in Environmental Studies
Developing Scientific Writing Skills
Historical Thinking & Writing
Advanced Honors Writing Workshop
Scientific Writing in Integrative Physiology
Advanced Composition 2: Introduction to Literary Writing
Adv Wrtg Topics on Chinese & Japanese Literature and Civilization
Critical Thinking/Writing in Philosophy
Writing in Physics: Problem-Solving and Rhetoric
Advanced Writing in Religious Studies
Advanced Rhetoric and Composition
Advanced Writing in Feminist Studies
Writing in the Visual Arts
Topics in Writing
Writing on Science and Society
Technical Communication and Design
Writing on Business and Society
Total Credit Hours10-15

Required Tests and Assessments

Students must pass all state-approved licensure exams: Praxis Teaching Reading: Elementary (test code 5205) and Praxis Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle (test code 5901), prior to student teaching. To pass the Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle test, students must receive a passing score on each subtest.

Elementary Education Content Requirements

Overview

Elementary Education students must take all Elementary Content coursework for a letter grade, and receive a passing grade of C- or higher, or or receive placement credit (as determined, for example, by scores on AP or IB exams) for an approved 3-credit course at CU Boulder.

Elementary Content Area Requirements

Elementary Education students must demonstrate, through coursework or CU Boulder placement credit, the competencies specified below:

  • American Government (3 credit hours)
  • Cultural Geography (3 credit hours)
  • Literature & Arts (3 credit hours)
  • Mathematics (4-6 credit hours: 4-5 credit hours of an approved calculus course or 6 credit hours from two approved mathematics courses)
  • Natural Science (7 credit hours: 3 credit hours of an approved biological science, 3 credit hours of an approved physical science, and 1 credit hour of an associated lab)
  • U.S. History (3 credit hours)
  • World History (3 credit hours)
  • Written Communication (6 credit hours: 3 lower- and 3 upper-division credit hours)

General Education Requirements

The School of Education General Education (Gen Ed) curriculum consists of 40 credits in three basic categories of requirements: Skills, Distribution and Diversity. Most of the Gen Ed requirements will be fulfilled by Elementary major or content area requirements, with the exception of the Global Perspective Diversity requirement. Courses taken to fulfill Literature & Arts or World History for the Elementary Content Area requirements may also fulfill the Global Perspective Diversity requirement. Courses taken to fulfill the Skills requirements may not also count towards the Distribution requirements. Please contact the School of Education for details.

  • Skills requirement: 9 credits (6 Written Communication, 3 Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills, plus a third-level proficiency in a World/Foreign Language)
  • Distribution requirement: 31 credits (12 Arts & Humanities, 12 Social Sciences, 7 Natural Sciences and Natural Sciences lab)
  • Diversity requirement: 0–3 credits

The world language graduation requirement for the School of Education’s undergraduate BA programs is third-level proficiency in a single modern or classical language (other than English). Students may fulfill this requirement by:

  • Successfully completing three years of high school in a single language, or 
  • Earing AP or IB credit for an appropriate third-semester college-level course that is part of a three-course sequence, or
  • Passing, with a C- or better, an appropriate third-semester college-level course that is part of a three-course sequence, or 
  • Passing a CU Boulder approved language proficiency examination at third-level proficiency.  

The World/Foreign Language area of the Skills requirement aligns with the School of Education's commitment to prepare graduates who are well equipped to serve the needs of all students and advocate for educational equity and justice in our increasingly diverse communities and schools.

For a complete explanation of the Gen Ed requirements, please see the College of Arts and Sciences' General Education requirements in the catalog.

Four-Year Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit Hours
EDUC 2050 Step Up to Social Justice Teaching 1
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Social Science Distribution Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring Semester
EDUC 2015Elementary Mathematics and Science Teaching for Social Justice 1
WRTG 1150 First-Year Writing and Rhetoric 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities Distribution Requirement 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Two
Fall Semester
EDUC 2311 Children's Literature and Literacy Engagement in Elementary Schools 3
EDUC 2425 Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education 3
MATH 1110 Mathematics for Elementary Educators 1 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
EDUC 2411 Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools 4
EDUC 2615 Foundations of Language Acquisition for Bilingual Learners 3
MATH 1120 Mathematics for Elementary Educators 2 3
Elementary Content Requirement 3
Arts & Humanities Distribution Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Year Three
Fall Semester
EDUC 3350 Dis/Ability in Contemporary Classrooms 3
EDUC 3320 Literacy in the Elementary Classroom 1 3
EDUC 4535 Assessment for Bilingual Learners 3
EDUC 4595 Practicum for Bilingual/Multicultural and ELD Education 3
WRTG 3020 Topics in Writing 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
EDUC 3321 Literacy in the Elementary Classroom 2 3
EDUC 4205 Elementary School Mathematics Theory and Methods 3
EDUC 4435 Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies for Bilingual Learners 3
EDUC 4455 Methods of Biliteracy Instruction 3
 Credit Hours12
Year Four
Fall Semester
EDUC 4035 Family and Community Engagement 3
EDUC 4215 Elementary Science Theory and Methods 3
EDUC 4331 Elementary Social Studies Methods 3
EDUC 4710 Elementary Student Teaching for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 1,Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Part 1 3
EDUC 4715 Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Part 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring Semester
EDUC 4340 Advanced Issues of Assessment, Teaching, and Learning in Reading, Mathematics, and Science 3
EDUC 4720 Elementary Student Teaching for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 2 9
EDUC 4725 Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Part 2 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120

Learning Outcomes

In their development as critically conscious, CLD-endorsed elementary teachers, who value and center anti-racist, humanizing stances and practices, teacher candidates in the BA in Elementary Education program:

  • Demonstrate pedagogical expertise in all subject areas, grounded in a critical understanding of how their content and instructional choices matter.
  • Establish a safe and inclusive classroom community that reflects a dynamic understanding of culture.
  • Plan and deliver effective, responsive instruction in all subject areas and create an environment that facilitates learning for all, including bilingual learners.
  • Demonstrate professional integrity through ethical conduct, critical reflection, leadership and advocacy.