Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
New and current students cannot currently declare this program.
Director: Deborah Romero, Ph.D.
Location: McKee 216
Telephone: 970-351-2908
Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/teacher-education/
The Secondary Pedagogy M.A.T. - Licensure: Secondary Licensure (Grades 7-12) program provides prospective teachers in secondary English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science with the requisite knowledge and ability for obtaining licensure in these areas, as well as both the practical skill necessary to achieve success in their future classrooms and the disposition to critical, research-based reflection associated with continuous professional improvement over the course of a career. The program provides in-depth knowledge of data-driven and practitioner-endorsed classroom practices in each content area, the skills necessary to engage in research and reflection upon one’s own work, and the habits of mind involved in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with colleagues and administrators.
The MAT Secondary Pedagogy program consists of 36 semester hours and a Comprehensive Examination. The Comprehensive Examination will stem from students’ work in program classes and field experiences and can take multiple forms, as approved by a student’s advisor and evaluated by a faculty committee.
The Secondary Pedagogy M.A.T. can be licensed in the following areas: English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science.
PTEP Program Requirements:
Teacher candidates who complete an approved content degree and the UNC professional teacher education program, as well as pass the appropriate Colorado Department of Education designated PRAXIS exam (if applicable), will be eligible for recommendation from UNC for a Colorado Department of Education teaching license.
If you are seeking licensure in your program area, the following items are required to complete your program.
- Completion of Graduate Application for Initial Admission to PTEP
- Application for Student Teaching
- Successfully pass content specific PRAXIS test prior to Student Teaching
- Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the STE Director.
- All PTEP Field Experiences and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
- Student Teaching outside the supervision of UNC Faculty may or may not be approved.
- Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they were once students or where they have a close relative attending and/or working.
- Teacher education and educator preparation licensure programs do not accept Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) or field based courses that are more than ten years old. PLEASE NOTE: Teacher Candidates have the right to petition this policy at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Please work with your content advisor to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout your program.
*Please note: Federal student loans are not currently available to students who are pursuing a CO state license (initial or additional ) through UNC’s stand-alone, graduate level licensure programs without also being simultaneously enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral degree program.
Admission
Location: Greeley + Online and Denver + Online
Start Term: Summer
General Master's Degree Admission Requirements
Secondary Pedagogy M.A.T. - Licensure: Secondary Licensure (Grades 7-12)
Admission deadline
New and current students cannot declare this program.
Location options: This accelerated program is offered in a hybrid format, where you will spend time in schools and time in class sessions in either Denver or Greeley, while the other semesters are completed online and in a school near you. On your application you will choose either Denver-Hybrid or Greeley-Hybrid as yoursite to establish the area for your in-person requirements.
This program begins each Summer term. Applications will be accepted until March 15 (unless one or both delivery locations are full before that date; we will post here if a delivery is full for the current cycle). We strongly encourage you to apply as soon as you are ready in order to reserve your spot in the cohort. We will inform you of your admission decision as soon as possible.
A limited number of students may be able to begin this program in the Spring term if they miss the Summer term start. Please contact the Admissions Coach (Jori Moore) to inquire about a possible Spring start if needed.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
- If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:
- Statement of Goals: This should address your potential as a graduate student and future professional goals. The letter should be 500 words or less.
- Resume
- Proof of passing PRAXIS score:
- You will either need to have a bachelor’s in the content area in which you would like to be licensed (English, Biology, etc.) OR proof that you have passed the PRAXIS exam for that content area. Visit the Colorado Department of Education site for coursework and Praxis requirements for each content area. For any questions regarding this, please contact the Admissions Coach, Jori Moore, at jori.moore@unco.edu or 970-351-4802.
- Note: Students who are admitted based on holding a degree in the content area will need to pass a Praxis exam prior to student teaching. You will be reminded about enrolling for this exam prior to that semester.
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.