Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Location: Ross Hall 1210
Telephone: 970-351-3082
Email: nhsadvising@unco.edu
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/mathematical-sciences/
Program Duration: 4 years
Advising Information
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into MyUNC; under Student Quick Links, click on Student Profile. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of four parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits
- University-Wide Credits
*For Educator licensure majors, PTEP coursework counts towards the minimum of nine upper-division UNC credits (300-400).
Program Description:
If you are passionate about math, cultural and linguistic diversity, and want to make a difference in the lives of middle school students, this program is for you. You will learn how to teach core topics like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry in ways that are engaging, relevant, meaningfully integrate technology, and are inclusive for all learners in grades 6–8. Additionally, you will learn how to meaningfully support culturally and linguistically diverse learners in grades K-12.
Along the way, you will build a strong foundation in mathematics, education, and supporting multilingual learners. You will gain hands-on experience through classroom placements, collaborative projects, as well as opportunities to work with local schools and communities. You will also develop the confidence and skills necessary to lead a classroom, integrate mathematics and language, support diverse learners, and spark curiosity in every student.
By the time you graduate, you will be prepared and qualified for licensure to teach mathematics in grades 6-8 in Colorado. You will also be qualified to add the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Endorsement in Colorado. Additionally, you will be prepared to pursue graduate study in mathematics education, if you choose.
Program Admission Requirements:
- Academic Good Standing
- 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.
Program Requirements:
For admission to PTEP, the student must have:
- Completed MATH 185 and MATH 131 with a grade of "C" or better (C- is not acceptable);
- Completed at UNC at least two content courses that may count toward the Math major;
- A GPA of at least 2.5 in all content courses taken at UNC that may count toward the major.
For admission to Student Teaching, the student must have:
- Satisfactorily completed at least 44 semester hours of content courses that may count toward the math major;
- Satisfactorily completed all PTEP Requirements other than STEP 464;
- A GPA of at least 2.5 in content courses taken at UNC that may count toward the major.
The GPA in the content courses will be computed by Mathematical Sciences according to procedures approved by the faculty that are in place at the time the student's application for admission to PTEP, or to student teaching, or for graduation.
Content courses that may count toward the major are those mathematics, statistics and/or computer courses specified in the Catalog as required courses for the major, or as program electives in the major.
It is recommended that students entering the program take MATH 102 in their first semester.
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.
Teacher Candidates seeking licensure in this licensure program must complete the following program requirements:
- Maintain program GPA requirement
- Completion of Application for Initial Admission to PTEP - referred to as Checkpoint #1 (This checkpoint requires an out-of-pocket payment - to the chosen approved vendor - to obtain a fingerprint background check, which is required by the Colorado Department of Education.)
- Enrollment in this teacher licensure program results in a one-time program fee (Teacher Preparation Program Fee) assessed the semester of the first field experience course.
- Completion of Full Admission to PTEP - referred to as Checkpoint #2
- Completion of Application for Student Teaching - referred to as Checkpoint #3
- Completion of content specific PRAXIS test the semester prior to Student Teaching (if applicable)
- Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the Associate Dean in charge of Educator Preparation.
- All PTEP courses, practicum field experiences, and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
- A teacher candidate may be removed from the UNC teacher licensure pathway if they fail to meet professional, academic, or dispositional standards set by the program. In such cases, the student may continue in a different degree program and graduate; however, they will not receive a recommendation for licensure.
- Supervision of Student Teaching outside of UNC Faculty will be considered for approval.
- Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they have a close relative attending and/or working. If teacher candidates need an exception to this, they will need approval from the Associate Dean in charge of Educator Preparation.
- Teacher Candidates placed in a middle or high school they once attended must notify their program coordinator and the Field Placement Officer immediately for a possible change in placement.
- 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.
Teacher Candidates work with the content advisor and/or Program Coordinator to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout the licensure program.
Teacher Candidates work with the content advisor and/or Program Coordinator to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout the licensure program.
Elementary, Secondary & K-12 Education
K-12 CLD Endorsement
The endorsement program in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education provides teacher candidates with the knowledge and pedagogical skills to effectively support K-12 students learning English as a new language. The program provides teacher candidates with deep understanding of theories of second language acquisition, the structures of the English language, linguistically and culturally responsive teaching, the nature of bi/multilingualism, policies and programs impacting bi/multilingual learners, and methods for supporting content-based language learning. Students successfully completing this program will be recommended to the Colorado Department of Education for the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse K-12 endorsement.
Admission Requirements:
To enroll in this program, the student needs to be in a teacher licensure program at UNC.
Prior to beginning your first semester within the CLD endorsement, students must complete the following:
- Attend the mandatory CLD Orientation for new students prior to registration.
- Submit the application for admission to the CLD Endorsement.
- Schedule a meeting with CLD advisor Penelope Mascarenas (penelope.mascarenas@unco.edu) to register for courses.
Program Requirements:
CLD Endorsement candidates must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain in the program. Faculty also reserve the right to place on probation or to require the withdrawal from the program of any student who fails to satisfy the requirements of scholarship, commitment, performance, or disregard for the UNC Honor Code, based on course or practicum performance.
CLD Endorsement candidates must complete the practicum requirement in a classroom with English learners. The CLD practicum must also be completed independently from other required practicum courses.
CLD Endorsement candidates will complete a summative, standards-based portfolio during their practicum course (ECLD 401) that includes reflection upon artifacts generated throughout the program.
Program Recommendations:
Students are also encouraged to reach out to the Cumbres program to access additional supports provided for education majors with a CLD Endorsement. Please check out their website www.unco.edu/cumbres for more details.
Students are also encouraged to become involved with UNC or community centers that advocate for the rights of minoritized communities, including the César Chávez Cultural Center or the Immigrant and Refugee Center.
Degree Requirements — 122 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 122 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses, some of which also count toward the required major and PTEP credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
MATH 131, MATH 132, or MATH 185 is recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 Credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
ECLD 260 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences and U.S. Multicultural Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and PTEP requirements.
MAS 110 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences and U.S. Multicultural Studies requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
PSY 247 is recommended to fulfill Social & Behavioral Sciences and will fulfill both LAC and PTEP major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 47 credits
Take all of the following courses:
| CS 120 | Introduction to Programming | 3 |
| MATH 131 | Calculus ILAX1GT-MA1 | 4 |
| MATH 132 | Calculus IILAX1GT-MA1 | 4 |
| MATH 185 | Number Sense and AlgebraLAX1GT-MA1 | 3 |
| MATH 283 | Fundamental Mathematics III: Geometry and Measurement | 3 |
| MATH 286 | Elements of Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 317 | Mathematical Foundations for Teachers | 3 |
| MATH 341 | Introduction to Modern Geometry I | 3 |
| MATH 386 | Problem Solving | 3 |
| MATH 391 | Introduction to Number Theory | 3 |
| MATH 464 | Introduction to History of Mathematics | 3 |
| MED 341 | Principles of Teaching Secondary Mathematics | 3 |
| MED 441 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics | 3 |
| MED 449 | Teaching Mathematics with Technology | 3 |
| STAT 355 | Introduction to Applied Statistics and Probability | 3 |
3. PTEP Requirements — 38 credits
Take all of the following courses:
| ECLD 260 | Language Acquisition in Multilingual SocietiesLAB3LAMSGT-SS3 | 3 |
| EDF 290 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| STEP 161 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching I | 2 |
| EDSE 201 | Culture of Special Education | 3 |
| STEP 262 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching II | 2 |
| ECLD 341 | Content-Based Literacies for Equitable Access to PK-12 Instruction | 3 |
| PSY 247 | Adolescent Learning and MotivationLAB3GT-SS3 | 3 |
| ET 275 | Integration of Technologies in PK12 Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| STEP 363 | Clinical Experience: Secondary | 2 |
| STEP 464 | Secondary Student Teaching | 1-14 |
4. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (Grades K-12) Endorsement Requirements — 18 credits
Required Courses — 12 credits
| MAS 275 | Education of Mexican American Students | 3 |
| or | |
| WLC 390 | History and Philosophy of Multilingual Education | 3 |
| | |
| ECLD 380 | Introduction to Linguistics for ESL/CLD Educators | 3 |
| ECLD 400 | Methods and Approaches of Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students | 3 |
| ECLD 401 | CLD Practicum | 3 |
CLD Elective #1: U.S. Multicultural Studies — 3 credits
Take the following course:
| MAS 110 | Contemporary Chicano LiteratureLAA2LAMSGT-AH2 | 3 |
CLD Elective #2: Language and Education — 3 credits
Choose any world language course at any level (Note: 200 level World Language courses count toward LAC Arts & Humanities and International Studies requirement) or provide proof of CO Seal of Biliteracy.
| Any level of world language | 3 |
| or | |
| | CO Seal of Biliteracy | |
Note: ECLD 260 and ECLD 341 are also required for the CLD endorsement, but are already included in the PTEP requirements.
Students should complete the required courses in the listed sequence: WLC 390/MAS 275, ECLD 260, ECLD 380, ECLD 341. Following these, ECLD 400 with ECLD 401 must be taken in the same semester. Electives may be taken at any time.
Credit for a world language course can also be obtained with AP credit accepted by the university or with the Seal of Biliteracy.
5. University Wide Credits — 0-3 credits*
Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC.
*Note: Students must apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum requirements and the major requirements to complete this degree program in 122 credit hours. Students may have up to 3 credits of university wide electives to apply to this degree depending on the number of credits applied to both the LAC and the major. See your advisor for details.