K-12 Licensure + MA in Education

Male student helps students in elementary classes.

Part of: MA in Education, Education Department, School of Graduate Studies

Offered as: Master's

Degree: Master of Arts in Education

Licensure: Teacher Licensure

Part of: MA in Education, Education Department, School of Graduate Studies

Offered as: Master's

Degree: Master of Arts in Education

Licensure: Teacher Licensure

For students seeking a K-12 Licensure to teach in schools and a Master of Arts in Education, we offer an all-encompassing program that allows you to achieve both in three years.

During the licensure prep year, all courses are completed online in the fall and spring semesters in conjunction with student teaching. Students complete 24 hours per week in a mentor teacher’s classroom throughout the school year, culminating with 5 weeks of full-time teaching near the end of spring.

Obtaining a Colorado teacher’s license requires completing a Bachelor’s degree. If you have taken some college-level courses and are perhaps working as a paraprofessional, Western’s Adult Degree Completion program can provide you with the courses and residency training you need to apply for your initial license.

Licensures are issued by the Colorado Department of Education. While Western’s curricula are designed to prepare students for licensure exams after their first two semesters, successful licensure is ultimately determined by the CDE and cannot be guaranteed.

K-12 Licensure to MA in Education Pathway

In the first year of their studies, K-12 Licensure + MA in Education students will prepare to pursue their licensures from the Colorado Department of Education.

In Colorado, K-12 teaching licensure covers a wide range of content areas, including math, science, English language arts, social studies, and the arts. As a prospective student, you’ll learn to master your chosen subject while developing effective teaching strategies to engage diverse learners. The licensure process involves relevant coursework, state assessments, and practical teaching experience, ensuring you’re well-equipped to foster student growth and success across all grade levels.

Currently Offered Content Areas of Licensure:

Computer Science
Health
Physical Education
World Language
Drama Theater Arts
Music
Visual Arts
Technology Education

After receiving their K-12 Licensure, a teacher in our program can receive an added endorsement from the Colorado Department of Education once they complete the necessary requirements. Added endorsements enhance a licensed teacher’s expertise in the classroom, allowing them to diversify their skill sets and cater their abilities to a wide range of students. Western also offers an opportunity to pursue a university-sanctioned concentration, an area of study within the Masters of Education program.

Currently offered Endorsements and Concentrations:

Name	Available as
Reading Leadership/Specialist	Concentration and Endorsement (Optional added Reading Specialist Endorsement)
Curriculum & Instruction	Concentration
Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education	Endorsement
Special Education	Endorsement

Admissions, Cost & Requirements

Candidate must submit:
- Proof of fingerprint clearance and background check by state agency
- Two professional recommendation forms
- Resume
- Payment of university application fee
- Official transcript of conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university showing recommended 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher
- Personal statement
Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the content area by:
- passing a Praxis Subject Assessment (Special Ed. and Elementary Ed. must pass the Praxis Subject Assessment for Elementary Education Content Knowledge #5001); OR
- a conferred degree in the content area; OR
- a content evaluation of 24 semester hours of transcripted college coursework.

Provisional Admission to the MA in Education program

An applicant who does not meet the requirements for full admission to the Master of Arts in Education program may be required to submit additional materials in order to be considered for provisional admission upon the recommendation of the program director and approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies. These may include evidence of relevant professional experience, post-BA coursework, professional development, recommendations, and any other experience that demonstrates history of work, study, volunteering or other professional activity demonstrating potential to be a quality educator and successful graduate student. The program director may request a phone interview with the applicant. A provisionally admitted student will have a maximum of one calendar year to complete any pre-requisite academic coursework. The program director or Dean of Graduate Studies may set additional timeline requirements.

International Students: see Graduate Academic Catalog section, Criteria for International Admission.

March 15 – Priority Deadline in all programs to be considered for Education Department Scholarships
July 15 – Final deadline for application to all programs including:
- Teacher Licensure + MA in Education
- Principal Licensure + MA in Education
- Special Education Licensure + MA in Special Education
- MA in Education, Educator Effectiveness (MAEE) including Added Endorsements

Term	Credits	Tuition per Credit	Fees per Credit Hour*	Flat Fees**	Total Tuition & Fees
Year 1: Fall	15	$353.60	$73.40	$2,021.00	$8,426.00
Year 1: Spring	12	$353.60	$73.40		$5,124.00
Program Total	27				$13,550.00