As an open-admissions institution, CMC welcomes all teacher candidates to declare the BA: Education major upon admission to the College. Students progress through three stages in the program as they develop the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions of a great teachers. The BA Education includes field assignments beginning in the first year of study. Students may declare this major upon admission to the college and will build their capability as teachers throughout an integrated four-year program. Students may also transfer in up to 60 specifically designated credits as part of Colorado’s statewide transfer agreement. Because this program requires 126 specific credits, it will be necessary to work closely with a CMC counselor to utilize transfer credits.

In addition to very specific course requirements, the BA: Education requires a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (“B” average), a background check to enable participation in field assignments in elementary classrooms, and satisfactory progress in these assignments in our partnering elementary schools. Students need to be able to arrange transportation to complete field assignments in partner schools.

Please see information contained in the Transfer section for information about combining transfer credit with CMC credit towards earning a Bachelor’s degree at CMC.

While the Bachelor of Arts in Education is offered at the following campus locations: Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Breckenridge, Dillon, Leadville, Salida, Steamboat Springs, and Vail Valley at Edwards. Students may also take their general education classes for this program at many CMC locations including the Spring Valley residential campus. Check the campus schedule of classes to find appropriate course offerings. Not every course is offered on every campus, some campuses may require travel between sites or technology enhanced modalities to complete the degree.

Residential students living at the Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs campus are fully supported to take Education courses in Glenwood Springs, with free transportation provided by CMC shuttle service for this 15-minute ride. Field experiences for Education classes are arranged in local elementary schools, which are accessible by local bus service.

Stage One

For the beginning classes at the 1000- and 2000-level courses, students need to demonstrate college-level reading, writing, and/or math proficiency. CMC offers support classes for those who enter CMC and still need to build these skills. During the first year of study at CMC, students will build their proficiency in the core content areas that they will be responsible for teaching. Students will also take their first classes in the Education program and undertake their first field assignments in CMC’s partner schools. Fingerprints and a background check will be required for field assignments at this stage.

Students have the option to choose from a number of licensure pathways while obtaining their BA in Education, listed as endorsements below. Please work closely with a CMC advisor if choosing one of these options.

Stage Two

As students complete their first year of study, they will need to demonstrate completion of the following requirements to progress to Stage Two in the Teacher Education Program:

      • Reflection essay

      • Successful completion of EDU 2211 (or equivalent) with a grade of B or higher

      • Recommendation from mentor teachers supervising fieldwork for 2000-level EDU courses (or equivalent), including program dispositions charted in those courses

      • Recommendations from CMC faculty (or equivalent)

      • Successful completion of at least 24 credits (including English Composition I and II and Public Speaking with a grade of B or higher) and with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

      • Interview with program director

      • Fingerprints and background check unless previously on record

Students must meet Stage Two requirements to register for Education courses at the 3000-level and above (unless they are currently a practicing teacher recommended by their principal to register for that course). These courses build their knowledge, understanding, skills, and professional dispositions as a teacher. Students will also continue to build their core content knowledge of the subjects that they will teach.

Stage Three

Before the full-year internship during the final year of study, students will need to submit the following additional documents to demonstrate that they are ready to undertake this critical component of the program:

      • Proof of Registration for Praxis 5001 assessment, with proof of passing scores to register for EDU 4440

      • Sample lesson plans, subject area work, and reflective essays; description of their work with children; video of lessons they have taught

      • Recommendations from both CMC program faculty and mentor teachers who supervise fieldwork at the 3000-level

      • Successful completion of all 3000-level EDU courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher

      • Interview with Internship Committee (program director, program faculty, and mentor teachers)

Student’s internship year provides the culminating learning experiences that they will need to launch their career as a teacher. This year requires 3 full days in the classroom during the fall and 5 full days (or 4 longer full days if your partner school uses a 4-day week) in the classroom in the spring, for the entire school year. Because CMC is passionate about the quality of our graduates, students will need to demonstrate proficiency on all performance measures to be able to graduate from the program.