Teaching - Social Studies

MA License

CU Denver’s MA in Teaching (MAT) with Social Studies (7-12) teaching license expertly prepares you to teach in diverse middle and high school classrooms. This program prepares students to become educators who will expand students’ worldviews, support a global perspective, and deepen critical thinking and analysis skills. Learning from dedicated teachers and award-winning faculty in a residency program perfected and proven through almost 30 years of ongoing work with partner schools make our program and our graduates stand out. You’ll leave the program highly qualified and prepared to support and understand the potentials of your students.

The Program at a Glance

School: School of Education & Human Development Campus: CU Denver Classroom: On campus Recommended completion time: 1 to 1.5 years Credits required for completion: 39 Application deadline: Fall: April 1; Summer: February 15

The Details

What you'll learn

University of Colorado Denver’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with Social Studies (7-12) teaching license is a cohort experience to prepare you to teach social studies in diverse middle and high school classrooms in as little as a year. Social studies taught with a global and critical perspective expands students’ worldviews and, their capacity for critical thinking and analysis. Learning with dedicated teachers and award-winning faculty in a residency program perfected and proven through almost 30 years of ongoing work with partner schools make our program – and our graduates – stand out. You’ll leave the program highly qualified and well prepared to support and understand the potentials of diverse students as they come to understand a global world.

In this concentration, you will:

  • Learn to plan assessment-informed social studies instruction for educational excellence and equity for all children from diverse racial, ethnic, language, socio-economic and ability backgrounds.
  • Explore linguistically and culturally relevant history teaching practices.
  • Develop deep understanding of the diverse ways children learn and develop within their families and communities and in schools; and gain skills to bring a relevant and engaging social studies curriculum to your standards-based teaching.

Choose CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development

As one of the top education schools in the country, we are proud to help people like you become teachers. At CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development, you’ll be surrounded by other committed, talented students who are determined to make a positive impact in the classroom. They are drawn to our program because they want a deeper level of preparedness –one that will allow them to give their best to every student, every day. The School of Education & Human Development is regularly ranked as a top graduate school and “best online” experiences by U.S. News & World Report. We match your passion for teaching with an education that is rooted in diversity, technology, proven approaches and real-world practice. That is why our graduates are prepared to make immediate and life-long impacts on people, communities and the world.

Program Curriculum

Admissions Requirements

Application Deadlines

Summer Semester: February 15

Fall Semester: April 1

Important steps to take before beginning the application process

Due to the rigorous nature of teacher preparation as guided by state and national accreditation standards, pre-planning steps are necessary before applying to the Teaching program. Please note that these steps must be taken and more time may be needed in order to meet specific deadlines. Phone or in person appointments with the department advisor are highly recommended in order to determine the best time for applicants to apply.

  1. Complete a transcript evaluation for content knowledge from your bachelor and/or masters. We must ensure that all candidates have appropriate and sufficient content knowledge related to the content they are planning to teach aligned with their identified teacher licensure area.
  2. Complete any outstanding prerequisite content courses that are needed per the transcript evaluation. You can still be taking courses in the term that you apply - courses must be finished by the time you start the program.
  3. Pass the Praxis Subject Assessment: To start your student teaching experience and obtain your license, you must pass a state-mandated content knowledge exam. We no longer require you to submit test results with your graduate application. Admitted students will receive additional instructions regarding these exams upon admission. 

Contact us to learn more about the application process at 303-315-6300 or education@ucdenver.edu.

Application requirements:

  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Candidates with a cumulative GPA below a 3.0 will be considered for provisional admission based on the overall strength of other required admission criteria.
  • 3 recommendation letters: Please provide your recommenders with the following guidelines to use when writing their letter:
    • As you write the recommendation letter for this applicant, please address the candidate’s knowledge and skills as they relate to collaboration with others, self-initiative, time management/organization, professionalism/maturity, and their overall potential to be an effective teacher working in diverse schools and communities.
  • Official Transcripts from all institutions attended
  • Resume/CV
  • Short Constructed Response Essays
  • Attend an admissions interview. All individuals who submitted a complete application will receive an email with the interview invitation that contains all details approximately one week before the scheduled interview. During this group interview, prospective students participate in highly interactive group discussions and activities to further assess each applicant's readiness as well as aid in internship placement
  • International Applicants only: Proof of English Language Proficiency (International applicants should review the following information regarding English language proficiency.)

Additional Requirements

We welcome applications from motivated individuals who have bachelor's degrees and a strong passion for education.

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