Program Details

What you’ll learn

CU Denver and Friends School designed an innovative MA in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences that offers a unique experience where aspiring teachers complete teacher training in Colorado while also obtaining a master’s degree. The program begins with a week-long summer orientation in person at Friends School to build community and then coursework is completed on Zoom and asynchronously online. Students pay a reduced CU tuition price. This highly regarded graduate program places teachers in public and independent elementary and early childhood schools throughout Colorado.

Through our field-base residency model, teacher candidates gain hands-on experiences, opportunities to work alongside dedicated mentor teachers and the skills necessary to build a supportive and thriving classroom community.

The 36 credit program has been carefully designed to train exceptional teachers for tomorrow's classrooms. It provides students with a strong academic foundation while developing their creative expression and passion for learning and teaching. Each teacher in the program will learn how to ensure that students’ physical, social, emotional and cognitive interests are being engaged and strengthened in all learning experiences.

Degree Concentration Options:

• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Early Childhood Special Education,
• Early Literacy
• Families and Communities
• Human Learning & Development

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About CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development

CU Denver is recognized for preparing professionals who are passionate about families, education, diversity, equity and social justice. Additionally, CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development is one of the highest ranked graduate schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. Our faculty are directly connected to the policies and issues facing diverse families and community organizations today.

About Friends School Teacher Preparation Program

Friends School is a supportive, dynamic community committed to educating the whole child – head, hand, and heart – and to training exceptional teachers for tomorrow’s classrooms. We provide a strong academic foundation while developing creative expression and nurturing a passion for learning. Our students gain a deep understanding of themselves and are inspired to act with compassion and integrity.

Friends School offers a unique Teacher Preparation Program to aspiring teachers that enables them to attain a Colorado teaching license as well as a Master’s degree in education. We partner with public, charter and other independent schools throughout Colorado to give Teacher Candidates an exceptional hands-on classroom teaching experience with a mentor teacher. Our program launches new teachers with every tool to be successful in their careers. We actively support our faculty and staff with ongoing professional and self-development opportunities.

About CU Denver and Friends School Partnership

This partnership combines the expertise of CU Denver’s faculty with the pedagogical knowledge and experience of Friends’ program staff and the commitment of our mentor teachers to foster professional collaboration and creativity in our teacher candidates and ultimately to support the achievement of the children in their classrooms. Together the partnership provides students with deep theoretical background combined with practice-based experiences and knowledge.