Education MAT

Do you want to teach and support diverse learners in the classroom? This program is great for both new and experienced teachers.

You will gain the knowledge to help students from different cultures and those who are learning English. Become skilled at:

• Teaching diverse students in ways that promote and support their academic growth.
• Planning instruction and assessment that includes all learners.
• Teaching second language learners.
• Working with others to help students succeed.

You’ll be prepared to meet the needs of emergent bilingual learners.

If you do not need a master’s degree, we also offer a stand-alone Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Endorsement (K-12) program.

Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

Depending on where you teach, programs serving multilingual learners go by many names: CLD, ESL, EFL, bilingual, dual language immersion, etc. Our program will help you serve these diverse learners.

This master’s program will increase your value as a teacher. You will:

• Have more stability and impact in your current role.
• Become eligible for many more teaching job openings.
• Move up the pay scale, if your district rewards a master’s degree.

Because of the high demand for these teaching skills, many of our graduates get promotions or new jobs as soon as they finish the program.

Teaching Endorsement

If you are a licensed teacher in Colorado, completing this program will qualify you to apply for the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (grades K-12) added endorsement.

This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Delivered Fully Online

The online delivery is designed for working teachers, so that you can fit your educational journey into your lifestyle.

You will also complete a field experience to help you apply what you learn.

To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this concentration.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 30-credit concentration of this master’s degree.

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

Note: this program requires one year of successful classroom teaching experience for graduation.

UNC Elementary Education B.A. – Elementary Education Endorsement (K-6) students: please note that an accelerated (4+1) version of the master’s degree program is available, which allows you to transition into this online program while you are still completing your bachelor’s degree.

Are you Bilingual / Multilingual?

Eligible Education MAT: CLD Education Concentration students who are bilingual in certain languages can also earn the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Bilingual Education Specialist (K-12) via one additional course (ECLD 541). The Program Coordinator can advise whether you can add the additional endorsement.

For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:

• Summer term: March 15
• Fall term: June 15
• Spring term: Nov. 15

You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact the Admissions Coach for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.

The Curriculum Studies Concentration of this master’s degree is designed for working K-12 teachers.

This program will help you build a deep understanding of how students learn and how to improve school curriculum. You will focus on:

• Curriculum Development: Create and improve course materials and lesson plans.
• Content Teaching: Learn advanced methods for teaching specific subjects.
• Foundations of Education: Apply psychology and philosophy to teaching and learning.
• Instruction and Assessment: Discover new perspectives and research to inform how you teach and assess.

You will use reflection and inquiry to improve learning for students.

Drive Curriculum Improvement

• Expert Teaching: Bridge philosophy and applied research to improve student learning. You may also move up the teacher pay scale if your district rewards a master’s degree.
• Curriculum Leadership: Design, analyze and improve the lessons and plans used in your school system.

Tailor This Program to Your Teaching Interests

You can personalize this program through online elective coursework options in:

• Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education
• Educational Technology
• English Education
• Literacy
• Special Education
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Flexible Online Delivery

All required courses and a wide variety of elective courses are offered online. Most students finish this program in about two years, but you will be able to create a program timeline that fits your needs.

To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this concentration.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 30-credit concentration of this master’s degree.

Curriculum Studies Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

Note: One full year of full-time classroom teaching experience or equivalent is required to graduate from this program.

For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:

• Summer term: March 15
• Fall term: June 15
• Spring term: Nov. 15

You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact the Admissions Coach for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.

Have you always thought about becoming a teacher? If you have a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) this program lets you change careers quickly. You will earn your teaching license in one year, and your master’s degree in about 15 months.

This program focuses on broad teaching knowledge and hands-on learning. You’ll learn and practice:

• Foundational teaching skills
• Reading teaching and assessment
• Content teaching for mathematics, science and social studies
• Psychology, technology and diversity in the classroom

Your professors will personally guide you throughout your practice teaching.

Become a Skilled Elementary Teacher

Earning your Education master’s degree from UNC gives you a major advantage.

• Opportunities and Pay: UNC is the top teacher education institution in the state, so candidates from UNC are highly valued. Plus, by entering teaching with a master’s degree, you will likely increase your salary and job options.
• Leadership: You will gain the effective leadership skills that school administrators are seeking.
• Impact: You will be well-prepared for a rewarding career. You’ll have the skills and preparation to positively impact the lives of children every day.

Teaching Licensure and Endorsement

Completing this program and the required Praxis exams will qualify you for initial Colorado teacher licensure with the Elementary Education (grades K-6) endorsement.

This program will qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Hybrid Delivery Plus Student Teaching Experiences

We designed this program to reduce the amount of time you will spend in UNC classrooms. This means you can fit your studies around your other obligations during much of the program.

What does “hybrid” delivery of this program mean?

• Some courses will be delivered fully in person at your chosen UNC location in Denver or Loveland.
• Some courses have a hybrid delivery. You will have a few in-person class sessions but some instruction will be completed online.
• Some courses will be completely online.
• The in-person sessions will typically be 4-5 Saturdays in the summer terms and the one fall term.

You will also have coursework to support teaching placements that give you valuable experience, including…

• Fall Practicum: Field experience in an elementary classroom. You will be assigned to a school three days per week in the fall semester of the program. This experience includes some teaching responsibilities. We have partner schools available across Northern Colorado, and the Denver and Colorado Springs areas.
• Spring Student Teaching: A full-time (Monday–Friday during school hours) teaching responsibility. You will spend 16 full weeks in an elementary classroom. We do our best to accommodate placement requests, but we can’t guarantee that you will be placed at a requested area / school.

If you are working as a paraprofessional or general education teacher, you may be able to continue in your current job during the practicum and student teaching phases of the program! Please contact the Program Coordinator to learn more.

To see specific course offerings, visit an example current students page for this concentration: Denver + Online or Loveland + Online.

Courses and Requirements

This is a 45-credit concentration of this master’s degree.

Elementary Education Concentration – Courses and Requirement Details

This program begins each summer term. Applications will be accepted until March 15 (unless one or both delivery locations are full before that date; we will post here if a delivery is full for the current cycle). We strongly encourage you to apply as soon as you are ready in order to reserve your spot in the cohort. We will inform you of your admission decision as soon as possible.

A limited number of students may be able to begin this program in the spring term if they miss the summer term start. Please contact an Enrollment Counselor to inquire about a possible spring start if needed.