CU Teach Course Descriptions

EDUC 2020 --> Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching (1 credit)

Invites science and mathematics students to explore teaching as a career by providing first-hand experiences teaching science/math lessons in local elementary classrooms. Introduces theory and practice necessary to design and deliver excellent instruction. Master teachers provide ongoing support  and feedback. Meets weekly on CU campus (1.25 hours/week) and involves additional visits (approx. 10 hours/semester) to a local elementary school.

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Fall 2008
• Open to all undergraduate students; however, registration priority given to freshmen/sophomore math, science, and open-option majors.

EDUC 2030 --> Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design (1 credit)

Builds on Step 1 experiences and further develops lesson design and inquiry-based teaching practice. Offers opportunity to explore the teaching career and learn about middle school culture. Master teacher provides support as students design and delivery lessons in middle school classrooms. Instructors emphasize assessment of student learning. Meets weekly on CU campus (1.25 hours/week) and involves additional visits (approx. 10 hours/semester) to a local middle school.

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Spring 2009.
  

• Prerequisite: EDUC 2020 Step 1

EDUC 2040 --> Step 1 and 2 Combination (2 credits)

Exclusively designed for 2nd semester juniors/seniors/post-BAs, this course combines critical features of Step 1 and Step 2. It introduces theory and practice necessary to design and deliver inquiry-based instruction. Master teachers provide ongoing support and feedback. Instructors emphasize assessment of student learning. It meets weekly on the CU campus (2.5 hours/week) and involves additional visits (approx. 15 hours/semester) to a local elementary/middle school.

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Fall 2010.
• Prerequisite: 2nd semester junior, senior, or post-BA standing.

EDUC 3013 --> School and Society (3 credits)

Introduces the real world of schools, teaching, and learning. Examines issues of diversity and equity from different disciplinary lenses, including history, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology.

• Offered every fall and spring semester, Maymester, and Summer Session.
  
• Prerequisite: 30 credit hours completed or in progress.
• Approved for Arts & Science core curriculum: Contemporary societies OR Cultural and gender diversity.

EDUC 3023 --> Differentiating Instruction in Diverse Secondary Classrooms (3 credits)

Emphasizes schools and teaching and learning. Focuses on teaching culturally and linguistically diverse secondary school students, special education students, and differentiation. Includes hands-on experiences in secondary school settings.

• Offered every fall and spring semester, as well as Summer Session.
• Should be taken concurrently with EDUC 53XX: Project-Based Instruction
  
• Prerequisite: Restricted to students admitted to the secondary teacher education program.
• Credit not granted for this course and EDUC 4351

EDUC 4050 --> Knowledge and Learning in Mathematics and Science (3 credits)

Explores essential questions relevant to teaching and learning mathematics and science. This course expands the student's understanding of current theories of learning and conceptual development. Students examine their own assumptions about learning. They critically examine the needs of a diverse student population in the classroom.

• Offered every fall, spring, and summer semester starting in Fall 2009

EDUC 4060/5060 --> Classroom Interactions (3 credits)

Explores how to use curriculum and technology to build interrelationships among teachers and students. Students design and implement instructional activities informed by what it means to know and learn mathematics and science, and then evaluate the outcomes of those activities on the basis of classroom artifacts. Students examine how content and pedagogy combine to make effective teaching.

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Spring 2010

EDUC 4232 --> Language and Literacy Across the Curriculum (3 credits)

Explores the relationship between language and learning with the goal of developing teaching practices that engage students in using language as a tool for understanding and constructing meaning across the curriculum. Explores how language/literacy take on different forms and functions in different social contexts and academic disciplines. Restricted to students admitted to the secondary teacher education program.

• Offered every fall and spring semester, as well as Summer Session.
  
• Prerequisite: Restricted to students admitted to the secondary teacher education program.
• Same as EDUC 5235
  

EDUC 4513 --> Education and Practice (2 credits)

Meets during student teaching assignment. Includes topics of concern to teachers, such as classroom organization and management, lesson planning, assessment, journals, preparation of the teacher work sample, etc.

• Offered every fall and spring semester.
  
• Prerequisite: (1) Completed all education and content-specific Arts & Sciences coursework, (2) Passed required licensure exam.
• Must be taken concurrently with EDUC 4712

EDUC 4712 --> Student Teaching (10 credits)

Student teacher apprentices in a middle/junior or senior high school. Must be admitted to a secondary teacher education program in English, Japanese, Latin, math, Russian, science, or social studies.

• Offered every fall and spring semester.
  
• Prerequisite: (1) Completed all education and content-specific Arts & Sciences coursework, (2) Passed required licensure exam.
• Must be taken concurrently with EDUC 4513

EDUC 5_ _ _ --> Perspectives on Science and Mathematics (3 credits)

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Fall 2010

EDUC 53_ _ --> Project-Based Instruction (3 credits)

Engages learners in exploring authentic, important, and meaningful questions of real concern to students. Through a dynamic process of investigation and collaboration and using the same processes and technologies that real scientists, applied mathematicians and engineers use, students work in teams to formulate questions, make predictions, design investigations, collect and analyze data, make products and share ideas. Students learn fundamental science and mathematical concepts and principles that they apply to their daily lives. Project-based instruction helps all students regardless of culture, race, or gender engage in learning.

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Fall 2010

Research Methods (3 credits)

• Offered every fall and spring semester starting in Spring 2011

MATH 3120 --> Functions and Modeling (3 credits)

Engages in explorations and lab activities designed to strengthen and expand students' knowledge of the topics found in secondary mathematics. Designed to have students take a second, deeper look at topics already been exposed to previously; illuminate the connections between secondary and college mathematics; illustrate effective uses of technology in teaching; illuminate the connections between areas of mathematics; and engage students in non-routine problem solving and applications of mathematics.

• Offered every fall semester starting in Fall 2009.
• Required for Math licensure candidates only
  

Additional Math and Science Coursework Required to Be a Teacher

• To be a teacher licensed in Colorado, candidates need to make sure they take particular types of math and science courses in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please check Section B of the "Program of Studies Checklists" for a listing of these courses. Click here to access the checklists.
  
• Math and science electives courses that may be an interest for secondary math and science teacher canidates includes:
• MCDB 4811: Teaching and Learning Biology, a 3 credit course that can be used as an elective toward the MCDB major.