Admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS): Elementary Education Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education
As an open-admissions institution, CMC welcomes all teacher candidates to register for the BAIS: Elementary 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 teacher.
CMC’s bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education provides a pathway for dual endorsement in both Elementary Education and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and 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 BAIS: Elementary 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 Moving On section for information about combining transfer credit with CMC credit towards earning a Bachelor’s degree at CMC.
See the section on scholarships for opportunities related to earning bachelor’s degrees. While the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies: Elementary Education is offered at the following campus locations: Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs and 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.
Residential students living at the Spring Valley 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 your beginning classes at the 100- and 200-level courses, you need to demonstrate college-level reading, writing, and/or math proficiency. CMC offers developmental studies classes as pre-requisites for those who enter CMC and still need to build these skills.
During your first year of study at CMC, you will build your proficiency in the core content areas that you will be responsible for teaching. You will also take your first classes in the Education program and undertake your first field assignments in our partner schools. Fingerprints and a background check will be required for your field assignments at this stage.
Stage Two
As you complete your first year of study, you will need to demonstrate completion of the following requirements to progress to Stage Two in your Teacher Education Program:
• Reflection essay
• Successful completion of EDU 221 (or equivalent) with a grade of B or higher
• Recommendation from mentor teachers supervising fieldwork for 200-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
You must meet Stage Two requirements to register for Education courses at the 300-level and above (unless you are currently a practicing teacher recommended by your principal to register for that course). These courses build your knowledge, understanding, skills, and professional dispositions as a teacher. You will also continue to build your core content knowledge of the subjects that you will teach.
Stage Three
Before your full-year internship during your final year of study, you will need to submit the following additional documents to demonstrate that you are ready to undertake this critical component of your program:
• Proof of Registration for Praxis 5001 assessment, with proof of passing scores to register for EDU 440
• Sample lesson plans, subject area work, and reflective essays; description of your work with children; video of lessons you have taught
• Recommendations from both CMC program faculty and mentor teachers who supervise fieldwork at the 300-level
• Successful completion of all 300-level EDU courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher
• Interview with Internship Committee (program director, program faculty, and mentor teachers)
Your internship year provides the culminating learning experiences that you will need to launch your 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 we are passionate about the quality of our graduates, you will need to demonstrate proficiency on all performance measures to be able to graduate from the program.
Suggested course plan for full-time new students:
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