Program Overview

The Education and Human Development major with an Elementary license focuses on engaging Colorado's rapidly diversifying student and family population. It combines cutting-edge research with real classroom experiences. You'll learn from innovative faculty members who are locally, nationally and internationally recognized for their research in elementary education. They will provide you with a robust knowledge base and relevant learning experiences in children's thinking, culturally responsive education, and supporting English language learners, as well as technology as it relates to teaching children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. You'll engage in powerful classroom experiences and benefit from our rich 20-year history of partnerships with local school districts.

We will prepare you to become a highly effective, innovative and compassionate elementary teacher skilled in improving student performance and reaching the needs of today's diverse learners in a variety of school settings. You will have the skills to be a teacher leader. CU Denver graduates often go on to acquire positions in educational leadership as their careers progress.

A unique feature of this pathway is that the Culturally Linguistically Diverse Education, CLDE, endorsement is built into the program. Essentially, you will leave this program with both the Elementary Education License and CLDE Endorsement. This means you are prepared to teach K-6 and culturally & linguistically diverse students, making you highly employable and desirable to schools!

Students in this track have the opportunity to apply for the Bachelors to Masters Program (BAMA) during their junior year. The BAMA allows students to take 9 credits of their professional year program at the graduate level and apply them to one of 8 MA degrees in the SEHD.