Curriculum and Instruction, MA (CAGS)

Non-emphasis Core (18 credit hours). Students not pursuing Alternative Licensing, Biblical Studies, or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Emphases will complete 18 credit hours in the Curriculum Core (above) and the following 18 credit hours:

Alternative Licensing Emphasis (18 credit hours). Colorado Christian University is authorized by the Colorado Department of Education to offer an Alternative Teacher Licensing Program. This is a one academic year (two semester) program designed for non-licensed teachers who are teaching in a Colorado public or private school. Candidates in the program receive supervised coaching in the classroom. The combination of classroom teaching and graduate coursework may lead to an institutional recommendation from the University for an initial teaching license, the standard entry-level license in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Education requires that students pursuing teaching licensure in Colorado earn a degree from a regionally accredited college or university and complete an approved educator preparation program. Students who successfully complete the 15 Alternative Licensing Emphasis Credits listed below may be eligible to receive a recommendation to the Colorado Department of Education for initial teacher licensure but will not receive a full master’s degree. Those students who wish to obtain a master’s degree may complete the 18 credits in the Curriculum Core as well as one additional graduate-level education (EDU) or culturally and linguistically diverse education (CLD) class to complete their degree.

Biblical Studies Emphasis (18 credit hours). This emphasis does not lead to initial teacher licensure. The Biblical Studies Emphasis has been designed for those who sense God’s calling to become or who are currently serving in Bible secondary education roles in private schools or church programs.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Emphasis (18 credit hours). This emphasis is intended for those who work with K-12 students and wish to add coursework in cultural and linguistic diversity education (CLD) to their teaching license. This emphasis provides content and application to foster the skills needed for activities such as international missions work and teaching English as a second or foreign language, whether in the US or overseas. Through this emphasis, students will develop a sensitivity to other cultures encountered both domestically and internationally. Embedded in the degree are the requirements for certification for Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Graduate Certificate in TESOL (15 credits). Requirements for a TESOL certification are embedded within the coursework of the M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education emphasis. Students who have completed the following five courses in the degree will receive a TESOL certificate.