For your beginning classes, 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, you will build proficiency in core content areas. You will also take your first classes in the Education program and begin your field assignments in partner schools.

You will need to demonstrate completion of the following requirements: 

• Reflection essay
• Successful completion of EDU 221 (or equivalent) with a grade of B (80-89%) 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 or Interpersonal Communication with grades of B or higher) and with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Interview with program director
• Fingerprints and background check.

You must meet Stage Two requirements to register for education courses at the 300-level and above. These courses build your knowledge, understanding, skills, and professional dispositions as a teacher. You will also continue to build core content knowledge.

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.

Your internship year provides the culminating learning experiences 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 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.

Your development as a teacher progresses through cycles of inquiry, study, action, and reflection, all within the dynamic interplay of your work with young learners, colleagues, school, families, and community. Within this busy context, you will profoundly influence the lives of your students as their teacher; a more meritorious position can scarcely be imagined.
In light of your powerful potential contributions to the future well-being of our children and our communities, your responsibility as a teacher candidate is to engage deeply and learn actively through all stages of the teacher education program. You will work collaboratively with your young students and their families, mentor teachers and CMC faculty, fellow candidates and other teachers to develop the dispositions, knowledge, and skills to become an effective teacher for the richly diverse students in your classrooms. This process begins during the first year of your teacher education program with field assignments and builds throughout the program.

The mission, vision, and goals for the Colorado Mountain College Teacher Education Program stem directly from the CMC Mission to offer a dynamic and innovative teaching and learning experience serving a diverse population. CMC strives to be the most inclusive and innovative student-centered college in the nation. In light of ever more rapid change in our global civilization and the consequent need for ever more excellent teachers for our children, the Teacher Education Program aims to prepare truly exceptional educators who elevate the economic, social, cultural, and environmental vitality of our beautiful Rocky Mountain Communities.

The CMC Teacher Education Program, in partnership with local schools, prepares expert, caring teachers who guide young learners towards a bright future.

We aspire to be a preeminent clinically-based teacher education program that prepares exceptionally well-qualified teachers who transform the communities we serve.