How do I get admitted to the graduate school?  

This is a separate procedure from district applications. All prospective PIE teachers must concurrently apply to and be accepted for a master's degree program through the School of Education. Most PIE teachers apply to one of the University of Colorado's graduate programs in Instruction and Curriculum. If you have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (the minimum GPA for most graduate programs) or above, you will not be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or other tests.

On top of the first page of your graduate school application, please write "PIE Applicant." Applications and information materials are available in the Graduate Office, Room 151, School of Education, Campus Box 249, Boulder, CO 80309, (303) 492-8430. Applications will be reviewed by faculty committees; you will be notified in writing of your admission status. Out of state candidates can participate, but will wait to apply for admission to graduate school until they acquire in-state residency status.

What graduate programs are available?

PIE teachers may enroll in any on the following programs:

1. Instruction and Curriculum in the Content Areas (ICCA) - 30 semester hours

• Elementary Education (General, Mathematics)
• Secondary Education (Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science)
• Literacy/Reading (K-12 Endorsement)

2. Social and Multicultural Foundations (MA credit hour requirements vary)

• Social Foundations of Education
• Experiential Education
• Bilingual/Multicultural Education
• Bilingual/Special Education 

Handouts describing requirements for these programs are available in the Graduate Office, Room 153, School of Education.

Most PIE teachers enroll in one of the Instruction and Curriculum programs in the Content Area programs, since we are able to more readily build in PIE course credits for classroom-related work and projects in those programs. Students in these programs are able to earn nine (9) elective hours of independent study, action research, and PIE seminar-related elective credit during the academic year. Specific courses and credits needed in other programs, especially where state endorsements are involved (e.g., ESL, Special Education), may not accept these elective credits. Program requirements and any transfer credits will be determined by advisors in those programs.

As a new teacher, will I be able to handle the demands of teaching and graduate school?

You should expect a very busy year in a demanding program. Your graduate work, however, is strongly connected to your classroom instruction and is uniquely designed to promote your own professional growth. PIE teachers may choose how much course work they take during the teaching year and are offered the following options:

Option 1: (highly recommended)

Fall Semester		Spring Semester		Summer Semester
Internship (involves developing growth plans, working with clinical professor, attending bi-monthly seminars, completing reflective activities)	3 hours	Practicum (similar to fall Internship)	3 hours	Campus course	3 hours
		Teachers As Researchers (teacher researcher project in your classroom)	3 hours	Campus course	3 hours
Total	3 hours	Total	6 hours	Total	6 hours

Total for Year: 15 hours

Option 2:

Fall Semester		Spring Semester
Campus course	3 hours	One course on campus	3 hours
Internship (involves developing growth plans, working with clinical professor, attending bi-monthly seminars, completing reflective activities)	3 hours	Practicum (similar to fall Internship)	3 hours
		Teachers As Researchers (teacher researcher project in your classroom)	3 hours
Total	6 hours	Total	9 hours

Total for Year: 15 hours

Both options allow you to complete the district-paid 15 hours of graduate credit before your second year of teaching. You then complete the remainder of your graduate program on your own.