Mar 29, 2024  
2006-2007 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2006-2007 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Science Education, B.A. in


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The degree program followed is the Bachelor of Arts. Courses in the science education program, taken in combination with the appropriate liberal arts and sciences major, lead toward New York state initial teacher certification in biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics (grades 7-12). Regardless of the certification area in science that is selected, the program provides necessary course work for additional certification in general science, as well. Literacy, multicultural education, and information technology are integrated throughout all aspects of the programs. This program conforms with the New York State Learning Standards in Mathematics, Science and Technology and with the recommendations of the National Science Teachers’ Association.

Associate Professor Hines, Adviser

Program Requirements


Students select a major in one of the following areas of science: biology, chemistry, geology, or physics. Students interested in obtaining teaching certification in earth science should major in geology. After completing a minimum of 45 semester hours of college course work, the student then chooses Science Education as a co-major. For admissions policies, procedures, and requirements, see Secondary Education.

In addition to meeting all the course requirements for the B.A. degree in the selected science major (biology; chemistry geology; or physics, prospective teachers of science must include within their overall undergraduate program of study at least six (6) semester hours in each of the following areas: biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and calculus-based mathematics. Students who are preparing to teach earth science are required to include GEOL 7. Earth Science I, and GEOL 8. Earth Science II, among their course work. Students who are preparing to teach biology are strongly recommended to take BIO 24, Comparative Anatomy, BIO 114. General Ecology, BIO 147, Invertebrate Zoology, and BIO 149A. Plant Physiology, as electives within their biology major. All of the content requirements for the teaching of chemistry and physics are included within the major course requirements for those programs.

The co-major in Science Education consists of at least 31 semester hours of education course work, including each of the following:

Introductory Courses - Semester Hours: 10


General Methods Courses - Semester Hours: 6


Student Teaching and Corequisite Seminars - Semester Hours: 9


Special Methods and Curriculum Courses - Semester Hours: 6


Footnotes


For liberal arts and sciences requirements, student teaching prerequisites, graduation requirements, and teacher certification policies, see Secondary Eductaion, Undergraduate Programs.

* Twenty clock hours of participation/observation in middle and secondary schools are required in each of the following courses:

  • SED 102 - Field Placement—grades 7-9
  • SED 151 - Field Placement—grades 7-12
  • SED 155 - Field Placement—grades 10-12
  • SPED 102 - Field Placement—grades 7-12
  • LYST 101 - Field Placement—grades 7-12

Students receiving a grade lower than C- in a professional education course must repeat the course and receive a grade of Cor higher in order to remain in the program.

Student Teaching Prerequisites


After completing at least 19 semester hours of professional education course work, and an adviser audit of content area course work, students may apply for admission to student teaching. Application forms may be obtained in the Office of Field Placement. Admission criteria are as follows:

  1. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better on overall course work or permission of adviser
  2. No grades lower than C- and no unresolved INC grades in professional education course work
  3. A GPA of 2.5 or higher in science content courses

Graduation Requirements


Graduation from the program requires:

  1. Completion of criteria listed in 1-4 above
  2. No grades lower than C- and no unresolved INC grades in professional education course work
  3. An overall GPA of 2.75 or better in all course work
  4. A GPA of 2.5 or better in science course work
  5. An electronic portfolio, illustrating the student’s education course work and professional accomplishments

Teacher Certification Requirements


Upon the successful completion of a teacher education program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. For Initial Certification, students are required to have passing scores on each of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE): the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills–Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Students not receiving passing scores on all three examinations will not be eligible for certification.

Note


It is strongly recommended that students complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Examination prior to student teaching and the Assessment of Teaching Skills–Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST) during student teaching. All three NYSTCE’s should be completed prior to graduation. Students not receiving passing scores on all three examinations will not be eligible for certification.

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