Science Education Major (B.S.)

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The Science Education major is designed to prepare students for a public and private teaching career in general science, grades 5-8, and life science, grades 9-12. The program is structured to meet the Minnesota Board of Teaching General Science and Life Science licensure requirements. The student must be accepted into and fulfill all requirements for the Teacher Education Department as well as the Math and Science Department.

Program Requirements

Christian Studies Core

I. Christian Studies - 24 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits *
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits *
BIB 434 - Romans 3 Credits
BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
CHM 201 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
or
CHM 300 - Spiritual and Personal Formation 3 Credits
CHM 211 - The Gospel in Human Contexts 3 Credits
or
CHM 325 - Biblical Evangelism and Missions 3 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits

General Education Core

II. General Education - 30 Credits

COM 133 - Speech 3 Credits
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
HIS 133 - World Civilizations to 1500 3 Credits
or
HIS 134 - World Civilizations since 1500 3 Credits
MAT - Math Elective 3 Credits
SCI - Lab Science Elective 4 Credits
Social Science Electives 4-6 Credits²
Humanities, Math, Science or Social Science Electives 5-7 Credits^1,2*

Major Core

III. Science Education Major - 64-65 Credits

All major core classes and education core classes as well as general education English and math classes require a minimum passing grade of a C.

MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits ^ *
MED 430 - Science Methods: Middle School 3 Credits ^
MED 430P - Middle School Practicum 0 Credits ^
MED 455 - Student Teaching: Middle School Science 4 Credits ^
SCI 200 - Ecology 4 Credits ^
SCI 242 - Introduction to Physical Science 4 Credits ^ *
SCI 243 - General Biology I 4 Credits ^*
SCI 244 - General Biology II 4 Credits ^
SCI 245 - General Chemistry I 4 Credits ^
SCI 246 - General Chemistry II 4 Credits ^
SCI 250 - Genetics 4 Credits ^
SCI 261 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credits ^
SCI 321 - General Zoology 4 Credits ^
SCI 331 - Evolution and Origins 3 Credits ^
SCI - Science Elective 3-4 Credits^³ (choose from: SCI 247 , SCI 260 , SCI 262 , SCI 311 , SCI 325 , SCI 346 , SCI 359 , SCI 380 , SCI 415 , SCI 435 or SCI 437 )
SED 443P - Secondary Methods Practicum 0 Credits ^
SED 447 - Secondary Methods of Science 3 Credits ^
SED 455 - Student Teaching: Secondary Science 8 Credits ^

IV. Education Core - 25 Credits

EDU 209 - Teacher Education Basic Skills Review 0-1 Credits ^⁴
EDU 211 - Media and Technology 2 Credits ^
EDU 241 - Foundations of Education 3 Credits ^
EDU 241F - Foundations of Education Field Experience 0 Credits ^
EDU 312 - Instructional Design 3 Credits ^
EDU 314 - Multicultural and Diverse Learners 3 Credits ^
EDU 314F - Multicultural and Diverse Learners Field Experience 0 Credits ^
EDU 315 - Assessment for Learning 3 Credits ^
EDU 350 - Literacy Across the Curriculum 3 Credits ^
EDU 406 - Classroom Environment 3 Credits ^
EDU 455 - Student Teaching Seminar 1 Credits ^
PSY 232X - Educational Psychology 3 Credits ^ *

Total - 125-143 Credits *

¹ Select humanities electives from COM, ENG, FAR, HIS, HUM, LAN, MUS, PHI, or PRC.

² Select social science electives from ANT, CSJ, ECO, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, or SOC.

³ Students who take a 3 credit science elective may need to take an extra credit of general elective courses to reach the institutional minimum of 125 credits for a baccalaureate degree.

⁴Students who scored high enough on the ACT to petition to waive EDU 209 (consult the teacher education department for more information), may need to take an extra credit of general elective courses to reach the institutional minimum of 125 credits for a baccalaureate degree.

* Some courses from the Christian Studies Core and Major Core can be used to fulfill requirements in the General Education Core. By doing that the number of credits needed for graduation would be toward the lower end of the range of total credits.

^ Requires a minimum passing grade of a “C”.

Note: Student teaching is eligible for a service credit.

This program is subject to change based on the Minnesota State Board of Teaching licensing revisions.

Four-Year Suggested Program for the Science Education Major

Freshman Year

Fall Semester - 17 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
HIS 133 - World Civilizations to 1500 3 Credits
or
HIS 134 - World Civilizations since 1500 3 Credits
SCI 200 - Ecology 4 Credits
SCI 243 - General Biology I 4 Credits (fulfills Lab Science elective)*

Spring Semester - 16 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Humanities elective)*
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits (fulfills Humanities elective)*
COM 133 - Speech 3 Credits
ENG 132 - Writing and Literature 3 Credits
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits (fulfills Math elective)*
SCI 244 - General Biology II 4 Credits

Take the MTLE: Basic Skills

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester - 15 Credits

EDU 209 - Teacher Education Basic Skills Review 0-1 Credits (1 Credits Required)
EDU 241 - Foundations of Education 3 Credits
EDU 241F - Foundations of Education Field Experience 0 Credits
SCI 242 - Introduction to Physical Science 4 Credits (fulfills Science elective)*
SCI 245 - General Chemistry I 4 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits

Spring Semester - 15-16 credits

BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
EDU 211 - Media and Technology 2 Credits
PSY 232X - Educational Psychology 3 Credits (fulfills Social Science elective)*
SCI - Science Elective 3-4 Credits
SCI 246 - General Chemistry II 4 Credits (even)
or
SCI 250 - Genetics 4 Credits (odd)

Departmental Acceptance

Students apply for departmental acceptance during their sophomore year spring semester or their junior year fall semester. A minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and completion of half of the service credit requirements are required for departmental admission in the Life Science Education major. Student must apply and be accepted into both the Teacher Education Department and Mathematics and Science Department.

Junior Year

Fall Semester - 15-16 Credits

BIB/THE - Bible or Theology Elective 3 Credits
CHM 211 - The Gospel in Human Contexts 3 Credits
or
CHM 325 - Biblical Evangelism and Missions 3 Credits
EDU 312 - Instructional Design 3 Credits
MED 430 - Science Methods: Middle School 3 Credits (odd)
and
MED 430P - Middle School Practicum 0 Credits (odd)
or
SED 443P - Secondary Methods Practicum 0 Credits (even)
and
SED 447 - Secondary Methods of Science 3 Credits (even)
SCI 321 - General Zoology 4 Credits (odd)
or
SCI 331 - Evolution and Origins 3 Credits (even)

Spring Semester - 16 Credits

CHM 201 - Spiritual and Leadership Development 3 Credits
or
CHM 300 - Spiritual and Personal Formation 3 Credits
EDU 314 - Multicultural and Diverse Learners 3 Credits
EDU 314F - Multicultural and Diverse Learners Field Experience 0 Credits
EDU 315 - Assessment for Learning 3 Credits
EDU 350 - Literacy Across the Curriculum 3 Credits
SCI 246 - General Chemistry II 4 Credits (even)
or
SCI 250 - Genetics 4 Credits (odd)

Apply for admission to Student Teaching

Senior Year

Fall Semester - 16-17 Credits

BIB 434 - Romans 3 Credits
EDU 406 - Classroom Environment 3 Credits
SCI 261 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credits
MED 430 - Science Methods: Middle School 3 Credits (odd)
and
MED 430P - Middle School Practicum 0 Credits (odd)
or
SED 443P - Secondary Methods Practicum 0 Credits (even)
and
SED 447 - Secondary Methods of Science 3 Credits (even)
SCI 321 - General Zoology 4 Credits (odd)
or
SCI 331 - Evolution and Origins 3 Credits (even)

Spring Semester - 13 Credits

EDU 455 - Student Teaching Seminar 1 Credits
MED 455 - Student Teaching: Middle School Science 4 Credits
SED 455 - Student Teaching: Secondary Science 8 Credits