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 Biological and Health Sciences 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/CHM/THE - Bible, Christian Ministry or Theology Elective 12 Credits¹(Choose CHM Electives from: CHM 201 , CHM 211 , CHM 300 or CHM 325 )
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits

General Education Core

II. General Education - 30 Credits

Communication Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: COM 133 , COM 140 or COM 252 )
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
History Elective 3 Credits
Math or Science Elective 3-4 Credits
Communication, Humanities, Math, Science or Social Science Electives 17-18 Credits^2,3*

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 Credits⁴ (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 (1 Credits Required)⁵
or
Elective 1 Credits
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 *

V. Electives - 3 Credits*

A minimum of 36 credits must be at the upper (300-400) level for a bachelor 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 electives needed would increase so that the minimum of 125 credits is reached.

Total - 125 Credits

¹Interdisciplinary courses in the major core that are cross listed as BIB or THE will fulfill this requirement. Choose Christian Ministry electives from CHM 201 , CHM 211 , CHM 300 or CHM 325 .

² Select humanities electives from COM, ENG, FAR, HIS, HUM, LAN, MUS, PHI, or PRC.

³ Select social science electives from ANT, CSJ, ECO, GEO, HIS, POL, PSY, or SOC.

⁴ 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.

⁵Students 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.

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 *
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits *
ENG 131 - English Composition 3 Credits
History Elective 3 Credits
SCI 200 - Ecology 4 Credits *
SCI 243 - General Biology I 4 Credits *

Spring Semester - 16 Credits

BIB 135X - Old Testament History 3 Credits *
or
BIB 136X - New Testament History 3 Credits *
Communication Elective 3 Credits (Choose from: COM 133 , COM 140 or COM 252 )
MAT 226 - Applied Statistics 3 Credits *
SCI 244 - General Biology II 4 Credits
Elective 3 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)⁵
or
Elective 1 Credits
EDU 241 - Foundations of Education 3 Credits
EDU 241F - Foundations of Education Field Experience 0 Credits
SCI 242 - Introduction to Physical Science 4 Credits *
SCI 245 - General Chemistry I 4 Credits
THE 231 - Christian Doctrine 3 Credits

Spring Semester - 15-16 credits

BIB/CHM/THE - Bible, Christian Ministry or Theology Elective 3 Credits¹
EDU 211 - Media and Technology 2 Credits
PSY 232X - Educational Psychology 3 Credits *
SCI - Science Elective 3-4 Credits⁴
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 is 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/CHM/THE - Bible, Christian Ministry or Theology Elective 3 Credits¹
BIB/CHM/THE - Bible, Christian Ministry or Theology Elective 3 Credits¹
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

BIB/CHM/THE - Bible, Christian Ministry or Theology Elective 3 Credits¹
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