SCIENCE EDUCATION MINOR

POLICIES

The teaching majors and minors are part of a program leading to a Wisconsin initial educator license to teach science at the Early Adolescence through Adolescence level (ages 10-21).

Science teaching majors in the programs listed are required to seek program approval from an advisor in the Natural Science Department. Transfer students must take a minimum of 12 Natural Science credits at Edgewood for a major and a minimum of 8 credits for a minor. Post-baccalaureate and transfer students intending to complete a science teaching major should consult with a Natural Science Department advisor during their first semester on campus.

Science education students fulfill their computer competency requirement by taking any of the following courses/course combinations:

• BIO 351 Organismal Botany (4 cr) and BIO 352 Organismal Zoology (4 cr)
• CHEM 323 Organic Chemistry II (4 cr) and CHEM 351 Analytical Chemistry (4 cr)
• GEOS 301 Weather and Climate (4 cr)
• PHYS 310 Principles of Mechanics (3 cr)

Science education students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in their science courses. In addition, to apply a science and/or mathematics course to a teaching major or minor, a student must receive a grade of “CD” or better.

Students must complete their Initial Content Knowledge Endorsement prior to being admitted to Teaching Science in Middle/Secondary Schools (NATS 459S).

Full implementation of PI 34 for teacher and administrator licensing in Wisconsin took full effect on September 1, 2004. Students completing programs for licensing after August 31, 2004 must now meet new licensing and license-renewal rules applicable to their respective programs, including PRAXIS I/PRAXIS II testing and performance-based portfolio assessment. See EDUCATION.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Science Education minor is designed to provide the interdisciplinary science background required to teach science topics at the Early Childhood through Middle Childhood level (birth to 8 years; PI 34.27) and Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence level (ages 6-13; PI 34.28). Coursework includes biological, earth, space, and physical science. This minor is intended to provide content knowledge that will support the teaching of elementary science with an interdisciplinary perspective and an integrated approach.

PRAXIS II Exam 10014 must be passed for Early Childhood through Middle Childhood certification. PRAXIS II Exam 20146 must be passed for Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence certification.