Science Teaching Programs

Subject Matter Preparation Programs: Physical Science, Chemistry, and Geoscience

The Majors Specially Designed for future High School and Middle School Teachers

The single subject preparation programs described below are designed for students who intend to teach at the middle school or high school level. Graduates of the single subject programs will:

• have developed a rich understanding of the core subject areas--biology, chemistry, earth and planetary science, and physics and a deeper understanding of their area of concentration,
• understand how practitioners create and evaluate new knowledge,
• be able to think critically and analyze evidence,
• be able to write clearly and effectively, and
• know how to observe, interview, and tutor youth effectively in classroom settings.

Students will complete a core of introductory courses in biology, chemistry, geology/astronomy, physics, and math; a concentration of upper division courses in physics, chemistry, or geology; an integrative course focused on the history of science and technology; a field experience course that provides an introduction to the teaching of science, including 15 hours of field experience; and the subject matter assessment, inlcuding a portfolio. Students who choose to apply to the SDSU single subject credential program will also complete three prerequisite courses [ED 451 (3 units), SPED 450 (2 units), and HHS 280 (1 units)] plus additional hours of field work. The single subject major plus the credential require five years of study.

Students interested in teaching middle school or high school biology should see "Biology Major: In preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Science/Biological Sciences" in the General Catalog under Biology. The assessment for the biology program is satisfactory completion of Biology 452.

Click on the links for: Important Resources, Student Advising, Contact info.