Secondary Education (6-12), Science

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Program Requirements in Licensure Programs in Secondary Education (6-12)

Program requirements in the licensure programs in Secondary Education include courses subject area requirements, professional studies courses and a major in one or more subject area teaching specialties. The comprehensive listings that follow include all course work necessary to satisfy subject area requirements and professional studies requirements for the Secondary Education (6-12) program.

Preparation Programs in Secondary Education (6-12)

Students who plan to teach at the secondary school level must declare a major in the subject area or areas that they expect to teach, and they additionally complete 30 semester credits of professional education courses required for one of the following endorsement areas of Secondary Education: English, Foreign Language (K-12) (French, German, Spanish, Latin, Chinese), Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics), and Social Studies. Students who complete a licensure program in Secondary Education may apply no more than 30 semester hours in education toward the 120 academic credits required for graduation.

Sequence of Course Requirements in Professional Studies in Secondary Education

This three semester sequence begins in the spring semester of the junior year.

I. Spring of Junior Year (8 Credit Hours)

II. Fall of Senior Year (10 Credit Hours)

Choose One of the Following: 3

Choose One of the Following: 1

III. Spring of Senior Year (12 Credit Hours)

EDUC 340 - Assessment of Learning (1)

Choose One of the Following: 2

Choose One of the Following: 1

Choose One of the Following: 7

Total Credits 30

Science

Dr. Meredith Kier ( mwkier@wm.edu).

Students who wish to teach (l) Biology, (2) Chemistry, (3) Earth Science (Geology), or (4) Physics must complete the teaching specialty requirements listed below.

Biology

A major in Biology (a minimum of 37 hours as defined by the Biology Department). In meeting the major requirements, students must minimally include instruction in botany, zoology, ecology, physiology, evolution, genetics, cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and human biology.
One inorganic chemistry course with a lab (4); one organic chemistry course with a lab (4); and a course in physics (4).
At least one calculus course.

Chemistry

1. A major in Chemistry (a minimum of 38 semester hours as defined by the Chemistry Department, but must include CHEM 307 ). In meeting major requirements students must minimally include instruction in inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry and biochemistry.
A minimum of 16 hours in non-chemistry sciences, including at least one biology and one physics course.
At least one course in calculus.
1. A major in Geology (a minimum of 36 semester hours as defined by the Geology Department). A student must minimally include instruction in astronomy (e.g., PHYS 176 ), meteorology, oceanography (e.g., GEOL 306 ) and natural resources.
2. A minimum of 16 hours in non-geology sciences including at least one biology, one chemistry and one physics course.

Earth Science

A major in Geology (a minimum of 38 semester hours as defined by the Geology Department). A student must minimally include instruction in astronomy (e.g., PHYS 176 ), meteorology, oceanography (e.g., GEOL 306 ) and natural resources.
A minimum of 16 hours in non-geology sciences including at least one biology, one chemistry and one physics course.
At least one course in calculus.

Physics

A major in Physics (a minimum of 32 semester hours as defined by the Physics Department). In fulfilling the physics major requirements, students must include the study of classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, heat and thermodynamics, waves, optics, atomic and nuclear physics, radioactivity, relativity, and quantum mechanics.
A minimum of 16 hours in non-physics sciences, including at least a course in biology and a course in chemistry.
At least one course in calculus and introductory differential equations.

Note

Students completing the requirements for an endorsement in biology, chemistry, earth science or physics may be endorsed in a second area of science by completing a minimum of 18 semester hours in the second endorsement area in addition to the specific coursework for that area as specified above.