Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Science Education


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Mission Statement

The Secondary Science Education Program provides students with strong, foundational understanding of biology, chemistry, and physics principles and educational pedagogy skills. Through classroom learning, hands-on scientific research experiences, secondary school classroom internships, students will be competitive in a wide range of STEM careers including teaching science at the secondary level.

Science Education Program Goals 

  1. Train highly qualified secondary biology, chemistry, and physics teachers. 
  2. Equip students with the knowledge to design and implement lesson plans that align with Maryland State Standards for secondary school science. 
  3. Provide students with a broad yet conceptual foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics. 
  4. To equip students with technical and analytical skills employed in modern cutting-edge biological research.   
  5. To equip students with the skill of developing hypotheses and design approaches to evaluate information in STEM   
  6. To equip students with an understanding of the role of science in society and the ethical conduct of research and science.   
  7. To provide students with opportunities for competency in communicating the findings of STEM research effectively and to incorporate these findings into the existing body of knowledge in STEM.   
  8. To provide students with the skills to be competitive in a variety of STEM-related careers. 

Note:


**In addition to the core professional education courses above, the Department strongly urges students enrolled in secondary education to take the above-named courses.

Major and Related Science Requirements


Science Education Emphasis in Biology


General Education And Institutional Requirements


See the full list of University General Education and Institutional Requirements 

Institutional Requirements (6 semester hours)


English Composition (6 semester hours)


Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours from 2 different disciplines)


  • ____ Arts and Humanities Electives 6 Credits

Sciences (7-8 semester hours)(Satisfied through Major)


  • ____ ____ Science Electives 

Mathematics (4 semester hours)


Social Sciences (6 semester hours from 2 different disciplines)


Technology Issues (4 semester hours)


Note:  Bioinformatics, BS – This Technology requirement is FULFILLED BY MAJOR.

Free General Education Electives (9 semester hours)


9 Chosen based on departmental advisement. Students are encouraged to take SUMMER courses and attend MINI-SEMESTER in order to have a manageable semester load. Note: The Department reserves the right to specify suitable general education courses, in keeping with COMAR, for its majors.

Science Education Sample Curriculum:


Freshman Year


First Semester


Total: 13 - 17

Second Semester


Total: 17

Sophomore Year


Total: 15

Second Semester


Total: 17

Junior Year


Senior Year


Total: 12


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