The Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Option in Science Education provides excellent preparation for students interested in becoming a middle school or introductory high school science teacher and fulfills one of the requirements for admission into a single subject teaching credential program. This degree is also designed for future science educators pursuing careers in informal science settings such as museums, nature centers, state parks, or national forests. There are opportunities for internships and volunteer activities providing practical training and experience.
The program offers:
Low teacher-to-student ratio.
Courses designed specifically for future science teachers and informal science educators.
Collaborative learning spaces located in the new state-of-the-art science building.
Grants and scholarships exclusively for future science teachers.
Internships and volunteer activities that provide practical training and experience.
Opportunities for early teaching experiences at the Gateway Science Museum and local middle schools.
A student club and professional network to support future science educators.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 70-73 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
Science Education Option: 16-19 units
The option in science education is designed for students preparing to be middle school science teachers, or seeking a career as an informal science educator in a museum or outdoor setting such as state parks, environmental camps, or nature centers. Successful completion of the program fulfills one of the requirements for admission into a single subject teaching credential program.
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
ENGL 333W Advanced Composition for Future Teachers (W)
ENGL 350W Science, Technology and the Literature of Cultural Change (W)
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
