Search

Science Education

Coordinator

  • Brian Hand

Professor

  • Brian Hand

Professors emeriti

  • Edward L. Pizzini, Robert E. Yager

Associate professors emeriti

  • George W. Cossman, Darrell G. Phillips, Daniel S. Sheldon, John T. Wilson

Clinical associate professor

  • John Dunkhase

Assistant professors

  • Cory Forbes, Soonhye Park
Undergraduate degree: B.S. in Science Education
Graduate degrees: M.A.T.; M.S.; Ph.D. in Science Education
Web site: http://www.education.uiowa.edu/scied/

The Science Education Program provides preparation in more than one discipline of science; a consideration of science from a philosophical, historical, and sociological perspective; an introduction to applied science (technology); and an education sequence.

Program planning in science education requires the cooperation and involvement of a variety of University departments and colleges. Most of the program's requirements are drawn from courses offered by these varied academic units.

Undergraduate Program

The program offers a Bachelor of Science in science education. The transdisciplinary major in science is intended for students interested in education.

The science education major is not intended to prepare students for advanced study in one area of science. When graduates of the Science Education Program elect to pursue graduate studies in a single area of science, they often must complete additional courses in that discipline after they are admitted to the Graduate College.

All of the emphasis areas in science education have the following characteristics in common.

  • Depth in a general area of science equivalent to three years or six semesters of sequential study
  • Preparation in a second area of science equivalent to two years or four semesters of sequential study
  • Introduction to two other fields of science
  • A specified proficiency in mathematics as a tool of science (with more mathematics study required for the physical science emphases than for the biological ones)
  • A view of science from a historical/philosophical/cultural perspective
  • Experience with the application of scientific knowledge

Special Rules

Since the Science Education Program may involve many faculty advisors and several colleges and departments, some special rules and regulations apply to science education students. They include the following.

  • At least 10 s.h. of graded credit in science must be earned at The University of Iowa.
  • No credit from the CLEP Natural Science General Examination may be used toward the major in science education.
  • Courses used for the major may not be taken pass/nonpass; grades from all courses used for the science education major are used in computing a student's grade-point average in the major, both at The University of Iowa and overall.
  • Since mathematics forms an integral part of so many aspects of modern science, all science education students are urged to complete appropriate advanced courses in both pure and applied mathematics (including statistics and computer science) so that they may be qualified to do graduate work and quantitative research later.

Bachelor of Science

Requirements for the major in science education have changed. Students who entered the college after summer 2008 or who declared or entered the major on or after the first day of fall semester 2008 must fulfill the new requirements below. Students who declared or entered the major before the first day of fall semester 2008 may choose to complete the old requirements (see previous editions of the Catalog), but they must complete all requirements and graduate by August 2012.

The Bachelor of Science in science education requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 57-61 s.h. of work for the major. Students choose one of four primary emphasis areas: biological sciences, earth science, chemistry, and physics. They take selected courses offered by science departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, science applications courses, and courses in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

The major in science education requires 24-28 s.h. in a primary emphasis area (amount of credit depends on the area chosen), 15 s.h. in a secondary emphasis area (may include a science applications course), the broad science field block, and at least 6 s.h. of additional credit from one or more other emphasis areas (excluding applications courses).

Students who wish to be certified to teach science must complete the 44 s.h. professional education sequence; see "B.S. with Teacher Licensure" later in this section.

BIOLOGY EMPHASIS AREA

Primary emphasis area total of 28 s.h.

All of these: 

002:010-002:011 Principles of Biology I-II 8 s.h.
002:081 Human Genetics in the Twenty-First Century 3 s.h.
002:100 Plant Diversity and Evolution 4 s.h.
099:110 Biochemistry 3 s.h.
097:103 Societal and Educational Applications of Biological Sciences 3 s.h.

One of these: 

002:134 Ecology 4 s.h.
002:148 Field Ecology 4 s.h.

One of these:

002:124 Animal Physiology 3 s.h.
027:130 Human Physiology 3 s.h.
CHEMISTRY EMPHASIS AREA

Primary emphasis area total of 25 s.h.

All of these: 

004:011-004:012 Principles of Chemistry I-II 8 s.h.
004:121 Organic Chemistry I 3 s.h.
004:122 Organic Chemistry II 3 s.h.
004:125 Inorganic Chemistry (spring) 2 s.h.
004:141 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 3 s.h.
097:106 Societal and Educational Applications of Chemical Concepts 3 s.h.

One of these: 

004:111 Analytical Chemistry I (fall) 3 s.h.
004:131 Physical Chemistry I 3 s.h.
099:110 Biochemistry (spring) 3 s.h.


EARTH SCIENCE EMPHASIS AREA

Primary emphasis area total of 27 s.h.

All of these: 

012:004 Evolution and the History of Life 4 s.h.
012:005 Introduction to Geology 4 s.h.
012:008 Introduction to Environmental Science 4 s.h.
012:041 Mineralogy 4 s.h.
012:108 Introduction to Oceanography 2 s.h.
012:114 Energy and the Environment 3 s.h.
097:102 Societal and Educational Applications of Earth Science and Environmental Science 3 s.h.

One of these: 

012:102 Earth Surface Processes 3 s.h.
012:104 Climatology 3 s.h.
012:121 Principles of Paleontology 3 s.h.
012:136 Soil Genesis and Geomorphology 3 s.h.


PHYSICS EMPHASIS AREA

Primary emphasis area total of 24-27 s.h.

One of these sequences: 

029:011-029:012 College Physics I-II (if physics is a secondary emphasis area) 8 s.h.
029:027-029:028 Physics I-II 8 s.h.
029:081-029:082 Introductory Physics I-II 8 s.h.

One of these: 

029:029 Physics III 4 s.h.
029:115 Intermediate Mechanics 3 s.h.

One of these: 

029:050 Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (if physics is a secondary emphasis area) 3-4 s.h.
029:052 Exploration of the Solar System (if physics is a secondary emphasis area) 3 s.h.
029:061 General Astronomy I 4 s.h.

One of these: 

029:128 Electronics 4 s.h.
029:129 Electricity and Magnetism I 3 s.h.

One of these: 

029:006 Physics of Everyday Experience (if physics is a secondary emphasis area) 3 s.h.
029:044 Physics of Sound 3-4 s.h.

097:105 Societal and Educational Applications of Physical Sciences 3 s.h.
BROAD FIELD SCIENCE BLOCK 
097:102 Societal and Educational Applications of Earth Science and Environmental Science 3 s.h.
097:103 Societal and Educational Applications of Biological Sciences 3 s.h.
097:105 Societal and Educational Applications of Physical Sciences 3 s.h.
097:106 Societal and Educational Applications of Chemical Concepts 3 s.h.
097:128 Meaning of Science 2 s.h.
097:130 Science in Historical Perspective 2 s.h.

B.S. with Teacher Licensure

Candidates for a bachelor's degree in science education may, but are not required to, be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) in the College of Education. In order to be considered for admission to the TEP, students must have completed a minimum of 40 s.h. of science course work with a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.70. A limited number of applicants are accepted to the TEP, so having the required grade-point average does not ensure admission. Admission decisions are based on grade-point averages in science courses and other criteria relevant to teaching.

For procedures and deadlines for TEP applications, see Teaching and Learning (College of Education) in the Catalog. Interested students must apply to the College of Education for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

TEP students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program, the requirements for a science education major, and the following professional education courses, which total 44 s.h. 

07B:180 Human Relations for the Classroom Teacher 3 s.h.
07P:075 Educational Psychology and Measurement 3 s.h.
07S:100 Foundations of Education 3 s.h.
07S:102/07E:102 Technology in the Classroom 2 s.h.
07S:151 Science Teaching and Practice with Early Learners 3 s.h.
07S:152 Methods of Teaching Science 3 s.h.
07S:153 Instructional Issues in Teaching Science (taken with 07S:179) 3 s.h.
07S:171 Secondary Classroom Management 2 s.h.
07S:179 Secondary School Science Practicum (taken with 07S:153) 2 s.h.
07S:190 Orientation to Secondary Education 1 s.h.
07S:195 Teaching Reading in Secondary Content Areas 1 s.h.
07U:100 Foundations of Special Education 3 s.h.

These three taken concurrently: 

07S:187 Seminar: Curriculum and Student Teaching (section 91) 3 s.h.
07S:191 Observation and Laboratory Practice in the Secondary School 6 s.h.
07S:192 Observation and Laboratory Practice in the Secondary School 6 s.h.

One college-level math course (excluding 22M:001 Basic Algebra I, 22M:002 Basic Algebra II, and 22M:003 Basic Geometry) also is required.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The Four-Year Graduation Plan is not available to students majoring in science education.

Honors

To graduate with honors, students must maintain a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33, in addition to other science education requirements. Contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information.

Graduate Programs

The Science Education Program offers graduate studies leading to the Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. For information about science education graduate programs, see Teaching and Learning (College of Education) in the Catalog. The M.A.T., M.S., and Ph.D. are described under "Secondary Education."

Research

Each faculty member in science education is responsible for one or more areas of research. Major interests include studies of effective teaching and learning, science through writing, philosophy and sociology of science, individualized learning, social issues in science and technology, curriculum planning and development, professional development, intellectual development related to teaching and learning science, studies of effective use of hands-on activities, and evaluation and assessment of science instruction and programs.

Programs and Projects

A wide range of funded programs provides ample opportunity for students to be involved in innovative development and research in science education.

Science education faculty members collaborate on a number of international research projects in many countries. Activities include faculty exchanges and cross-national studies.

International students enrich the opportunities for graduate studies in Science Education. New international collaborative efforts are under way each year.
Copyright 2009 The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.
Updated September 2009