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Education: Concentration 6-12 Secondary Chemistry Education

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Why Study 6-12  Secondary Chemistry

Students who wish to combine their CoSTEM chemistry knowledge and skills with the COE pedagogy in education courses can learn best science practices that engage 6-12 students to conduct more of an inquiry-based approach in the classroom. Students will learn how to encourage 6-12 students to take a more active role in learning how living organisms function, evolve, and interact. Additionally, students will develop science literacy skills that inform descision-making, civic participation, cultural engagment, and economic productivity.

A student’s academic interests include a serious and sincere commitment to wanting to teach relevant everyday events as a basis of science instruction that will foster interest and curiosity. Academic interests include understanding the process of conducting hands-on science experiments in a 6-12 classroom. As a result, 6-12 students are encouraged to develop exploratory questions and hypotheses to explain events or science phenomena. Possible hobbies as a science teacher might include observing and making inferences about how living organisms interact with nature.

The chemistry program concentrates on investigating the application of the periodic table and how it is essential for meeting our basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health, energy, and clean air, water, and soil. Chemistry is the “central science” for all other sciences such as biology, earth science, and physics that connect to each other. Chemistry helps 6-12 grade students to understand current events involving petroleum, product recalls, pollution, the environment and technological advances.

It is projected there is a 5% growth rate from 2018-2028 chemistry teacher positions. Additionally, about 48,700 new jobs from chemistry teachers are projected over the next decade with salaries increasing 8% in the last 5 years. 

Students will benefit from both the College of STEM sciences and the College of Education pedagogy in earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. The collaboration between both colleges provides unique expertise and practical insight for chemistry students to learn how to implement strategies that can engage 6-12 students to learn chemistry.

The chemistry program is an advanced degree appropriate for those seeking a teaching licensure with the completion of required science courses in their undergraduate degree program.  The program will equip teachers to become proficient leaders in science education that align with state and Next Generation Science standards, as well as the national frameworks for chemistry education.

What will I learn

Sample Course Plan and General Education Requirements

Education: 6-12 Secondary Chemistry Education

General Education Core