Science Education

2017-18 General Catalog

211 Interdisciplinary Sciences Building
(831) 459-3744
http://physics.ucsc.edu

Faculty | Course Descriptions

Program Description

Science seeks to explore and understand the structure and behavior of the natural world through observable physical evidence. The physical sciences, life sciences, and Earth and space sciences each focus on distinct aspects of the natural world. The physical sciences examine and explain matter, motion, energy, and waves. The life sciences examine and explain individual life forms, from molecules to organisms; the interaction of organisms and the physical work within ecosystems; heredity; and biological evolution. The Earth and space sciences help us understand how Earth fits into the universe, the integrated physical and biological systems that influence Earth, and how human activity influences Earth. Although the emphasis and core ideas in these three disciplines are distinct, they all draw on many of the same concepts, such as patterns, scale, cycles and conservation of energy and matter, and many of the same scientific practices, including observation, data analysis and interpretation, and evidence-based argumentation.

Twenty-first century science educators must be able to help their students develop and apply a scientific perspective to a wide range of information. The science education major is designed to prepare future secondary science teachers with a broad background across the sciences–the physical sciences, life sciences, Earth sciences. and space sciences–with advanced specialization in two fields of science (chosen from physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth sciences). The major also integrates education coursework and middle and high school classroom internships designed to develop skills and knowledge relevant to teaching K-12 students in the state of California. Thus the major provides specialized science content preparation, educational theory, and educational practice to produce strong candidates for teacher certification programs.

Cal Teach is one home base for all students in this major, no matter the choices for specialization. Cal Teach provides the required sequence of middle and high school-based internships and associated courses, informally known as CaT1, CaT2, and CaT3, in partnership with schools throughout Santa Cruz County. CaT interns visit an assigned middle or high school science class twice a week (2-3 hours total/week) to observe and support instruction. Each internship placement depends on school schedules and the intern’s schedule, interests, and academic preparation. Over the sequence of three internships, each science education major will be exposed to a variety of student ages (e.g., middle school, early high school, late high school), school characteristics (size, student demographics), courses (e.g., 7th grade science, 9th grade integrated science, college prep biology), and host teachers. The CaT seminar courses provide the framework for science education majors to develop classroom-management strategies, practice communicating scientific concepts for non-specialists (children), and design lessons to teach the science standards currently used in K-12 education. Cal Teach students get to know one another through the small CaT courses that support the internships, and they have use of a student lounge, access to advising for teaching careers, opportunities for professional development, and financial support for expenses specific to prospective science teachers.

Science education majors are also encouraged to gain experience in laboratory and/or field research, and to pursue upper-division coursework emphasizing their own particular areas of scientific interest. Faculty instructors of introductory coursework and Cal Teach staff can provide guidance in selecting upper-division courses and pursuing lab research opportunities. Departmental advising is provided by the Physics Department.

Undergraduate Program

Undergraduate Major

The science education major provides a broad introduction to the major fields of science, specialized coursework in two selected fields, and educational theory and practical work designed for future science teachers. The program is designed to prepare outstanding candidates to enter teaching credential programs after completion. Students earn a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. They do not earn a teaching credential; this must be completed later.

There are six combinations of specialization possible: physics/chemistry, physics/ biology, physics/Earth and planetary sciences, chemistry/biology, chemistry/Earth and planetary sciences, and biology/Earth and planetary sciences. All six pathways include a set of core courses in science and mathematics, a sequence of three Cal Teach seminar courses with required school-based internships, and two upper-division education courses. In addition, the student has to take courses in each of the two specializations chosen.

Program Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes summarize the most important knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes that students are expected to develop over the course of their studies. The program learning outcomes communicate the faculty’s expectations to students, provide a framework for faculty evaluation of the curriculum based on empirical data, and help improve and measure the impact of implemented changes:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of scientific connections across the broad spectrum of the sciences.
  • Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge in two areas of specialization.
  • Students will show that they have learned laboratory skills in multiple scientific fields, enabling them to take measurements in a laboratory and in the field and analyze the measurements to draw valid conclusions.
  • Students will communicate scientific concepts effectively and accurately, both orally and in writing, for both college-level and secondary audiences
  • Students will apply strategies to address a diversity of K-12 learners’ needs.

Advising and Preparation for the Major

Because of the broad based nature of the major, with introductory courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics, there is considerable flexibility in what courses are taken in the first two years, as long as enough courses required for the major are completed. However, it is simplest to follow the appropriate major planner given below; students should consult with the physics undergraduate advisor if they want to do something different. 

Students should complete at least two courses in the calculus sequence (Mathematics 11A and B or Mathematics 19A and B) in the first year; Mathematics 19A and B is required for students who choose physics as one of their specializations.

Letter Grade Policy

All courses used to satisfy any of the major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

Transfer Students

The Physics Department welcomes applications from community college students who have completed the necessary coursework to transfer to our program. Community college students must have completed the articulated equivalents of a minimum of 10, ideally 12, of the courses required for the major (in the pathway they wish to pursue) before coming to UCSC in order to graduate in a timely manner.

Declaration of the Major

Students may submit a petition to declare at any time before enrolling for their third year (or equivalent). Junior transfer students must declare no later than their second term of residency. Students should meet with the Physics Department undergraduate advisor and prepare an academic plan when they declare the major.

Requirements of the Major

Lower-Division Requirements

  • MATH 19A or 11A, 19B or 11B, 23A or 22. (If a student wants to take MATH 23A, or chooses physics as one of their fields, MATH 19A and B must be taken instead of MATH 11A and B.)
  • PHYS 5A/L or 6A/L, 5B/M or 6B/M, 5C/N or 6C/N
  • CHEM 1A, 1B/M, 1C/N
  • EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L
  • BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B, BIOE 20C
  • ASTR 2
  • AMS 5 or 7/L
  • EDUC 50C*

Upper-Division Requirements

  • EART 110A/L
  • EDUC 100A* or 100C*, 185L*, 185C, 177 or 128 or 140 or 181

Electives

  • All the courses from any two of the following fields must be completed:
    • PHYS 5D, 102, and one additional 5-credit, upper-division physics course
    • CHEM 8A/L, 8B/M, and one additional 5-credit, upper-division chemistry course (CHEM 163B is strongly recommended for students in Chemistry /Physics; Chemistry 103 for students in Chemistry/Biology; CHEM 163A for students in Chemistry/Earth Sciences)
    • BIOL 105, BIOE 107, and BIOE 109
    • EART 110B, OCEA 90 (or alternative, as listed with the student study plans below), and one additional 5-credit, upper-division EART course
  • One additional 5-credit, upper-division elective course from either of the two fields chosen by the student

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

The disciplinary communication requirement can be fulfilled by one of these options:

  • BIOE 107 and BIOE 109, or any of the courses identified in the program statement for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as fulfilling their DC requirement
  • EDUC 185L and one upper division EART elective from the Earth and planetary sciences DC list.

Comprehensive Requirement

The senior capstone requirement can be fulfilled in one of the following ways

  • By doing an independent project through the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, which applies knowledge of earth and planetary sciences to K-12 curriculum development (EART 194F).
  • By writing an essay based on literature search (CHEM 194) or original experimental or theoretical research in chemistry (CHEM 195).
  • By doing a senior thesis in physics or biology under the supervision of a faculty member from the relevant department (Physics, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology ) who is willing to supervise their work.
  • By obtaining a score in the MCAT or the GRE biology subject test or GRE biochemistry, cell and molecular biology subject test that is above the 50th percentile.
  • By passing any one of the courses listed under Biology: Completeing the Major.

Honors

Honors in the major are awarded to graduating students whose academic performance demonstrates excellence at a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above. Highest honors are awarded to those students whose performance demonstrates the highest level of excellence and results in a GPA of 3.8 or above. The program faculty reserve the right to withhold honors and highest honors based on other criteria such as an incident of academic dishonesty.

Academic Planners

Because of the six possible pathways for this major, there are six first-year major planners and six junior transfer planners given below. Because there are very few prerequisites connecting courses in different departments (except Mathematics and Physics), it may be possible to construct alternatives to the major planners given here.

Physics/Chemistry Planners

Four-Year Planner

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

MATH 19A

CHEM  1A

MATH 19B

CHEM 1B/M

ASTR 2

CHEM 1C/N

2nd Year

PHYS 5A/L or 6A/L

EDUC 50C

CHEM 8A/L

PHYS 5B/M or 6B/M

MATH 22

CHEM 8B/M

PHYS 5C/N or 6C/N

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

EDUC 100C

3rd Year

BIOL 20A

PHYS 5D

AMS 5 or 7/L

BIOE 20B

PHYS 102

BIOE 20C

EDUC 185C

4th Year

EART 110A/L

PHYS elective

CHEM 163B or CHEM elective

Elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

Transfer Planner

 (assumes MATH 19A and B, MATH 22 and MATH 23A, PHYS 5A/L, 5B/M, 5C/N and 6A/L, 6B/M and 6C/N, CHEM 1A and 1B/M and 1C/N, PHYS 5D, CHEM 8A/L and 8B/M have been completed in community college)

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

AMS 5 or 7/L

BIOL 20A

EDUC 50C

EDUC 100A

BIOE 20B

PHYS 102

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

BIOE 20C

EDUC 185C

2nd Year

EART 110A/L

PHYS elective

CHEM 163B or CHEM elective

Elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

ASTR 2

Physics/Biology Planners

Four-Year Planner

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

MATH 19A

CHEM 1A

MATH 19B

CHEM 1B/M

MATH 23A/ASTR 2

CHEM 1C/N

2nd Year

PHYS 5A/L or 6A/L

EDUC 50C

BIOL 20A

PHYS 5B/M or 6B/M

BIOE 20B

ASTR 2 or MATH 22

PHYS 5C/N or 6C/N

BIOE 20C

EDUC 100C

3rd Year

BIOL 105

AMS 5 or 7/L

PHYS 5D

BIOE 107

PHYS 102

EDUC 185C

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

4th Year

EART 110A/L

PHYS Elective

BIOE 109

Elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

Transfer Planner

 (assumes MATH 19A and B, MATH 22 and MATH 23A, PHYS 5A/L, 5B/M, 5C/N and 6A/L, 6B/M and 6C/N, CHEM 1A and 1B/M and 1C/N, BIOL 20A, and BIOE 20B and BIOE 20C completed in community college)

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

BIOL 105

PHYS 5D

EDUC 50C

BIOE 107

PHYS 102

EDUC 100A

BIOE 109

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

EDUC 185C

2nd Year

EART 110A/L

Physics elective

AMS 5 or 7/L

Elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

ASTR 2

Physics/Earth Sciences Planners

Four-Year Planner

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

MATH 19A

CHEM 1A

MATH 19B

CHEM 1B/M

MATH 23A or ASTR 2

CHEM 1C/N

2nd Year

PHYS 5A/L or 6A/L

AMS 5 or 7/L

EDUC 50C

PHYS 5B/M or 6B/M

ASTR 2/MATH 22

PHYS 5C/N or 6C/N

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

EDUC 100C

3rd Year

BIOL 20A

PHYS 5D

EART 110A/L

BIOE 20B

PHYS 102

EART 110B

BIOE 20C

EDUC 185C

4th Year

PHYS Elective

EART Elective

OCEA 90*

Elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

*OCEA 90 can be replaced by one course from EART 1, OCEA 1, OCEA 101 and OCEA 102, and one course from EART 12 and EART 121.

Transfer Planner

 (assumes MATH 19A and B, MATH 22, AMS 5,  PHYS 5A/L, 5B/M, 5C/N, 5D, CHEM 1A and 1B/M and 1C/N, EART 5/5L completed in community college)

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

EDUC 50C

EART 110A/L

PHYS 102

EDUC 100A

OCEA 90

EART 110B

EDUC 185C

PHYS Elective

ASTR 2

2nd Year

BIOL 20A

EART Elective

BIOE 20B

Elective

EDUC 181

BIOE 20C

EDUC 185L

Chemistry/Biology Planners

Four-Year Planner

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

MATH 11A

CHEM 1A

MATH 11B

CHEM 1B/M

ASTR 2

CHEM 1C/N

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

2nd Year

EDUC 50C

BIOL 20A

CHEM 8A/L

CHEM 8B/M

BIOE 20B

MATH 22

AMS 5 or 7/L

BIOE 20C

EDUC 100C

3rd Year

BIOL 105

PHYS 6A/L

BIOE 107

PHYS 6B+M

CHEM 103 or CHEM elective

EDUC 185C

PHYS 6C/N

4th Year

Elective

EART 110A/L

BIOE 109

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

Transfer Planner

(assumes MATH 11A and B, MATH 22, CHEM 1A and 1B/M and 1C/N, BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B and BIOE 20C, PHYS 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N completed in community college)

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

CHEM 8A/L

EDUC 50C

BIOL 105

CHEM 8B/M

EDUC 100A

BIOE 107

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

EDUC 185C

BIOE 109

2nd Year

AMS 5 or 7/L

EART 110A/L

ASTR 2

EDUC 181

CHEM 103 or CHEM elective

Elective

EDUC 185L

Chemistry/Earth Sciences Planners

Four-Year Planner

 

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

MATH 11A

CHEM 1A

MATH 11B

CHEM 1B/M

ASTR 2

CHEM 1C/N

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

2nd Year

PHYS 6A/L

EDUC 50C

CHEM 8A/L

MATH 22

CHEM 8B/M

BIOL 20A

PHYS 6B/M

EDUC 100C

BIOE 20B

3rd Year

PHYS 6C+N

EART 110A/L

BIOE 20C

EART 110B

OCEA 90*

EDUC 185C

4th Year

CHEM 163A or CHEM elective

AMS 5 or 7/L

EART elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

Elective

*OCEA 90 can be replaced by one course from EART 1, OCEA 1, OCEA 101 and OCEA 102, and one course from EART 12 and EART 121.

Transfer Planner

 (assumes MATH 11A and B, MATH 22, CHEM 1A and 1B/M and 1C/N , PHYS 6A/L, 6B/M and 6C/N, EART 5/5L, AMS 5 and 7/L completed in community college)

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

EDUC 50C

CHEM 8A/L

EART 110A/L

EDUC 100A

CHEM 8B/M

EART 110B

EDUC 185C

ASTR 2

2nd Year

BIOL 20A

CHEM 163A or CHEM elective

EART elective

BIOE 20B

EDUC 181

OCEA 90

BIOE 20C

EDUC 185L

Elective

Biology/Earth Sciences Planners

Four-Year Planner

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

MATH 11A

CHEM 1A

MATH 11B

CHEM 1B/M

ASTR 2

CHEM 1C/N

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

2nd Year

PHYS 6A+L

EDUC 50C

BIOL 20A

PHYS 6B+M

BIOE 20B

MATH 22

PHYS 6C+N

BIOE 20C

EDUC 100C

3rd Year

EART 110A/L

AMS 5 or 7/L

BIOL 105

EART 110B

OCEA 90*

EDUC 185C

4th Year

Eart elective

BIOE 109

BIOE 107

Elective

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

*OCEA 90 can be replaced by one course from EART 1, OCEA 1, OCEA 101 and OCEA 102, and one course from EART 12 and EART 121.

Transfer Planner

(assumes MATH 11A and B, MATH 22, CHEM 1A and 1B/M and 1C/N, BIOL 20A, BIOE 20Band BIOE 20C, PHYS 6A/L, 6B/M, and 6C/N completed in community college)

Fall

Winter

Spring

1st Year

EDUC 50C

BIOL 105

EART 110A/L

EDUC 100A

BIOE 107

EART 110B

EDUC 185C

BIOE 109

EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L

2nd Year

AMS 5 or 7/L

EART elective

Elective

OCEA 90

EDUC 181

EDUC 185L

ASTR 2

Revised: 09/01/17