2018-19 General Catalog

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

Faculty

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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. Most students elect to complete this after graduation.

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, 22. (MATH 22 is waived for a student who chooses their electives from Chemistry and Biology or from Earth Sciences and Biology.)
• 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*

A student who has passed the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) General Science Examination will have the lower-division courses in the two fields that they are not specializing in (see the sections on “Electives” below) waived.

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 133
• 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

*Courses with asterisks on them are Cal Teach courses (see Program Description).

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

The disciplinary communication requirement for this major is fulfilled by completing EDUC 100A or 100C, and EDUC 185L.

Comprehensive Requirement

The senior capstone requirement for this major is fulfilled by completing EDUC 185C.

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 (frosh)	MATH 19A CHEM  1A	MATH 19B CHEM 1B/M	ASTR 2 CHEM 1C/N
2nd (soph)	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 (junior)	BIOL 20A PHYS 5D AMS 5 or 7/L	BIOE 20B PHYS 102	BIOE 20C EDUC 185C
4th (senior)	EART 110A/L PHYS 133	CHEM 163B or CHEM elective EDUC 181	EDUC 185L

Transfer Planner

 (assumes MATH 19A and B, MATH 22, PHYS 5A/L, 5B/M, 5C/N or 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 (junior)	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 (senior)	EART 110A/L PHYS 133	CHEM 163B or CHEM elective EDUC 181	EDUC 185L ASTR 2

Physics/Biology Planners

Four-Year Planner

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st (frosh)	MATH 19A CHEM 1A	MATH 19B CHEM 1B/M	ASTR 2 CHEM 1C/N
2nd (soph)	PHYS 5A/L or 6A/L EDUC 50C BIOL 20A	PHYS 5B/M or 6B/M BIOE 20B MATH 22	PHYS 5C/N or 6C/N BIOE 20C EDUC 100C
3rd (junior)	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 (senior)	EART 110A/L PHYS 133	BIOE 109 EDUC 181	EDUC 185L

Transfer Planner

 (assumes MATH 19A and B, MATH 22, PHYS 5A/L, 5B/M, 5C/N or 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 (junior)	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 (senior)	EART 110A/L PHYS 133 AMS 5 or 7/L	EDUC 181	EDUC 185L ASTR 2

Physics/Earth Sciences Planners

Four-Year Planner

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st (frosh)	MATH 19A CHEM 1A	MATH 19B CHEM 1B/M	ASTR 2 CHEM 1C/N
2nd (soph)	PHYS 5A/L or 6A/L AMS 5 or 7/L EDUC 50C	PHYS 5B/M or 6B/M MATH 22	PHYS 5C/N or 6C/N EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L EDUC 100C
3rd (junior)	BIOL 20A PHYS 5D EART 110A/L	BIOE 20B PHYS 102 EART 110B	BIOE 20C EDUC 185C
4th (senior)	PHYS 133 EART elective	OCEA 90* 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 (junior)	EDUC 50C EART 110A/L PHYS 102	EDUC 100A OCEA 90 EART 110B	EDUC 185C ASTR 2
2nd (senior)	BIOL 20A EART elective PHYS 133	BIOE 20B EDUC 181	BIOE 20C EDUC 185L

Chemistry/Biology Planners

Four-Year Planner

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st (frosh)	MATH 11A CHEM 1A	MATH 11B CHEM 1B/M	ASTR 2 CHEM 1C/N EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L
2nd (soph)	EDUC 50C BIOL 20A CHEM 8A/L	CHEM 8B/M BIOE 20B	AMS 5 or 7/L BIOE 20C EDUC 100C
3rd (junior)	BIOL 105 PHYS 6A/L	BIOE 107 PHYS 6B/+M CHEM 103 or CHEM elective	EDUC 185C PHYS 6C/N
4th (senior)	EART 110A/L	BIOE 109 EDUC 181	EDUC 185L

Transfer Planner

(assumes MATH 11A and B, 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 (junior)	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 (senior)	AMS 5 or 7/L EART 110A/L	ASTR 2 EDUC 181 CHEM 103 or CHEM elective	EDUC 185L

Chemistry/Earth Sciences Planners

Four-Year Planner

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st (frosh)	MATH 11A CHEM 1A	MATH 11B CHEM 1B/M	ASTR 2 CHEM 1C/N EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L
2nd (soph)	PHYS 6A/L EDUC 50C CHEM 8A/L	MATH 22 CHEM 8B/M BIOL 20A	PHYS 6B/M EDUC 100C BIOE 20B
3rd (junior)	PHYS 6C/+N EART 110A/L BIOE 20C	EART 110B OCEA 90*	EDUC 185C
4th (senior)	CHEM 163A or CHEM elective AMS 5 or 7/L	EART 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 , PHYS 6A/L, 6B/M and 6C/N, EART 5/5L, AMS 5 or 7/L completed in community college)

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st (junior)	EDUC 50C CHEM 8A/L EART 110A/L	EDUC 100A CHEM 8B/M EART 110B	EDUC 185C ASTR 2
2nd (senior)	BIOL 20A CHEM 163A or CHEM elective EART elective	BIOE 20B EDUC 181 OCEA 90	BIOE 20C EDUC 185L

Biology/Earth Sciences Planners

Four-Year Planner

	Fall	Winter	Spring
1st (frosh)	MATH 11A CHEM 1A	MATH 11B CHEM 1B/M	ASTR 2 CHEM 1C/N EART 5/L or 10/L or 20/L
2nd (soph)	PHYS 6A/+L EDUC 50C BIOL 20A	PHYS 6B/+M BIOE 20B	PHYS 6C/+N BIOE 20C EDUC 100C
3rd (junior)	EART 110A/L AMS 5 or 7/L BIOL 105	EART 110B OCEA 90*	EDUC 185C
4th (senior)	Eart elective BIOE 109	BIOE 107 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, 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 (junior)	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 (senior)	AMS 5 or 7/L EART elective	OCEA 90 EDUC 181	EDUC 185L ASTR 2