College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences
Center for Science Teaching and Learning
Chemistry Building, room 105
NAU, PO Box 5697, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5697
928-523-7160
Director
Julie Gess-Newsome
You may pursue the following undergraduate academic plans related to science teaching at NAU:
Please note that if you are pursuing the B.S.Ed. in elementary education, you can also choose one of the following content emphases: earth science, environmental sciences, and general science. Click here for more information on the B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education.
The Center for Science Teaching and Learning is dedicated to the delivery of exemplary K-16 science education programs that span a teacher’s professional career. The center coordinates science education programs across the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences and the College of Education, with certification programs at the undergraduate, post-degree, and master’s levels in biology, earth sciences, chemistry, general science, physics, and physical science.
In particular, the Center for Science Teaching and Learning coordinates the Master of Arts in Science Teaching for four science departments—Biological Sciences, Geology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Physics and Astronomy—as well as departments in the College of Education. Within these departments, you may pursue one of the following six academic plans:
(extended coursework plan)
(research plan)
(extended coursework plan)
(research plan)
(extended coursework plan)
(research plan)
The center offers three types of courses: TSM (Teaching Science and Mathematics), SCI (Science Curriculum and Instruction) and SCM (Science Content Module) courses.
These courses are the science and mathematics specific education courses for the NAUTeach undergraduate secondary teacher preparation programs offered through CEFNS.
These courses offer content-specific teaching strategies in the sciences. They meet the needs of post-baccalaureate and graduate students seeking secondary teacher certification and the needs of graduate students in education and the sciences.
These courses are single-credit, web-based modules designed to help the current or potential science teacher pass the Arizona Educators Proficiency Assessment, a requirement for certification to teach science in secondary schools. The courses also incorporate the content-specific pedagogical techniques needed to translate science content into effective classroom practice. These courses are not equivalent to content courses in the major. If you wish to apply these courses to a graduate plan, you must have the approval of your adviser.
Plans that lead to secondary science certification are coordinated across five departments (biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, environmental sciences, geology, and physics and astronomy).
You may earn secondary science teacher certification through an undergraduate major a post-baccalaureate plan or a graduate plan. (See the undergraduate secondary education section and the specific undergraduate academic areas for more information about academic plans that result in secondary science teacher certification at the undergraduate level.)
Post-degree certification is available in the following areas: biology, chemistry, general science, earth science, mathematics and physics. You may earn post-degree certification by taking the required courses through the Online Science and Mathematics Teacher Certification Program (www.nau.edu/mathsciencecert)
Each department assesses the adequacy of the previously earned degree in meeting academic requirements of the major for teaching. In addition to completing the requirements in your academic major (including SCI courses), you must fulfill the teacher-preparation requirements to gain a recommendation for certification.
Each content area requires coursework equivalent to a major in that department along with additional science-support courses. These support courses include broad field preparation across the sciences and science-specific courses (SCI). Required courses include SCI 560 and 561.
Click here for more information about our TSM NAUTeach courses, SCI undergraduate and graduate courses, SCM graduate courses, and Science Education faculty.