Academic
Catalog August 2009 - August 2010 Undergraduate
and Graduate
Plans leading to secondary science certification are coordinated across four NAU departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geology, and Physics and Astronomy.
You can earn secondary science teacher certification through an undergraduate major, post-baccalaureate programs, or the M.Ed. in secondary education: certification.
NAU’s teaching majors, post-degree certification, and graduate programs include the following plans in the sciences. For specific information about these plans, see the specific subject areas in this catalog.
B.S.Ed. in biology secondary education
B.S.Ed. in chemistry secondary education
B.S.Ed. in earth science secondary education
B.S.Ed. in physics secondary education
B.S.Ed. in general science: secondary education
minor in physics for secondary education
Center for Science Teaching and Learning
post-degree certification
Undergraduate academic plans that lead to secondary science teacher certification typically have 57-74 units of major requirements, 33 units of teacher-preparation requirements, and 35 units of liberal studies. See the appropriate subject area heading for information about the particular requirements for that plan.
The major requirements include coursework in the specific academic discipline, science support courses that provide broad field preparation across the sciences, and science and mathematics specific methods courses.
The teacher-preparation requirements involve professional courses offered by the College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences. Admission to this part of the plan is through a separate application.
The liberal studies requirements are the same for all undergraduate students, regardless of major. See the section titled NAU’s Academic Plans for information about the 35 units of liberal studies credit.
Candidates in Science Education are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, and professional knowledge to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements. Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the NAUTeach (TSM) and SCI courses.
Preparation for post-degree certification by the Arizona Department of Education varies from NAU’s undergraduate academic plans. Each department assesses the adequacy of your previously earned degree in meeting the academic requirements of the major for teaching. For transcript analysis, contact the CSTL at www.nau.edu/cstl or call 928-523-7160.
In addition to the requirements in the academic major, you must fulfill the teacher-preparation requirements in order to gain a recommendation for certification. See www.nau.edu/mathsciencert.
Click here for more information about our TSM NAUTeach courses, SCI undergraduate and graduate courses, SCM graduate courses, and Science Education faculty.