Course Descriptions
The courses comprising the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program are listed below. For a sample syllabus for each course, click on the course title.
For a suggested progression through these courses, follow this link: progression.
In order to be eligible for secondary teacher certification in Arizona, students must also complete LRC 416, Introduction to Structured English Immersion.
STCH 250 -- Teaching Science or Mathematics ^ Top
(3 units)
Description: This course provides an introduction to secondary science or mathematics teaching. It is appropriate for students exploring science or mathematics teaching as a career and is required for students in the Science or Mathematics Teacher Preparation Programs for teacher certification. Topics include the nature of science or mathematics, teaching science or mathematics for understanding, and assessing student understanding. This course includes a minimum of 16 hours of classroom observations in local secondary science or mathematics classrooms; student's schedule must be flexible enough to accommodate this requirement.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing in a science or science education major
Usually Offered: Fall, Spring.
STCH 310 -- Adolescent Learning in Science and Mathematics ^ Top
(3 units)
Description: This course provides an overview of the contemporary theories on student learning in science and mathematics, adolescent development, student diversity, and student motivation for learning. It is required for students in the Science or Mathematics Teacher Preparation Programs for teacher certification. This course includes a minimum of 16 hours of classroom observations in local secondary science or mathematics classrooms; student's schedule must be flexible enough to accommodate this requirement.
Prerequisite or Concurrent Registration: STCH 250; Sophomore standing in a science or science education major
Usually Offered: Fall, Spring.
STCH 410 -- Managing Science Instruction in Diverse Classrooms ^ Top
(4 units)
Description: This course provides knowledge of and experience in managing secondary science classrooms to maximize student learning. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program for teacher certification.
This course includes a minimum of eight weeks of internship with an experienced secondary science teacher. This internship requires that students have available a 1.5-hour block of time, at the same time each day, five days a week, for the length of the internship. Students also need to be available for classroom observations at the beginning of the school year at their assigned secondary school sites, typically in late July or mid-August." This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Prerequisites: STCH 250; satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA)
Concurrent Registration: STCH 310
Structure: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (off-campus internship).
Usually Offered: Fall.
STCH 420 -- Planning and Implementing Science Curriculum ^ Top
(4 units)
Description: This course provides knowledge of and experience in making decisions about curriculum and assessment of student learning. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program. This course includes an on-campus internship during which students co-teach a NATS 101 course. The time commitment for the internship is included in the course meeting times, as indicated in the Schedule of Classes. This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Prerequisites: STCH 250; satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA)
Concurrent Registration: STCH 310.
Structure: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (on-campus internship).
Usually Offered: Spring
STCH 494A -- Science Teaching Practicum ^ Top
(12 units)
Description: This practicum provides student teaching experiences under the supervision of experienced classroom teachers. Responsibility for teaching will increase gradually throughout the semester. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program for teacher certification. A Student Teaching Placement Application must be completed and submitted to student's TPP advisor early in the semester prior to student teaching.
Prerequisites: STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410, STCH 420; Concurrent registration, STCH 496A; 40 credits of science and mathematics courses; an overall GPA of 2.5 and a major GPA of 2.5
Usually Offered: Fall, Spring
STCH 496A -- Science Teaching Seminar ^ Top
(1 unit)
Description: This seminar provides secondary science teachers with opportunities to discuss aspects of their student teaching experiences with peers and university supervisors. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program for teacher certification.
Prerequisites: STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410, STCH 420; Concurrent registration, STCH 494A; 40 credits of science and mathematics courses; an overall GPA of 2.5 and a major GPA of 2.5
Usually Offered: Fall, Spring
Students select ONE of the following courses:
BIOC 434 -- Biology Teaching Methods for Secondary Teachers ^ Top
(3 units)
Description: Methods for students preparing to teach secondary science. Students will create curriculum and lesson plans, compile resources for science teaching, examine lab safety regulations, and practice teaching science lessons. Assumes knowledge of reform-based teaching theory.
Prerequisite(s) or Concurrent registration: STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410
Usually Offered: Fall
GEOS 401 -- Earth Science Teaching Methods and Materials ^ Top
(3 units)
Description: Instructional methods in laboratory and classroom, resources development, curriculum planning and assessment.
Prerequisite(s) or Concurrent registration: STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410
Usually Offered: Fall
PHYS/CHEM 439 -- Central Ideas in the Physical Sciences ^ Top
(3 units)
Description: This is a culminating course in the preparation of physical science, physics, and chemistry teachers. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program who plan to teach physical science. The course focuses on the analysis and understanding of central ideas in the physical sciences traditionally included in the secondary school science curriculum. Additionally, the course helps students identify and assess physical-science concepts that secondary level students are likely to have difficulty understanding and evaluate the implications for teaching and learning science.
Prerequisite(s) or Concurrent registration: STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410
Usually Offered: Fall