2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog *As of 06/01/2024 
    
    Nov 24, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog *As of 06/01/2024

Chemistry Education (Teaching), B.S.


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Departmental Requirements

Maryland Higher Education Commission has set a graduation requirement of 1311 semester hours to obtain a 4 year baccalaureate degree. Students must complete 29 semester hours of program core courses, 15 hours of supportive courses, 3 hours of program electives courses, 42 hours of general education courses and 42 hours of professional education courses from the approved lists of requirements as outlined in the catalog. Students are not required to follow the ACS course guidelines since the degree is non-ACS certified. Teacher candidates who wish to major in Chemistry Education must have an overall and major content grade point average of 2.75 for admission into and retention in the program. For admission, an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher in a minimum of 45 approved semester hours is required, along with passing the University’s English Proficiency Examination, and also PRAXIS I (scheduled and administered by Educational Testing Services) while registered for Praxis preparation course (Credit 1) .

Any individual who meets University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s admission requirements can enroll in Chemistry Education. Prospective Chemistry Teacher Education candidates are not formally admitted to the Professional Education Unit until they have completed an Application to Teacher Education and have been accepted.

Objectives

The objectives of the Chemistry Teaching Program are to:

  1. Train students through demonstration, mentoring and personal experience to develop chemical skills and to conduct scientific research.
  2. Impart students with contemporary laboratory techniques and skills required to conduct scientific investigations.
  3. Provide students with the academic curricula necessary to develop a strong understanding and knowledge of chemical theory and practice.
  4. Expose teacher candidates in Chemistry from diverse cultural backgrounds to the breadth and depth of content knowledge in Chemistry and related sciences necessary for fulfilling requirements of teaching careers in diverse cultural settings.
  5. Train future teachers in Chemistry who will be competent in the application of modern technological advances in innovative ways of thinking and approaching critical issues related to both science and education.
  6. Provide future teachers the opportunity to acquire mastery of skills through constant reflection of their teaching and techniques that are used to obtain, analyze, and interpret scientific information.

Career Opportunities

Students graduating with the NCATE-certified Chemistry Education (Teaching) Degree with Praxis I and II Licensure can choose to enter a teaching career in secondary education.

1The higher than the 120 cr. hr. requirement is to meet the standards of NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and NSTA (National Science Teachers Association).

Required Courses


Grades of “C” or above must be attained in each required course of the Chemistry Education major, the specialized content area combined with the professional educational courses. A candidate’s progress is monitored each semester by the academic advisor to ensure that the candidate continues to meet the minimum GPA of 2.75 in both the core courses and overall program. Chemistry Education Program Requirements are as follow: General Education Requirements, Program Core Requirements, Supportive Courses Requirements, Core Program Electives and Professional Education Requirements. Students are required to complete a total of 1311 credit hours in these categories for graduation. A research manuscript or undergraduate thesis is required following completion of Undergraduate Research. The Research project has to be approved by a committee consisting of advisor who will serve as the thesis or project supervisor and another faculty member from the Department of Natural Sciences.

Fundamental courses,  and  do not meet the General Education Requirement for a degree in biology education or chemistry education. However, students placed in  or  should take these courses to prepare them for the required  and higher level Math courses.

All students are encouraged to take a couple of courses online or during summer and winter sessions to develop skills that will support lifelong learning. Discuss the details with your advisor.

General Education Requirements


The General Education Requirements are designed to promote the development of a comprehensive educational base which will effectively support a student’s choice of a major concentration. Biology Education Program candidates are required to complete a total of 42 credit hours for graduation in this category. These credit hours are divided into six areas. A grade of “C” or above is required in all GER courses.

Curriculum Area I - Arts and Humanities: Credits 9


Curriculum Area II - Social and Behavioral Sciences: Credits 6


Students must select one course from each of two disciplines.

Discipline A: Social Sciences

  • Credit:
  • Credit:
  • Credit:
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Total Credits Required: Credits 131


Curriculum Guide for Chemistry Education (Teaching)


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