Science Education (BS): Earth Science Concentration
The Science Education: Earth Science concentration (BS) degree is one of five undergraduate degree options in the Science Education program in the Department of STEM Education.
This degree program prepares teacher-leaders to have a deep understanding of the pedagogical strategies to teach high school Earth Science. Students complete courses focused on Earth Science and Science education, obtain relevant pedagogical experiences while immersed in rich field experiences in science classrooms, and emphasize teaching science with technology. Upon successful completion of the program, students are recommended for an initial North Carolina teaching license in grades 9-12. They will be able to seek employment opportunities in education and make a positive difference in their communities.
The goals and objectives of the BS degree in Science Education are:
- To enable and ensure that each prospective teacher enriches his/her life through a comprehensive university education
- To develop the professional qualities and academic background needed to teach science to all student levels in the grade for which the teacher is certified
- To develop a general knowledge foundation upon which specialized professional knowledge is built, and upon which a well-rounded university education is the base
Coursework for the degree is divided into four types of knowledge:
- General pedagogical knowledge — the nature of learners and general principles of instruction
- Content-area knowledge — knowledge of the natural sciences
- Pedagogical content knowledge — principles of curriculum, instruction and assessment directly related to the natural sciences
- Context knowledge — understanding the culture of the school, community and society in which educational institutions exist and function
Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in:
- Undergraduate research
- The student chapter of the NC Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and other high impact experiences such as Passport to Success, SAY Village, and study abroad
- Outreach and tutoring in local schools
For more information about this program, visit our website.
Department of STEM Education
North Carolina State University
208 Poe Hall, 2310 Stinson Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695
Plan Requirements
Science Education (BS): Earth Science Concentration: 120 Total Units
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 1 | 2 |
| Academic Writing/Communication | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| COM 110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | |
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| or MA 241 | Calculus II | |
| Sciences | ||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical 1 | 3 |
| MEA 110 | Geology I Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate 1 | 3 |
| MEA 202 | Geology II: Historical 1 | 3 |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| MEA 410 | Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology 1 | 4 |
| MEA 451 | Structural Geology 1 | 4 |
| PY 211 | College Physics I 1 | 4 |
| PY 212 | College Physics II 1 | 4 |
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 1 | 3 |
| or PY 124 | Solar System Astronomy | |
| ES 200 | Climate Change and Sustainability 1 | 3 |
| Science Education | ||
| EMS 205 | Introduction to Teaching Science 3 | 2 |
| EMS 373 | Instructional Materials in Science 1 | 3 |
| EMS 375 | Methods of Teaching Science I 3 | 3 |
| EMS 475 | Methods of Teaching Science II 3 | 3 |
| EMS 476 | Student Teaching in Science 1 | 10 |
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1 | 2 |
| Education and Psychology | ||
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 1 | 2 |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 1 | 3 |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 1 | 2 |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1 | 1 |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom 1 | 3 |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 1 | 3 |
| HI/PHI of Science & SS Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Scientific Revolution and European Society, 1500-1800 | ||
| Rise of Modern Science | ||
| Technology in History | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Science and Civilization | ||
| Social Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | |
| GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | A grade of C or higher is required. |
| 2 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
| 3 | A grade of B- or higher is required. |
Social Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences AFS | ||
| AFS 305 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOC 305 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| Social Sciences ANT | ||
| ANT 251 | Physical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 252 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 253 | Unearthing the Past: Introduction to World Archaeology | 3 |
| ANT 254 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| ANT 261 | Technology in Society and Culture | 3 |
| ANT 310 | Native Peoples and Cultures of North America | 3 |
| ANT 315 | The Aztecs, Maya, and Their Predecessors: Archaeology of Mesoamerica | 3 |
| ANT 325 | Andean South America | 3 |
| ANT 330 | Peoples and Cultures of Africa | 3 |
| ANT 346 | Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ANT 370 | Introduction to Forensic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 371 | Human Variation | 3 |
| ANT 389 | Fundamentals of Archaeological Research | 3 |
| SOC 261 | Technology in Society and Culture | 3 |
| Social Sciences ARE | ||
| ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| ARE 201A | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| ARE 301 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| ARE 309 | Environmental Law & Economic Policy | 3 |
| ARE 311 | Agricultural Markets | 3 |
| ARE 433 | U.S. Agricultural Policy | 3 |
| EC 301 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| Social Sciences COM | ||
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COM 289 | Science Communication and Public Engagement | 3 |
| COM 292 | Language, Communication, and Culture | 3 |
| COM 392 | International and Crosscultural Communication | 3 |
| HSS 392 | International and Crosscultural Communication | 3 |
| Social Sciences EC | ||
| EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| Social Sciences ENG | ||
| ENG 210 | Introduction to Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| Social Sciences FOR | ||
| FOR 472 | Forest Soils | 4 |
| NR 460 | Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy | 3 |
| NR 560 | Renewable Natural Resource Management and Policy | 3 |
| Social Sciences GEO | ||
| GEO 200 | Principles of Geography | 3 |
| GEO 220 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| SOC 220 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| Social Sciences Catch All | ||
| AEE 323 | Leadership Development in Agriculture and Life Sciences | 3 |
| AS 321 | Leading People and Effective Communication I | 3 |
| COM 392 | International and Crosscultural Communication | 3 |
| HON 295 | Honors Special Topics-Social Science | 3 |
| HSS 392 | International and Crosscultural Communication | 3 |
| MS 302 | Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations | 3 |
| NR 219 | Natural Resource Markets | 3 |
| NS 210 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| SSGE 295 | Social Sciences Special Topics | 3 |
| SSGK 295 | Social Sciences and Global Knowledge Special Topics | 3 |
| SSUS 295 | Social Sciences and U.S. Diversity Special Topics | 3 |
| Social Sciences PRT | ||
| PRT 152 | Introduction to Parks, Recreation and Tourism | 3 |
| PRT 200 | Health, Wellness and the Pursuit of Happiness | 3 |
| Social Sciences PS | ||
| LPS 315 | Public Leadership | 3 |
| PS 201 | American Politics and Government | 3 |
| PS 202 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PS 203 | Introduction to Nonprofits | 3 |
| PS 231 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PS 236 | Issues in Global Politics | 3 |
| PS 241 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PS 301 | The Presidency and Congress | 3 |
| PS 302 | Campaigns and Elections in the US Political System | 3 |
| PS 303 | Race in U.S. Politics | 3 |
| PS 305 | The Justice System in the American Political Process | 3 |
| PS 309 | Equality and Justice in United States Law | 3 |
| PS 310 | Public Policy | 3 |
| PS 312 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PS 314 | Science, Technology and Public Policy | 3 |
| PS 320 | U.S. Environmental Law and Politics | 3 |
| PS 331 | U.S. Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PS 335 | International Law | 3 |
| PS 336 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PS 341 | European Politics | 3 |
| PS 342 | Politics of China and Japan | 3 |
| PS 345 | Governments and Politics in the Middle East | 3 |
| PS 353 | Issues in Latin American and Caribbean Politics | 3 |
| Social Sciences SOC | ||
| AFS 305 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| ANT 261 | Technology in Society and Culture | 3 |
| GEO 220 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| SOC 202 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 203 | Current Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 203A | Current Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 204 | Sociology of Family | 3 |
| SOC 205 | Jobs and Work | 3 |
| SOC 206 | Social Deviance | 3 |
| SOC 207 | Language and Society | 3 |
| SOC 220 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| SOC 241 | Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society | 3 |
| SOC 241A | Sociology of Agriculture and Rural Society | 3 |
| SOC 261 | Technology in Society and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 300 | Social Research Methods | 4 |
| SOC 301 | Human Behavior | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| SOC 305 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOC 306 | Criminology | 3 |
| SOC 311 | Community Relationships | 3 |
| SOC 342 | International Development | 3 |
| SOC 351 | Population and Planning | 3 |
| WGS 204 | Sociology of Family | 3 |
| WGS 304 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| Social Sciences WGS | ||
| ENG 308 | Contemporary Issues in Ecofeminism | 3 |
| PS 306 | Gender and Politics in the United States | 3 |
| PSY 406 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| SOC 204 | Sociology of Family | 3 |
| SOC 304 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| WGS 204 | Sociology of Family | 3 |
| WGS 304 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| WGS 306 | Gender and Politics in the United States | 3 |
| WGS 308 | Contemporary Issues in Ecofeminism | 3 |
| WGS 406 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
Major Field of Study Requirements
BS Science Education - Earth Science Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Sciences | ||
| (C 2.0 or better required for all science courses, up to two courses with a grade below C is permitted) | ||
Required Science Courses: | ||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| PY 211 | College Physics I | 4 |
| PY 212 | College Physics II | 4 |
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 |
| MEA 110 | Geology I Laboratory | 1 |
| ES 200 | Climate Change and Sustainability | 3 |
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| MEA 202 | Geology II: Historical | 3 |
Earth Science Electives: | ||
| Choose two of the following: | ||
| MEA 300 | Environmental Geology | 4 |
| MEA 320 | Fundamentals of Air Pollution | 3 |
| MEA 350 | Marine Conservation Biology | 3 |
| MEA 369 | Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology | 3 |
| MEA 410 | Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology | 4 |
| MEA 415 | Climate Dynamics | 3 |
| MEA 440 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology | 4 |
| MEA 449 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| MEA 450 | Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| MEA 451 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| MEA 465 | Geologic Field Camp | 4 |
| MEA 470 | Introduction to Geophysics | 3 |
| MEA 481 | Geomorphology: Earth's Dynamic Surface | 3 |
| MEA 493 | Special Topics in MEAS | 1-6 |
| ES 300 | Energy and Environment | 3 |
| BIO 325 | Paleontological Field Methods | 4 |
Earth Science Lab Electives: | ||
| Choose two from: | ||
| MEA 135 | Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory | 1 |
| MEA 210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 |
| MEA 211 | Geology II Laboratory | 1 |
| PY 125 | Astronomy Laboratory | 1 |
History & Philosophy of Science Elective | ||
| Choose one from: | ||
| HI 321 | Scientific Revolution and European Society, 1500-1800 | 3 |
| HI 322 | Rise of Modern Science | 3 |
| HI 341 | Technology in History | 3 |
| HI 480 | ||
| PHI 340 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| STS 301 | Science and Civilization | 3 |
Communication: | ||
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| or COM 289 | Science Communication and Public Engagement | |
Mathematics: | ||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | |
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| or MA 241 | Calculus II | |
Professional Education: | ||
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools | 2 |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices | 2 |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab | 1 |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| ELP 344 | School and Society | 3 |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom | 3 |
| EMS 205 | Introduction to Teaching Science | 2 |
| EMS 373 | Instructional Materials in Science | 3 |
| EMS 375 | Methods of Teaching Science I | 3 |
| EMS 475 | Methods of Teaching Science II | 3 |
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education | 2 |
| EMS 476 | Student Teaching in Science | 10 |
Free Electives | ||
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 5 | 2 |
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical B, 9 | 3 |
| MEA 110 | Geology I Laboratory B, 9 | 1 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science B, 9 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory B, 9 | 1 |
| MA 131 or MA 141 |
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A A or Calculus I |
3-4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research H | 4 |
| Hours | 17-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MEA 202 | Geology II: Historical B. 9 | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies E | 1 | |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science B, 9 | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 9 | 1 |
| MA 231 or MA 241 |
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B A or Calculus II |
3-4 |
| COM 112 or COM 289 |
Interpersonal Communication D or Science Communication and Public Engagement |
3 |
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography 9 | 3 |
| PY 211 | College Physics I 9 | 4 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 9 | 4 |
| Earth Science Lab Elective 4 | 1 | |
| Select one of the following: 1, G | 3 | |
| Scientific Revolution and European Society, 1500-1800 | ||
| Rise of Modern Science | ||
| Technology in History | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Science and Civilization | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies E | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 9 | 4 |
| PY 212 | College Physics II 9 | 4 |
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 5 | 2 |
| EMS 205 | Introduction to Teaching Science 5 | 2 |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 5, D | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate 9 | 3 |
| PY 123 or PY 124 |
Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 9 or Solar System Astronomy |
3 |
| Earth Science Lab Elective 4 | 1 | |
| EMS 373 | Instructional Materials in Science 5 | 3 |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 5 | 3 |
| GEP Additional Breadth Req. F | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECI 416 | Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom | 3 |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 5 | 2 |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 5 | 1 |
| EMS 375 | Methods of Teaching Science I 3, 5 | 3 |
| GEP Humanities Requirement C | 3 | |
| Earth Science Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EMS 475 | Methods of Teaching Science II 3 | 3 |
| Earth Science Elective 7 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities Requirement C | 3 | |
| ES 200 | Climate Change and Sustainability 2 | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EMS 476 | Student Teaching in Science 5, 6 | 10 |
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 5, 6 | 2 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120-122 | |
| 1 | Choose one from HI 321, HI 322, HI 341, HI 480, PHI 340, or STS 301 (Fulfills 3 hours of GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives). |
| 2 | Offered only in the Fall semester. |
| 3 | Offered only in the Spring semester. |
| 4 | Choose from MEA 135, MEA 210, MEA 211, and PY125. |
| 5 | A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for all ECI, ELP, and ED courses, EDP 304, EMS 373, EMS 476, EMS 495. B- or better is required for EMS 205, EMS 375, and EMS 475. |
| 6 | Offered only in the spring semester. Prior admission to the Professional Semester is required. |
| 7 | Choose from MEA 300, MEA 320, MEA 350, MEA 369, MEA 410, MEA 415, MEA 440, MEA 449, MEA 450, MEA 451, MEA 465, MEA 470, MEA 481, MEA 493, ES 300, BIO325 |
| 8 | Fulfills 3 hours of GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives and GK |
| 9 | A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for core content courses, up to two courses with a grade below a C is permitted. |
*General Education Program (GEP) requirements and GEP Footnotes:
To complete the requirements for graduation and the General Education Program, the following category credit hours and co-requisites must be satisfied. University approved GEP course lists for each of the following categories can be found at http://www.ncsu.edu/uap/academic-standards/gep/courselists/index.html.
| A | Mathematical Sciences (6 credit hours – one course with MA or ST prefix) Choose from the University approved GEP Mathematical Sciences course list or the following course(s) if completed as part of the Major requirements may fulfill part or all of this requirement: MA 131 or MA 141, MA 231 or MA 241 |
| B | Natural Sciences (7 credit hours – include one laboratory course or course with a lab) Choose from the University approved GEP Natural Sciences course list or the following course(s) if completed as part of the Major requirements may fulfill part or all of this requirement: CH 101/102, CH 201/202, MEA 101/110, and MEA 202 |
| C | Humanities (6 credit hours selected from two different disciplines/course prefixes) Choose from the University approved GEP Humanities course list. |
| D | Social Sciences (6 credit hours selected from two different disciplines/course prefixes) Choose from the University approved GEP Social Sciences course list or the following course(s) if completed as part of the Major requirements may fulfill part or all of this requirement: EDP 304, COM 112 or COM 289 |
| E | Physical Education/Healthy Living (2 credit hours – at least one 100-level Fitness and Wellness Course) |
| F | Additional Breadth - (3 credit hours to be selected from the following checked University approved GEP course lists) X Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts |
| G | Interdisciplinary Perspectives (5-6 credit hours) |
| H | Introduction to Writing (4 credit hours satisfied by completing ENG 101 with a C- or better ) |
The following Co-Requisites must be satisfied to complete the General Education Program requirements: | |
| I | U.S. Diversity (USD) |
| J | Global Knowledge (GK) |
| K | Foreign Language proficiency - Proficiency at the FL_102 level is required for graduation. |