University Catalog 2023-2024

Science Education (BS): Middle Grades Science Concentration

The Science Education: Middle Grades 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 science in the middle grades. Students complete courses focused on the sciences 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 6-8. 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 (NCSTA), 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

Contact

Department of STEM Education
North Carolina State University
208 Poe Hall, 2310 Stinson Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695

Matt Reynolds, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor
Undergraduate and MAT Program Coordinator for Science Education
NC State University 
Campus Box 7801
Poe Hall 326P
Raleigh, NC 27695
 

Plan Requirements

Orientation
ED 100Intro to Education 12
or ED 150/151 Students Advocating for Youth I
Communication/Advanced Writing3
Choose from:
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
Science Communication and Public Engagement
Literature and Medicine
Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
Mathematics
MA 121Elements of Calculus3
or MA 131 Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
MA 231Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B3
or ST 311 Introduction to Statistics
Life Sciences
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 24
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 24
GN 301Genetics in Human Affairs 23
or GN 311 Principles of Genetics
Plant Biology Elective 23
Choose from:
Plant Life
Our Green World
Agricultural Biotechnology: Issues and Implications
Plants and Civilization
Local Flora
Plant Biology
Food & Nutrition Elective 23
Choose from:
Principles of Animal Nutrition
Animal Nutrition
Introduction to Human Nutrition
Introduction to Food Science
Physical Sciences
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 2
4
PY 131Conceptual Physics 24
or PY 211 College Physics I
Earth and Space Sciences
MEA 101
MEA 110
Geology I: Physical
and Geology I Laboratory 2
4
MEA 130
MEA 135
Introduction to Weather and Climate
and Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 2
4
PY 123Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 23
or PY 124 Solar System Astronomy
or MEA 240 The Planets of Our Solar System
Advised Science Electives 29
Science Education
EMS 205Introduction to Teaching Science 32
EMS 373Instructional Materials in Science 13
EMS 375Methods of Teaching Science I 33
EMS 475Methods of Teaching Science II 33
EMS 476Student Teaching in Science 310
EMS 495Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 12
General Education and Psychology
ED 204Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 12
ED 311
ED 312
Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices
and Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1
3
EDP 304Educational Psychology 13
ELP 344School and Society 13
ECI 306Middle Years Reading 13
ECI 309Teaching in the Middle Years 13
ECI 416Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom 13
History and Philosophy of Science Education Elective3
Free Electives0-6
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
GEP Humanities (verify requirement)0-6
GEP Social Sciences (verify requirement)0-3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts)3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives (verify requirement)
GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C or higher is required.

2

A grade of C or higher is required for science content courses, up to two courses with a grade below a C is permitted.

3

A grade of B- or higher is required.

4

Admission to the Professional Semester is required.

Advised Science Electives

ANY 200+ Level AEC, BIO, BCH, BSC, CH, ENT, ES, MB, MEA, PB, PY, ZO
ANY GEP Natural Sciences course (except BIO 105/106, CH 111)
ANS 150Introduction to Animal Science
ANS 205Physiology of Domestic Animals
ANS 206Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab
ANS 220Reproductive Physiology
ANS 221Reproductive Physiology Lab
BIO 165Introduction to Environmental Research
CS 211Plant Genetics
ES 100Introduction to Environmental Sciences
ES 111Applications of Environmental Sciences
ES 150Water and the Environment
FOR 252Introduction to Forest Science
FOR 260Forest Ecology
FOR 261Forest Communities
FOR 264Forest Wildlife
FOR 339Dendrology
FW 353Wildlife Management
FW 404Wildlife Habitat Management
FW 405Tropical Wildlife Ecology
FW 444Mammalogy
FW 453Principles of Wildlife Science
FW 460International Wildlife Management and Conservation
NR 303Humans and the Environment
NR 406Conservation of Biological Diversity

 History & Philosophy of Science Education Elective

Choose from:
ECI 305Equity and Education
HI 321Scientific Revolution and European Society, 1500-1800
HI 322Rise of Modern Science
HI 323Science, American Style
HI 341Technology in History
HI 481History of the Life Sciences3
HI 482Darwinism in Science and Society
HI 483Science and Religion in European History
HI 484Science in European Culture
HI 485History of American Technology
PHI 340Philosophy of Science
PHI 440The Scientific Method
STS 210Women and Gender in Science and Technology
STS 214Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society
STS 301Science and Civilization
STS 302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values
STS 471Darwinism and Christianity
STS 490Issues in Science, Technology, and Society

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ED 100
Intro to Education 1
or Students Advocating for Youth I
2
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 4
MA 121
Elements of Calculus
or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
3
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 2 4
MA 231
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B
or Introduction to Statistics
3
Plant Biology Elective 3
Choose from:
Plant Life
Our Green World
Agricultural Biotechnology: Issues and Implications
Plants and Civilization
Local Flora
Plant Biology
Free Elective 3
Communication/Advanced Writing Req. 3
Choose from:
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
Science Communication and Public Engagement
Literature and Medicine
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
MEA 101
MEA 110
Geology I: Physical
and Geology I Laboratory 2
4
PY 123
Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 2
or Solar System Astronomy
or The Planets of Our Solar System
3
PY 131
Conceptual Physics 2
or College Physics I
4
Food & Nutrition Elective 2 3
Choose from:
Principles of Animal Nutrition
Animal Nutrition
Introduction to Human Nutrition
Introduction to Food Science
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
EMS 205 Introduction to Teaching Science 3 2
ED 204 Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 2 2
EDP 304 Educational Psychology 2 3
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 2
4
MEA 130
MEA 135
Introduction to Weather and Climate
and Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory
4
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
EMS 373 Instructional Materials in Science 1 3
ECI 309 Teaching in the Middle Years 1 3
ELP 344 School and Society 1 3
History and Philosophy of Science Education Elective 3
Advised Science Elective 2 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
EMS 375 Methods of Teaching Science I 3 3
ED 311
ED 312
Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices
and Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1
3
ECI 306 Middle Years Reading 1 3
Advised Science Elective 2 3
GEP Additional Breadth 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
EMS 475 Methods of Teaching Science II 3 3
ECI 416 Teaching Exceptional Students in the Mainstreamed Classroom 1 3
GN 301 Genetics in Human Affairs 2 3
Advised Science Elective 2 3
Free Elective 4
 Hours16
Spring Semester
EMS 476 Student Teaching in Science 3, 4 10
EMS 495 Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1, 4 2
 Hours12
 Total Hours120
1

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.

2

A grade of C or higher is required.

3

B- or better is required