University Catalog 2024-2025

Science Education (BS): Earth and Environmental Science Concentration

The Science Education: Earth & Environmental 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 and Environmental Science. Students complete courses focused on Earth and Environmental 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 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 (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 Writing
Choose from:3
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
Science Communication and Public Engagement
Literature and Medicine
Analysis of Scientific and Technical Writing
Mathematics
Choose from:3-4
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Calculus I
Note: MA 131 or MA 141 are recommended, but not required, as they are prerequisites for many 300/400 Level Earth and Environmental Science courses.
Choose from:3-4
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B
Calculus II
Introduction to Statistics
Sciences
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 24
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 24
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 2
4
PY 131Conceptual Physics 24
or PY 211 College Physics I
MEA 101
MEA 110
Geology I: Physical
and Geology I Laboratory 2
4
MEA 130Introduction to Weather and Climate 23
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography 23
MEA 202Geology II: Historical 23
PY 123Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 23
or PY 124 Solar System Astronomy
or MEA 240 The Planets of Our Solar System
Earth and Environmental Science Electives 23
Earth and Environmental Science 300/400 Level Electives 27
Earth Science Lab Electives (Choose Two) 22
Advised Science Electives 26
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 3, 410
EMS 495Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1, 42
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 416Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 13
History & Philosophy of Science Education Elective3
Free Elective3-7
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 24
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 U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World 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.

Earth and Environmental Science Electives

Any ES or MEA course, including additional lab courses.
Introduction to Environmental Sciences
Applications of Environmental Sciences
Earth from Space
Water and the Environment
Climate Change and Sustainability
Organizing Field Work
Special Topics in Environmental Science
Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections
Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory
Environmental Issues in Water Resources
Oceanography Lab
Geology II Laboratory
Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences
Marine Biology
The Planets of Our Solar System
Air Pollution and Society
Introduction to Coastal Environments
Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory
Biology of Marine Mammals
Human Dimensions of Climate Change
CNR 250Diversity and Environmental Justice3
FOR 252Introduction to Forest Science3
FOR 260Forest Ecology4
FOR 261Forest Communities2
FOR 264Forest Wildlife1
FW 221Conservation of Natural Resources3
SSC 185Land and Life3
SSC 200Soil Science3
SSC 201Soil Science Laboratory1
SSC 455Soils, Environmental Quality and Global Challenges3
Any Earth and Environmental Science 300/400 Level Elective

Earth and Environmental Science Electives 300/400 Level

Any ES or MEA 3**/4** Level Course
Energy and Environment
Analysis of Environmental Issues
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources in Australia/New Zealand
Sustaining Natural Resources in Australia/New Zealand
Special Topics in Environmental Science
Environmental Geology
Atmospheric Thermodynamics
Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences
Fundamentals of Air Pollution
Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change
Geochemistry of Natural Waters
Marine Conservation Biology
Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology
Watershed Forensics
Introduction to Mineralogy
Marine Sediment Transport
Atmospheric Physics
Climate Dynamics
Atmospheric Dynamics I
Atmospheric Dynamics II
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting
Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting
Principles of Biological Oceanography
Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Structural Geology
Marine Physical-Biological Interactions
Micrometeorology
Field Investigation of Coastal Processes
Principles of Physical Oceanography
Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics
Fluid Physics
Ocean Circulation Systems
Geologic Field Camp
Preparatory Course for Field Camp
Marine Meteorology
Aquatic Microbiology
Ecology of Coastal Resources
Introduction to Geophysics
Exploration and Engineering Geophysics
Principles of Chemical Oceanography
Worldwide River and Delta Systems: Their Evolution and Human Impacts
Air Quality
Geomorphology: Earth's Dynamic Surface
Introduction to Hydrogeology
Meteorology for Media
Special Topics in MEAS
Up to 4 credit hours may be selected from the following list:
Ecology
Ecology
Water Resources: Global Issues in Ecology, Policy, Management, and Advocacy
Community Ecology
Applied Ecology
Freshwater Ecology
Field Ecology and Methods
Urban Ecology
Paleontological Field Methods
Coastal Ecology and Management
Conservation Biology in Practice
Wildlife Management
Urban Wildlife Management
Wildlife Habitat Management
Tropical Wildlife Ecology
Principles of Wildlife Science
International Wildlife Management and Conservation
African Ecology and Conservation
Humans and the Environment

Earth Science Lab Electives

MEA 135Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory1
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 211Geology II Laboratory1
PY 125Astronomy Laboratory1

 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 Science3
ANS 205Physiology of Domestic Animals3
ANS 206Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab1
ANS 220Reproductive Physiology3
ANS 221Reproductive Physiology Lab1
BIO 165
CS 211Plant Genetics3
ES 100Introduction to Environmental Sciences3
ES 111Applications of Environmental Sciences1
ES 150Water and the Environment3
FOR 252Introduction to Forest Science3
FOR 260Forest Ecology4
FOR 261Forest Communities2
FOR 264Forest Wildlife1
FOR 339
FW 353Wildlife Management3
FW 404Wildlife Habitat Management3
FW 405Tropical Wildlife Ecology3
FW 444Mammalogy3
FW 453Principles of Wildlife Science4
FW 460International Wildlife Management and Conservation3
NR 303Humans and the Environment3
NR 406Conservation of Biological Diversity3

 History & Philosophy of Science Education Elective

Choose from:
ECI 305Equity and Education3
HI 321Scientific Revolution and European Society, 1500-18003
HI 322Rise of Modern Science3
HI 323Science, American Style3
HI 341Technology in History3
HI 481History of the Life Sciences3
HI 482Darwinism in Science and Society3
HI 483Science and Religion in European History3
HI 484Science in European Culture3
HI 485History of American Technology3
PHI 340Philosophy of Science3
PHI 440The Scientific Method3
STS 210Women and Gender in Science and Technology3
STS 214Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society3
STS 301Science and Civilization3
STS 302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values3
STS 471Darwinism and Christianity3
STS 490Issues in Science, Technology, and Society3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ED 100 Intro to Education 2
MEA 101 Geology I: Physical 2 3
MEA 110 Geology I Laboratory 2 1
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 2 4
MA 131
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
or Calculus I
or Elements of Calculus
3-4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
 Hours17
Spring Semester
MEA 202 Geology II: Historical 2 3
MEA 211 Geology II Laboratory 2 1
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 2 4
MA 231
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B
or Calculus II
or Introduction to Statistics
3-4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Communication/Advanced Writing Requirement 3
Choose from:
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
Science Communication and Public Engagement
Literature and Medicine
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
MEA 130 Introduction to Weather and Climate 2 3
MEA 135 Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 2 1
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 2
4
Advised Science Elective 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Free Elective 4
 Hours16
Spring Semester
ED 204 Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 1 2
EMS 205 Introduction to Teaching Science 3 2
EDP 304 Educational Psychology 1 3
PY 131
Conceptual Physics 2
or College Physics I
4
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) 3
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
EMS 373 Instructional Materials in Science 1 3
ELP 344 School and Society 1 3
MEA 200 Introduction to Oceanography 2 3
History and Philosophy of Science Education Elective 3
Earth and Environmental Science Electives 2 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
ED 311
ED 312
Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices
and Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1
3
EMS 375 Methods of Teaching Science I 3 3
PY 124
Solar System Astronomy 2
or Astronomy Laboratory
or The Planets of Our Solar System
3
Earth & Environmental Science Electives 300/400 Level 2 4
Free Elective 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
EMS 475 Methods of Teaching Science II 3 3
ECI 416 Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 1 3
Earth & Environmental Science Electives 300/400 Level 2 3
Advised Science Elective 2 3
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours15
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 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

Prior admission to the Professional Semester is required.

Career Opportunities

Career Titles

  • Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Biology Professor
  • Chemistry Professor
  • Elementary School Teacher
  • Environmental Science Professor
  • High School Teacher
  • Middle School Teacher
  • Physics Professor

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