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
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 1 | 2 | |
| 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 | |||
| Choose from: | 3-4 | ||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | |||
| Calculus II | |||
| Introduction to Statistics | |||
| Sciences | |||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 2 | 4 | |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 2 | 4 | |
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 4 | |
| PY 131 | Conceptual Physics 2 | 4 | |
| or PY 211 | College Physics I | ||
| MEA 101 & MEA 110 | Geology I: Physical and Geology I Laboratory 2 | 4 | |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate 2 | 3 | |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography 2 | 3 | |
| MEA 202 | Geology II: Historical 2 | 3 | |
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy 2 | 3 | |
| or PY 124 | Solar System Astronomy | ||
| or MEA 240 | The Planets of Our Solar System | ||
| Earth and Environmental Science Electives 2 | 3 | ||
| Earth and Environmental Science 300/400 Level Electives 2 | 7 | ||
| Earth Science Lab Electives (Choose Two) 2 | 2 | ||
| Advised Science Electives 2 | 6 | ||
| 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 3, 4 | 10 | |
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1, 4 | 2 | |
| General Education and Psychology | |||
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 1 | 2 | |
| ED 311 & ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices and Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 1 | 3 | |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 1 | 3 | |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 1 | 3 | |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 1 | 3 | |
| History & Philosophy of Science Education Elective | 3 | ||
| Free Elective | 3-7 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities (verify requirement) | 0-6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences (verify requirement) | 0-3 | ||
| 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) | |||
| World 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 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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 250 | Diversity and Environmental Justice | 3 | |
| FOR 252 | Introduction to Forest Science | 3 | |
| FOR 260 | Forest Ecology | 4 | |
| FOR 261 | Forest Communities | 2 | |
| FOR 264 | Forest Wildlife | 1 | |
| FW 221 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 | |
| SSC 185 | Land and Life | 3 | |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 | |
| SSC 201 | Soil Science Laboratory | 1 | |
| SSC 455 | Soils, Environmental Quality and Global Challenges | 3 | |
| Any Earth and Environmental Science 300/400 Level Elective | |||
Earth and Environmental Science Electives 300/400 Level
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
or PB 360 | 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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Advised Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 150 | Introduction to Animal Science | 3 | |
| ANS 205 | Physiology of Domestic Animals | 3 | |
| ANS 206 | Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab | 1 | |
| ANS 220 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 | |
| ANS 221 | Reproductive Physiology Lab | 1 | |
| BIO 165 | |||
| CS 211 | Plant Genetics | 3 | |
| ES 100 | Introduction to Environmental Sciences | 3 | |
| ES 111 | Applications of Environmental Sciences | 1 | |
| ES 150 | Water and the Environment | 3 | |
| FOR 252 | Introduction to Forest Science | 3 | |
| FOR 260 | Forest Ecology | 4 | |
| FOR 261 | Forest Communities | 2 | |
| FOR 264 | Forest Wildlife | 1 | |
| FOR 339 | |||
| FW 353 | Wildlife Management | 3 | |
| FW 404 | Wildlife Habitat Management | 3 | |
| FW 405 | Tropical Wildlife Ecology | 3 | |
| FW 444 | Mammalogy | 3 | |
| FW 453 | Principles of Wildlife Science | 4 | |
| FW 460 | International Wildlife Management and Conservation | 3 | |
| NR 303 | Humans and the Environment | 3 | |
| NR 406 | Conservation of Biological Diversity | 3 | |
History & Philosophy of Science Education Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose from: | |||
| ECI 305 | Equity and Education | 3 | |
| HI 321 | Scientific Revolution and European Society, 1500-1800 | 3 | |
| HI 322 | Rise of Modern Science | 3 | |
| HI 323 | Science, American Style | 3 | |
| HI 341 | Technology in History | 3 | |
| HI 481 | History of the Life Sciences | 3 | |
| HI 482 | Darwinism in Science and Society | 3 | |
| HI 483 | Science and Religion in European History | 3 | |
| HI 484 | Science in European Culture | 3 | |
| HI 485 | History of American Technology | 3 | |
| PHI 340 | Philosophy of Science | 3 | |
| PHI 440 | The Scientific Method | 3 | |
| STS 210 | Women and Gender in Science and Technology | 3 | |
| STS 214 | Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society | 3 | |
| STS 301 | Science and Civilization | 3 | |
| STS 302 | Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values | 3 | |
| STS 471 | Darwinism and Christianity | 3 | |
| STS 490 | Issues in Science, Technology, and Society | 3 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| 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 | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 or PY 211 | Conceptual Physics 2 or College Physics I | 4 |
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EMS 476 | Student Teaching in Science 3, 4 | 10 |
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 1, 4 | 2 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 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
Learn More About Careers
NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.
Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.
Focus 2 Apply Assessment (Available to prospective students)
A career assessment tool designed to support prospective students in exploring and choosing the right major and career path based on your unique personality, interests, skills and values. Get started with Focus 2 Apply and see how it can guide your journey at NC State.