Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Contact: Timothy Grover, Ph.D., Department Chair
Location: Ross Hall 3235
Telephone: 970.351.2647
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/earth-atmospheric-sciences/
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of four parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits
- University-Wide Credits
*For Educator licensure majors, PTEP coursework counts towards the minimum of nine upper-division UNC credits (300-400).
Program Description:
The Secondary Education concentration offers you the opportunity to combine teaching with your passion for the natural world. The course work and experiences in the concentration are designed to provide you with a broad background of the four earth science disciplines (astronomy, geology, meteorology and oceanography) and supporting sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Within the last year of the program, pre-service teachers are provided opportunities to apply the knowledge learned within the coursework and apply it to practices within the classroom. Graduates of this program are prepared to teach earth science in grades 7-12.
Program Requirements:
Content courses are taught in science disciplines in the College of Natural and Health Sciences and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences provides the required courses in the Secondary Professional Teacher Education Program (STEP).
You must pass the PRAXIS exam in order to obtain your teaching certificate. Graduates of this program are prepared to teach earth science in grades 7-12 and will have satisfied all the requirements to receive Secondary Science/Earth Science Licensure from the Colorado Department of Education.
Every UNC student must meet the requirements in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree: earn a minimum of 120 semester credit hours; possess a minimum of a 2.50 cumulative grade point average; have at least 31 credit hours in courses designated as Liberal Arts Curriculum; meet all degree requirements in the student’s major field of study. Each major and/or concentration may have additional requirements necessary for graduation. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements.
PTEP Program Requirements:
Teacher candidates who complete an approved content degree and the UNC professional teacher education program, as well as pass the appropriate Colorado Department of Education designated PRAXIS exam (if applicable), will be eligible for recommendation from UNC for a Colorado Department of Education teaching license.
If you are seeking licensure in your program area, the following items are required to complete your program.
- Completion of Application for Initial Admission to PTEP – referred to as Checkpoint #1 (Enrollment in this checkpoint will result in a one-time program fee, assessed to student accounts to pay for assessment software. This checkpoint will also require an out-of-pocket payment - to the chosen approved vendor - to obtain a fingerprint background check, which is required by the Colorado Department of Education.)
- Completion of Full Admission to PTEP – referred to as Checkpoint #2
- Completion of Application for Student Teaching – referred to as Checkpoint #3
- Completion of content specific PRAXIS test prior to Student Teaching
- Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the STE Director.
- All PTEP Field Experiences and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
- Student Teaching outside the supervision of UNC Faculty may or may not be approved.
- Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they were once students or where they have a close relative attending and/or working.
- Teacher education and educator preparation licensure programs do not accept Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) or field based courses that are more than ten years old. PLEASE NOTE: Teacher Candidates have the right to petition this policy at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Please work with your content advisor to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout your program.
Degree Requirements — 120 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in the 120 credits outlined, the program recommends the below LAC sources that also count toward the 57 required major credits.
Any coursework completed outside the recommended list below may extend the program length.
Written Communication — 6 credits
It is recommended that students take ENG 122 (3) and SCI 291 (3) as their LAC Written Communication requirements to successfully prepare for and pass standardized testing for certification, but these courses are not specifically required for the major.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
MATH 124 (4) is recommended to fulfill both the Liberal Arts Curriculum and major requirements.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural and Physical Sciences — 7 credits
BIO 110 (4), CHEM 111 (4), CHEM 111L (1), CHEM 112 (4), CHEM 112L (1), or PHYS 220 (5) are recommended to fulfill Natural and Physical Sciences requirement and will fulfill both the LAC and major requirements.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 57 credits
Course selection may vary, depending upon the educational background of the student, with approval of the advisor. Science and math support courses, required to meet CDE Licensure in Secondary Science, are to be selected in consultation with the major advisor.
| AST 301 | Classical Astronomy and the Solar System | 3 |
| BIO 110 | Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASL | 4 |
| BIO 111 | Biology: Organisms to EcosystemsLAS1LASL | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry ILAS1 | 4 |
| CHEM 111L | Principles of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL | 1 |
| CHEM 112 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 112L | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| GEOL 201 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 202 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| GEOL 390 | Colorado Geology | 3 |
| MATH 124 | College AlgebraLAX1 | 4 |
| MET 205 | General MeteorologyLAS1LASL | 4 |
| MET 452 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| OCN 200 | General OceanographyLAS1LASL | 4 |
| | or | |
| OCN 301 | Physical and Chemical Oceanography | 4 |
| | or | |
| OCN 302 | Geological and Biological Oceanography | 4 |
| PHYS 220 | Introductory Physics ILAS1LASL | 5 |
| PHYS 221 | Introductory Physics II | 5 |
3. Required PTEP — 38 credits
Phase I (5 credits taken concurrently)
| EDF 290 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| STEP 161 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching I | 2 |
Phase II (8 credits taken concurrently)
| STEP 262 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching II | 2 |
| EDSE 360 | Adaptation, Modification, and Integration of Curriculum for the Secondary Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| PSY 349 | Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers | 3 |
Phase III (11 credits)
| STEP 363 | Clinical Experience: Secondary | 2 |
| ECLD 340 | Academic Language/Literacy Development in the Content Areas at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| SCED 441 | Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science | 3 |
| ET 449 | Integrating Technologies into Secondary Education Pedagogy | 3 |
ECLD 340: maybe taken outside of Phase III
ET 449: to be taken concurrently with SCED 441 to satisfy CLD requirement
Phase IV (14 credits)
4. University-Wide Credits — 0 credits*
*Note: Students must apply recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum requirements and the major requirements to complete this degree program in 120 credit hours. Students may have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree depending on the number of credits applied to both the LAC and the major. See your advisor for details.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 30 credits
Fall Semester
| BIO 110 | Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASL | 4 |
| ENG 122 | College CompositionLAW1 | 3 |
| GEOL 201 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| MET 205 | General MeteorologyLAS1LASL | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| BIO 111 | Biology: Organisms to EcosystemsLAS1LASL | 4 |
| GEOL 202 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| MATH 124 | College AlgebraLAX1 | 4 |
| | LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.
Year 2 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| CHEM 111 | Principles of Chemistry ILAS1 | 4 |
| CHEM 111L | Principles of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL | 1 |
| OCN 200 | General OceanographyLAS1LASL | 4 |
| | or | |
| OCN 301 | Physical and Chemical Oceanography | 4 |
| | or | |
| OCN 302 | Geological and Biological Oceanography | 4 |
| | LAC Written CommunicationLAW1LAW2LAW3 | 3 |
| | LAC Social and Behavioral SciencesLAB1LAB2LAB3 | 3 |
| | Application for Initial Admission to PTEP | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
LAC Social and Behavior Sciences: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.
LAC Written Communication: SCI 291 is recommended.
Spring Semester
| CHEM 112 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 112L | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| EDF 290 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| STEP 161 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching I | 2 |
| | LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4 | 3 |
| | LAC HistoryLAH1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 3 – 31 credits
Fall Semester
| EDSE 360 | Adaptation, Modification, and Integration of Curriculum for the Secondary Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| GEOL 390 | Colorado Geology | 3 |
| PHYS 220 | Introductory Physics ILAS1LASL | 5 |
| PSY 349 | Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers | 3 |
| STEP 262 | Observation and Analysis of Secondary Teaching II | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring Semester
| MET 452 | Paleoclimatology | 3 |
| PHYS 221 | Introductory Physics II | 5 |
| SCED 440 | Strategies in Teaching Secondary Science | 1 |
| | LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1 | 3 |
| | University-Wide Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Year 4 – 28 credits
Fall Semester
| AST 301 | Classical Astronomy and the Solar System | 3 |
| ECLD 340 | Academic Language/Literacy Development in the Content Areas at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| ET 449 | Integrating Technologies into Secondary Education Pedagogy | 3 |
| SCED 441 | Methods of Teaching Secondary School Science | 3 |
| STEP 363 | Clinical Experience: Secondary | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring Semester
| STEP 464 | Secondary Student Teaching | 1-14 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |