Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

College of Natural and Health Sciences

School of Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

SCED 513 Professional Renewal

Update skills and knowledge of professionals in the discipline. Goals and objectives will be specifically directed at individual professional enhancement rather than the acquisition of general discipline knowledge or methodologies. S/U or letter graded.
1-12

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

SCED 521 Physics in Modern Medicine

Apply and use physics concepts and laws to understand modern medical techniques. Develop lessons to integrate physics, as it relates to medicine, into other courses.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SCED 530 Laboratory, Field, and Studio Safety

Emphasizes formation of a "safety culture" in science and/or art. Federal and state regulations are covered. Course product is a safety manual for the laboratory or studio.
1

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SCED 531 Teaching Chemistry for the Future

Understanding of general chemistry is highly recommended. Examination of chemistry topics with real-world applications. Methods for the use of skills and themes in chemistry to encourage higher-level thinking in students in the high-school setting.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SCED 541 Secondary Science Methods II

Consider curriculum and classroom organization, testing and evaluation, procedures and materials, relationship of subject area to total secondary program, emphasizing teaching techniques and of technology use. Students will lead discussions and teaching situations.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SCED 551 History and Theory of Environmental Education

Students will explore historical and theoretical aspects of environmental education which creates a context to inform their development as practicing environmental educators.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SCED 553 Program Design and Planning in Environmental Education

Prepares students to use best practices in planning and designing environmental education programs and curricula. Students revise and/or develop an environmental education program for their final project.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SCED 561 Using Controversial Topics to Teach Nature of Science

Explores use of scientific “controversies” as a teaching strategy to understand the nature of science.  Empirical evidence supporting major science concepts are integrated with pedagogical strategies.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall and/or Spring Odd Years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: SCED 561 and BIO 579 and ESCI 561

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SCED 570 Teaching Science in the Elementary School

(2 lecture, 2 laboratory) Develop a knowledge of objectives, methods and materials needed for teaching a functional elementary science program. Laboratory activities included.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall and/or Spring Annually

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

Course Fee

Course Fee Required

SCED 578 K-12 Science Inquiry

Students will explore and define the elements of inquiry in P-16 science education from the perspective of teaching with inquiry, ability to do inquiry, and as part of science content.

3

Offered

Generally offered Summer Annually

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: SCED 578 and BIO 575 and ESCI 578

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SCED 581 Earth Systems: Water

An online course focusing on Colorado water resources and environmental issues in an Earth Systems context. Applications to societal issues and inquiry learning are emphasized.

3

Offered

Generally offered Fall and/or Spring Even Years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credits allowed for only one of these courses: SCED 581 and BIO 577 and ESCI 581

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SCED 605 Global Change

An online, problem-based course in which students conduct data analysis on climate variability, modeling, and Earth system impacts and apply results to societal issues.

3

Offered

Generally offered Spring Even Years

Mutually Exclusive Course

Credit allowed for only one of these courses: BIO 605 and ESCI 605 and SCED 605

Level Restriction

Include Graduate

SCED 622 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
1- 4

Special Notes

Maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

Level Restriction

Include GR

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

SCED 678 Science Education Seminar

Investigate current science education research, report on topics of interest in recent literature, discuss individual research problems.
1- 2

Level Restriction

Include GR

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 4 credit hours

SCED 694 Science Education Research

An introduction to research in discipline based science education, providing background and experience in the major activities associated with current practice in both field-based and quantitative studies.
3

Prerequisites

SRM 502 with a minimum grade of C

Level Restriction

Include GR

SCED 695 Action Research in Science Education I

Research a problem in K-12 science education relevant to students' teaching situations. Develop goals, review literature, and plan an action research project. This course is the first of three courses.
1

Prerequisites

SRM 600 with a minimum grade of C

Special Notes

Equivalent research course approved by advisor may be substituted for SRM 600.

Program Restrictions

Exclude Graduate Interdisciplinary-MS

Level Restriction

Include GR

SCED 696 Action Research in Science Education II

Conduct the action research plan developed and approved in SCED 695. An approved Action Research Plan Project is required to take this course. Second of three course series.
1

Prerequisites

SCED 695 with a minimum grade of C

Program Restrictions

Exclude Graduate Interdisciplinary-MS

Level Restriction

Include GR

SCED 697 Action Research in Science Education III

Complete the action research project by developing a summary and discussion. The final project must be presented to the action research committee. Final of a three course series.
1

Prerequisites

SCED 696 with a minimum grade of C

Program Restrictions

Exclude Graduate Interdisciplinary-MS

Level Restriction

Include GR

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 3 credit hours

SCED 699 Thesis

For majors in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Degree Program M.A. Science Education Concentration and wish to complete a thesis. S/U graded.
1- 6

Prerequisites

SRM 600 with a minimum grade of C

Special Notes

Equivalent research course approved by advisor may be substituted for SRM 600.

Program Restrictions

Include GIDP:Natural Sciences-MA

Level Restriction

Include GR

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours