2013-2014

Secondary Education - Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Education

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences

This degree prepares you to teach high school chemistry. It is firmly grounded in chemistry content and the program also includes significant work in teacher preparation. Together these skills will prepare you to teach this relevant, exciting, and increasingly marketable subject.

This program is nationally recognized by the National Science Teachers Association.

This program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 91 units of major requirements which includes 31 units of Mathematics and Science Teaching requirements.
  • Be aware that you may not use courses with a CHM prefix to satisfy liberal studies requirements
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.

Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, and professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.5
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 137
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching Required
University Honors Program Optional
Progression Plan Link Not Available

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Admission requirements over and above admisssion to NAU are required.

  • To be eligible for admission to the teacher education program, candidates must meet the following requirements and apply for the program online.

    30 units of coursework which includes:

    • TSM 101 and TSM 102 with grades of "C" or better
    • Program Mathematics Foundations requirement with a grade of "C" or better
    • The English foundations requirement (ENG 105 or equivalent) with a minimum GPA of 3.0. (If your English GPA is below 3.0, you may take an approved writing course to achieve the 3.0 GPA.)
    • Completion of or enrollment in TSM 300, Knowing and Learning
    • A minimum GPA of 2.5 in all content major coursework (must have taken at least 6 units) AND one of the following grade point average requirements:
      • A cumulative 2.5 GPA in Liberal Studies courses
      • A cumulative 2.5 GPA in all courses
    • You must be declared in this major
    • Completion of a teacher-education orientation for Secondary Education
    • Submission of a copy of your State-approved Identity-Verified Print (IVP) fingerprint clearance card, obtainable through the Arizona Department of Public Safety (602-223-2279)
Major Requirements

  • Mathematics and Science Teaching Courses (31 units)

    • TSM 300 with a grade of "C" or better (3 units)
    • TSM 495C (12 units)
    • TSM 496C with a grade of "B" or better (1 unit)

  • Note: Together, TSM 496C and TSM 495C meet Northern Arizona University's senior capstone requirement.

    In order to be approved for student teaching, you must complete the following 15 units, earning a grade of "B" or better in four of the five courses and earning a "C" or better in the remaining course.

Teacher Preparation

  • In all of our teacher education programs, you are required to apply for, and complete a student teaching or internship experience. Applications are due one year prior to the student teaching semester. In addition, a minimum number of units of practicum is required, which involves supervised field experience with a practicing teacher.

    Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:

    • Admission to the teacher education program
    • NAU GPA must be at least 2.5, with a GPA of 2.5 in all teacher preparation courses, with no grade lower than a "C"
    • Complete all plan requirements.
    • Take the appropriate AEPA Subject Knowledge test.
    • All major coursework, with the exception of TSM 101, must be completed within the six years prior to student teaching.
    • All candidates must demonstrate social and emotional maturity consistent with professional standards of classroom instruction as well as adequate physical health for teaching.

  • Arizona Teacher Certification

    In order to obtain an Arizona teaching certificate you must pass both the appropriate National Evaluation Series subject matter test and the National Evaluation Series Secondary Assessment Professional Knowledge.

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

  • Please note that you may take as an elective POS 220 (or POS 110 and POS 241), which satisfies the state and federal constitution requirement for Arizona certification, or you may meet the requirement by demonstrating proficiency on a special exam.
Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.