This degree serves students who wish to teach middle or high school Earth sciences in secondary schools (grades 6-12). Firmly grounded in the Earth sciences (e.g., geology, astronomy, meteorology, etc.), with significant work in teacher preparation through the highly acclaimed NAUTeach science and mathematics teacher certification program, the program prepares you to gain expertise in the Earth sciences while earning your Arizona teaching certification.
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) This program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education (AZSBE)
If you're fascinated by geology and interested in teaching high-school students about science, earning a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on Earth Science is the way to go. Not only will you take Earth Sciences classes, you'll also complete teacher-preparation courses to earn recommendation for your certification.
As an Earth Sciences teacher, you'll motivate and inspire your students to love the sciences. You'll graduate with the knowledge and teaching skills necessary to lead a productive classroom and shape an exceptional educational experience for every student you reach.
Note: In addition to being admitted to the university, you must also meet the additional admission requirements and apply for admission to the Professional Education Programs.
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 general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
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 125 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Progression Plan Link | Not Available |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
The NAUTeach program equips secondary mathematics and science students (or teacher candidates) with the knowledge and practices necessary to teach diverse learners in ways that are rigorous, equitable, and responsive to all students. Our program provides a challenging undergraduate progression plan designed to prepare mathematics and science teachers for grades 6-12. The program emphasizes the teacher candidates' ability to develop research-based pedagogy through a STEM-focused, field-intensive, rigorous curriculum. Undergraduates are highly supported by faculty specializing in mathematics and science education research and who have years of professional classroom experience. Our program is designed for students, with strong skills in mathematics or science, seeking certification to teach biology, chemistry, physics, Earth sciences, general science, or mathematics at the secondary level.
The NAUTeach program provides opportunities for you to:
Student Learning Outcomes
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This major requires 99 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 99 units:
Earth Science Course Requirements (36 units)
The following coursework must be completed with a Grade of "C" or better or a grade of P for pass/fail coursework is required for all major requirements.
General Science Course Requirements (24 units)
Teacher Preparation Courses (39 units)
The following coursework must be completed with a Grade of 'C' or better, except where noted.
Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:
The NAU Teach program was intentionally designed to lead to licensure or certification in the state of Arizona. As part of that program design, you must pass the Secondary Professional Knowledge Exam that aligns with certification requirements in the state of Arizona to graduate.
Students in the Secondary Education – Earth Science BSEd may pursue a dual degree with the following plan:
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 General Studies Requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Arizona state teacher certification requirements leading to an Institutional Recommendation may change at any time and may impact program of study requirements.
This degree plan is supported through the NAUTeach program.
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.