NSTA/Science Education Program
Overview
I. Program Knowledge Base, Philosophy, & Goals and Objectives
The secondary science teacher certification program at EMU consists of 5 disciplinary subprograms: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, and General Science. While we use as our benchmark the NSTA Standards for Science Teacher Preparation (November 1998), the National Science Education Standards (1996), the Michigan Curriculum Framework (2001), and the content covered in the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification (MTTC), as well as the professional organizations within each science discipline, the fields of biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, and general science are well established and there is a broad consensus regarding the core of these programs.
The goal of the science program for secondary education majors at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of their chosen scientific discipline and its relation to the other sciences so that they can be effective as teachers at the secondary education level. It is expected that students will learn about scientific discipline at a level and in a depth that goes substantially beyond what they themselves will eventually teach. Studying advanced topics helps bring clarity to the more basic ones and also prepares the teacher-in-training for fielding questions which go beyond the normal scope of secondary education level science and for providing a challenging environment for talented, gifted, and/or highly motivated students. Engaging in scientific inquiry provides an understanding of the nature of science and the scientific process which will foster a classroom atmosphere where science is learned by doing science.
The wealth of global information and technological tools available today makes it evident that everyone needs to know the fundamental concepts of science and the nature of the scientific process in order to become a functional and contributing member of our society. The science and technology fields are also becoming intertwined. Biology is undergoing a major shift towards biotechnology, biochemistry and physics. Chemistry overlaps in several fields especially quantum mechanics. Geologists are dealing with the geochemistry of the materials on Earth, and astronomy takes in the physics of moving celestial bodies as well as the chemical makeup of these bodies. Thus the sciences must have a strong teaching program to provide our future teachers with methodologies that are effective in delivering this content to the next generation of students.
This university holds important the preparation of future school teachers who are competent in both the content and the pedagogy of their chosen scientific discipline. Throughout, the program stresses the importance of academic honesty, scientific ethics, independent thinking, laboratory skills, and formal report writing.
The objectives of the secondary science teacher education program at Eastern Michigan University are to produce graduates who:
Knowledge
Application
Professional Development
II. Overview of Program as it Relates to Teacher Education
Program requirements include the requirements within each science major and a sequence of courses (and Student Teaching) within the College of Education designed to develop and enhance teaching skills (see Matrix, Standard 1.a. for list of courses). All science methods courses are taught within the departments of the College of Arts & Sciences. Faculty from the Arts & Sciences and College of Education strive to communicate frequently about program changes, assessments, and meeting program goals.
Biology Faculty with responsibilities in the Secondary Education Program:
Dr. Cathy Bach, Professor, (tenured): Introductory sequence (Biol 110-120), selected advanced courses in ecology, undergraduate advising coordinator and student advisor for the biology teaching major.
Dr. Howard Booth, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses in zoology and anatomy and physiology.
Dr. Peter Bednekoff, Assistant Professor (tenured): Selected advanced courses in evolution and animal behavior.
Dr. Jamin Eisenbach, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses in organismal biology, student advisor for the biology teaching major.
Dr. Gary Hannan, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses in botany, student advisor for the biology teaching major.
Dr. David Kass, Associate Professor (tenured): Selected advanced courses in genetics and molecular biology.
Dr. Kevin Kuehn, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Introductory sequence and selected advanced courses in ecology and organismal biology.
Dr. Peggy Liggit, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Secondary and elementary biology methods courses and selected advanced courses in cell biology and microbiology, student advisor for the teaching majors and minors.
Dr. Uli Reinhardt, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Introductory sequence and selected advanced courses in organismal biology and ecology.
Dr. James VandenBosch, Professor (tenured): Selected advanced courses in cell and molecular biology and microbiology.
Dr. Robert Winning, Associate Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses, student advisor for the biology teaching major.
Dr. Henry Zot, Associate Professor (tenured): Selected advanced courses in cell and molecular biology.
Chemistry Faculty with responsibilities in Secondary Education Program:
Dr. Ruth Ann Armitage, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced instrumental courses.
Dr. Mickael J. Brabec, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced biochemistry courses.
Dr. Timothy R. Brewer, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced physical chemistry courses.
Dr. Elizabeth R. Butch, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Selected advanced biochemistry courses.
Dr. Timothy Friebe, Associate Professor (tenured): Selected advanced organic chemistry courses.
Dr. Deborah L. Heyl-Clegg, Professor (tenured): Selected advanced biochemistry courses.
Dr. Heather L. Holmes, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced instrumental courses.
Dr. Arthur S. Howard, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced organic chemistry courses.
Dr. Vance O. Kennedy, Associate Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced courses, student advising.
Dr. Maria C. Milletti, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced inorganic chemistry courses.
Dr. Elva Mae Nicholson, Professor (tenured): Selected advanced organic chemistry courses, student advising.
Dr. Ross S. Nord, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced physical chemistry courses, student advising.
Dr. Steven J. Pernecky, Associate Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced biochemistry courses.
Dr. Donald B. Phillips, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), Chemistry for Elementary Teachers course, student advising.
Dr. Krish Rengan, Professor (tenured): Selected advanced courses, student advising
Dr. Donald M. Snyder, Associate Professor (tenured): Selected advanced organic chemistry courses.
Dr. Wade J. Tornquist, Professor (tenured): Selected instrumental courses
Dr. Jose C. Vites, Associate Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence (CHEM121-4), selected advanced courses.
Earth Science Faculty with responsibilities in the Secondary Education Program:
Dr. Kevin Blake, Assistant Professor (tenure-track): Geomorphology,glacial geology, environmental geology.
Dr. Michael Bradley, Associate Professor (tenured): Structural geology, petrology.
Dr. Serena Poli, Assistant Professor (tenure-track) oceanography, Paleoclimatology.
Dr. Michael Kasenow, Associate Professor (tenured): Hydrogeology, environmental geology.
Dr. Steve LoDuca, Professor (tenured): Paleontology, sedimentology, stratigraphy.
Doreen Mobley, Lecturer (non-tenure track): Earth Science Secondary Methods and student advising for teaching majors.
Dr. Nicolaus Raphael, Professor (tenured): Coastal environments.
Dr. Carl Ojala, Professor (tenured): Weather, climate.
Dr. Eugene Jaworski, Professor (tenured): Aerial photography, remote sensing.
Dr. YichunXie, Professor (tenured): Geographic information systems.
Physics Faculty with responsibilities in the Secondary Education Program:
Dr. Ernest Behringer, Associate Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses, methods class, student advising.
Dr. James Carroll, Assistant Professor (tenure track): Introductory sequence, intermediate electricity and magnetism, modern physics, student advising.
Dr. Diane Jacobs, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses, student advising.
Dr. Alexandria Oakes, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses.
Dr. James Porter, Professor (tenured): Intermediate mechanics.
Dr. David Reid, Associate Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses.
Dr. Natthi Sharma, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, selected advanced courses.
Dr. James Sheerin, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence.
Dr. Weidian Shen, Associate Professor (tenured): Modern physics, intermediate mechanics.
Dr. Marshall Thomsen, Professor (tenured): Introductory sequence, ethical issues, thermodynamics, intermediate mechanics.
Dr. Daniel Trochet (Department Head): Introductory sequence, student advising
Dr. Jon Wooley, Professor (tenured): astronomy.
Dr. Bonnie Wylo, Professor (tenured): Methods class, student advising.
General Science Faculty are composed of faculty from the departments listed above.
In the past three years there have been 66 graduates in the secondary teaching program within the science majors: 18 in Biology, 1 Chemistry, 21 Earth Science, 2 in Physics, and 24 in General Science.
V. Admission of Post-baccalaureates
Post-baccalaureates must meet all the course requirements for the teaching major in each department as stated in the current catalog. Students who took advanced courses more than 10 years prior to admission to the program must retake the course or pass the department proficiency exam in that content area.
Index | Coversheet | Overview | Matrix