Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

Middle School Science, Bachelor of Science (734)

The middle school science major is for students who plan to teach science in grades 5 through 9. The middle school science major also requires completion of the science and mathematics education (SMED) program. Upon successful completion of both majors, the student will earn a Bachelor of Science degree and will qualify for an institutional recommendation for a Kentucky Provisional Certificate for teaching in the middle grades (5-9) science field.

Program Requirements (30-31 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

To major in Middle School Science, students must complete 30-31 semester hours of coursework with a “C” or higher in each course. All science courses must be completed with an average GPA of 2.75 or better.

Core Courses
ASTR 104Astronomy of the Solar System3
or ASTR 106 Astronomy of Stellar Systems
BIOL 122
BIOL 123
Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology
and Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Lab
4
Select one of the following:4
The Earth
and The Earth Laboratory
Earth's Past and Future
and Earth's Past and Future Lab
Select one of the following:4
College Physics I
Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I
and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I
Upper-Level Science Courses
SMED 360Research Methods for Math and Science Teachers3
Select three of the following:9
Astronomy for Teachers
Life Science for Middle Grades Teachers
Chemistry / Middle School
Earth System Science for Teachers
Physics for Teachers
Upper-Level Restricted Electives
Select one of the following:3-4
Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology
and Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory
Insect Biodiversity
Ornithology
Genetics
Animal Behavior
Plant Taxonomy
Technological Applications in Natural Resource Management
Structural Geology
Global Hydrology
General Oceanography
Introduction to Minerals and Crystalline Rocks
Introductory Field Techniques
Paleontology
Middle Grades Science Skills and Methods
Applying Middle Grade Science Across Disciplines
Total Hours30-31

Support Courses

Students must complete the following support courses:

BIOL 120
BIOL 121
Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics
and Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab
4
Select one of the following:3-5
Trigonometry
Calculus I
Calculus with Applications for Life Sciences
Select one of the following:4-5
Fundamentals of General Chemistry
and Fundamentals of General Chemistry Laboratory
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
Total Hours11-14

Finish in Four Plan 

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ASTR 104 or ASTR 1063GEOL 111
GEOL 113
4
BIOL 120
BIOL 121
4BIOL 120
BIOL 121
4
ENG 1003COMM 1453
MATH 1173HIST 101 or HIST 1023
SMED 1013SMED 1023
 16 17
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CHEM 105
CHEM 106
4PHYS 201 or PHYS 231/2324
ENG 2003SMED 3203
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Restricted Upper Division Elective*3
SMED 3103World Language, if needed OR General Elective3
World Language, if needed OR General Elective3General Elective3
 16 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SMED 3403SMED 3603
MSS Elective3ENG 3003
Restricted Upper Division Elective*3Restricted Upper Division Elective*3
Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3MSS Elective3
General Elective3MSS Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SMED 4703MGE 4905-10
General Education B3SMED 4893
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3 
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) 3 
 12 13
Total Hours 120
*

Restricted upper division course.  Student must select 3 of the 5 following courses with the assistance of their advisor:

  • PHYS 410 Physics for Teachers
  • ASTR 405 Astronomy for Teachers
  • CHEM 470 Chemistry for Teachers
  • BIOL 303 Life Sciences for Middle Grades Teachers
  • GEOL 305 Earth Systems for Teachers