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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ASTR 104 | Astronomy of the Solar System | 3 |
| 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 360 | Research Methods for Math and Science Teachers | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Astronomy for Teachers | ||
| Life Science for Middle Grades Teachers | ||
| Chemistry / Middle School | ||
| Earth System Science 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 Hours | 30-31 | |
Support Courses
Students must complete the following support courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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 Hours | 11-14 | |
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ASTR 104 or ASTR 106 | 3 | GEOL 111 & GEOL 113 or GEOL 112/114 | 4 |
| BIOL 120 & BIOL 121 or BIOL 122/123 | 4 | BIOL 120 & BIOL 121 or BIOL 122/123 | 4 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| MATH 117 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| SMED 101 | 3 | SMED 102 | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CHEM 105 & CHEM 106 or CHEM 120/121 | 4 | PHYS 201 or PHYS 231/232 | 4 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | SMED 320 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Restricted Upper Division Elective* | 3 |
| SMED 310 | 3 | World Language, if needed OR General Elective | 3 |
| World Language, if needed OR General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SMED 340 | 3 | SMED 360 | 3 |
| MSS Elective | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| Restricted Upper Division Elective* | 3 | Restricted Upper Division Elective* | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | MSS Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | MSS Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SMED 470 | 3 | MGE 490 | 5-10 |
| General Education B | 3 | SMED 489 | 3 |
| 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 following courses with the assistance of their advisor:
- ASTR 405 Astronomy for Teachers
- CHEM 470 Chemistry for Teachers
- BIOL 303 Life Sciences for Middle Grades Teachers
- GEOL 305 Earth Systems for Teachers