Chemistry Major: Science Education (Grades 4-12) Concentration - Bachelor of Science (BS)

The Chemistry Education Program at UW-La Crosse is part of the Secondary Teacher Education Preparation (STEP) program and approved by the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI). This program includes the course work and classroom experiences necessary to satisfy the requirements for a Science, grades 4-12 (2600) teaching license in the state of Wisconsin.

Completion of the Chemistry: Science Education Concentration Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:

  • Middle and High School Science, grades 4-12 (2600).

Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in chemistry: science education (grades 4-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.

Retention and advancement

Teacher candidates may be retained in their teacher education program provided they fulfill the conditions described in the SOE Retention Policy. Students must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching as described in the Student Teaching and Internship Policy. Additional SOE program requirements, including the culminating assessment of pedagogical knowledge, are described on the SOE catalog page.

Curriculum

The Chemistry: Science Education Concentration Program is aligned with Wisconsin Teacher Standards (WTS) and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Standards.

Program requirement courses that may also fulfill Core General Education Requirements (CGER) (21 credits)

EDS 203Foundations of Education 1, 23
EDS 206Society and Schools 1, 33
EDS 309Global Perspectives in Education 43
MTH 207Calculus I 54
GEO 200Conservation of Global Environments 63
CHM 103General Chemistry I 7, 85
Total Credits21
1

Satisfies an SOE core requirement.

2

May also satisfy CGER - Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies (CGER SBS-BS).

3

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: Communities of the United States (CGER CP-CU).

4

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: The Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW).

5

May also satisfy CGER - Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning (CGER MPR-QR).

6

May also satisfy CGER - Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet (CGER-NSW-MBP).

7

May also satisfy CGER - Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science (CGER NSWL-ES).

8

Satisfies a science education core requirement.

Science education core requirements (51 credits)

Allied courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
PSY 212Lifespan Development 13
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 13
Content courses not requiring admission to the School of Education
BIO 105General Biology4
BIO 203Organismal Biology4
CHM 104General Chemistry II 95
GEO 101Earth Environments4
Select one of the following: 94
Fundamental Physics I
General Physics I
Select one of the following: 94
Fundamental Physics II
General Physics II
Courses requiring admission to the School of Education 1
CHM 451Curriculum and Content in Science and Mathematics2
CHM 452The Learner and Learning in Science2
CHM 454Field Experience I in Science Education2
CHM 455Field Experience II in Science Education2
Student teaching semester
Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 10
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 11
One of the following: 111
Student Teaching: Middle/High School Education (4-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits51

Chemistry major content requirements (22-25 credits)

Besides the below, additional courses count toward this requirement. However, they also satisfy other requirements in the program. The relevant courses are marked in those sections.

CHM 271The Chemical Community1
CHM 301Analytical Chemistry5
CHM 309Physical Chemistry Theory I3
Organic chemistry5-8
Select one of the following options:
Option A (8 credits)
Organic Chemistry Theory I
and Organic Chemistry Theory II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Option B (7 credits)
Organic Chemistry Theory I
and Organic Chemistry Theory II
and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Option C (5 credits)
Fundamental Organic Chemistry
and Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Math requirements
MTH 208Calculus II4
MTH 310Calculus III: Multivariable Calculus4
Total Credits22-25
9

Satisfies a chemistry major content requirement.

10

Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. See SOE's benchmark assessments website for information about these assessments. For more information on student teaching, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

Survey requirement

Each student must complete a programmatic assessment survey. Each student will be contacted prior to graduation by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with information on how to complete the requirement.

Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page. 

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
  2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  4. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  7. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

Core General Education Program

The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the Core General Education Requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
EDS 203 (CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies)3CHM 1045
CHM 103 (CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science)5EDS 206 (CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States)3
MTH 207 (CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning)4MTH 2084
UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success)2ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy)3
CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics3 
 17 15
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHM 3021PSY 2123
CHM 3004PHY 104 or 2044
CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy)3CHM 3015
GEO 200 (CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet)3BIO 1054
PHY 103 or 2034 
University Elective 1 
 16 16
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SPE 2003CHM 4542
BIO 2034CHM 4512
GEO 1014EDS 309 (CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World )3
MTH 3104CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us3
CHM 2711University Elective2
Apply for admission to SOE1 University Elective 3
Apply for Field Experience I2 Apply for Field Experience II2 
 Apply for Student Teaching3 
 16 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHM 4552All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.4 
CHM 4522EDS 4921
CHM 3093EDS 49611
CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell3Exam and Survey Requirement5 
University Elective3 
 13 12
Total Credits: 120
1

See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.

2

Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges

3

Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.

4

For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

5

Survey Requirement - Each student must complete a Programmatic Assessment Survey. Each student will be contacted prior to graduation by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with information on how to complete the requirement.