Chemistry Education (B.S.)

Location(s): Main Campus

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Program Summary

Chemistry is a fundamental field of study that explores the physical world. Chemists seek to understand the properties and behavior of matter and then utilize this knowledge to solve problems and create solutions for critical issues related to human health, material development, and environmental issues, among many other applications. The Chemistry - Teacher Education Emphasis (B.S.) degree is designed to meet the requirements to teach chemistry in secondary schools.

The Southern Utah University chemistry faculty are committed to instilling an understanding of chemistry and its relevance through quality teaching, scholarly activities, and service. In a world that is becoming increasingly more technical and complex, providing chemical instruction with the depth, breadth, and rigor required to meet this need is of primary importance.

As chemistry faculty, we endeavor to provide students with quality, current, comprehensive courses and hands-on experience to serve the following needs:

Preparation of students for the pursuit of a graduate degree in chemistry.
Preparation of students for the pursuit of a degree in the health sciences (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.).
Preparation of students to gain immediate employment in a chemistry-related field upon obtaining their degree.
Preparation of students who choose to become chemical educators.
Education of students to think critically and independently.
Improvement of students’ communicative, creative, analytic, and information-gathering skills.

To accomplish these goals, the chemistry faculty will provide the following:

Honest evaluations of students’ abilities and potential.
A climate of mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff, and students.
The explanation, demonstration, and application of basic scientific principles and methodologies.
Opportunities for mentorship through undergraduate research, employment, and other experiential and high-impact practices.

Program Information

All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the major.
All prerequisite courses must be passed with “C” (2.0) or better.
Chemistry Education students are required to complete a teaching minor in one of the physical sciences or mathematics. This will increase their marketability when they enter the teaching profession.
This degree does not include the requisite number of upper-division credit hours. Students completing this degree will fill the upper-division requirement with their minor requirements and/or their Secondary Education Licensure coursework.
All Chemistry majors must successfully complete an exit exam before graduation.
Credits greater than 10 years old will not be accepted in this major.
Some courses are taught every other year. Consult your advisor for scheduling help.

General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)

See General Education for course options.

Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
Breadth Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)

Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Breadth Area requirements.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)

Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits

* Note: A portion of the B.S. requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education Core and Breadth Areas. Because of this, these credits are typically not counted in the degree total at the bottom of page. Some students majoring in non-science fields may need additional math/science courses to reach the minimum 12 credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Chemistry Education Curriculum (42-45 Credits)

Required Chemistry Courses (31-34 Credits)

CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 1215 - Principles of Chemistry I Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 1225 - Principles of Chemistry II Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 2010 - Chemical Lab Safety 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 2310 - Organic Chemistry I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 2315 - Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 2320 - Organic Chemistry II 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 2325 - Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 3000 - Quantitative Analysis 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 3005 - Quantitative Analysis Lab 1 Credit(s)

Complete Two of the Following Advanced Courses

Lecture/lab pairing counts as one course:

CHEM 3160 - Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 3610 - Physical Chemistry-Thermodynamics and Kinetics 3 Credit(s) (requires MATH 1220 as a prerequisite)
CHEM 3615 - Physical Chemistry-Thermodynamics and Kinetics Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 3620 - Physical Chemistry-Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy 3 Credit(s) (requires MATH 1220 as a prerequisite)
CHEM 3625 - Physical Chemistry-Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 4110 - Biochemistry I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 4120 - Biochemistry II 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 4125 - Biochemistry Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 4160 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 4165 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Lab 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 4230 - Instrumental Analysis 3 Credit(s)

Required Math Course (4 Credits)

Complete one of the following:

MATH 1050 - College Algebra 4 Credit(s) * (can be used to fulfill General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement)
MATH 1210 - Calculus I 4 Credit(s) * (can be used to fulfill General Education Quantitative Literacy requirement)

Note

* Students who are not prepared for this math course may need additional math credits/preparation. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for more information.

Required Physical Science Education Courses (7 Credits)

PSCI 4870 - 3D Science Secondary Education 2 Credit(s)
PSCI 4900 - Teaching Science in Secondary Schools 2 Credit(s)
PSCI 4980 - Student Teaching in Physical Science 3 Credit(s)

Required Education Minor (20 Credits)

Students completing the Chemistry - Teacher Education Emphasis major must complete one of the following minors:

Free Electives (20-39 Credits)

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Total Credits, B.S. Degree: 120

Professional Education Requirements for Secondary Licensure (36-37 Credits)*

To qualify for a teaching license, students must also complete the sequence of professional education courses listed by the Department of Teacher Education . Please see the degree requirements for Secondary Education Licensure . Some classes required for the licensure cannot be taken until the teacher candidate has been admitted to the College of Education and Human Development. Please consult your advisor or the Department of Teacher Education for further instruction.

* Students who complete their teaching methods course(s) and student teaching as part of their major requirements will earn fewer than 36 credits. Those course credits are counted only once in the degree total.

Pre-Admission Courses (18-19 Credits)

EDUC 2100 - Principles of Curriculum and Instruction 3 Credit(s)
EDUC 2200 - Educational Psychology 3 Credit(s)
EDUC 2400 - Schools, Society, and Diversity 3 Credit(s)
SPED 2030 - Educating Exceptional Students 3 Credit(s)
SCED 3180 - Instructional Technology for Teaching and Learning 2-3 Credit(s)
SCED 3720 - Content Area Literacy and Utah Core 2 Credit(s)
Academic 3900/4900 Methods Course(s) 2-3 Credit(s)

Block Courses: Block Application Required (6 Credits)

SCED 3570 - Secondary Classroom Management 3 Credit(s)
SCED 3590 - Instructional Planning, Delivery, and Assessment 3 Credit(s)

Advanced Teacher Education Program Courses (12 Credits)

Registration for student teaching is contingent upon passing any required content area Praxis test(s). (Praxis requirements changed for students in content areas on January 1, 2020. See advisor for current rules.)

SCED 4520 - Practicum/Induction Seminar 3 Credit(s)
SCED 4980 - Secondary Student Teaching 6 Credit(s)
Academic 4980 - Student Teaching 3 Credit(s)

Total Credits, B.S. Degree with Licensure: 120-131

Licensure Notification

This program typically leads to licensure/certification and was designed to meet such qualifications for the state of Utah. Students who are or may be planning to pursue licensure/certification in any other U.S. state or territory may need to meet additional education requirements. This is not a reflection of SUU’s accreditation or quality, as each state and territory regulates their own education requirements for occupational licensure.

Students enrolled in a teacher preparation program may potentially be able to use a Utah educator license to obtain licensure through reciprocity. Additional information may be found through the Department of Teacher Education’s reciprocity table.

An overview of all of SUU’s programs that lead to licensure/certification and the programs’ current determination statuses may be found at www.suu.edu/provost/licensure.html.

Program Learning Outcomes

Problem-Solving Skills: Students will develop experience in defining problems, creating testable hypotheses, designing, and executing experiments, analyzing data using appropriate statistical methods, and inferring appropriate conclusions.
Chemical Literature Skills: Students will be able to use the peer-reviewed scientific literature effectively and evaluate technical articles critically. Computer applications and resources will be emphasized as a method to navigate the literature.
Laboratory Skills: Students will be able to carry out laboratory procedures appropriate for their level of study using standard techniques and accepted laboratory practices. Students should understand responsible disposal techniques, comply with safety regulations, utilize safety data sheets (SDS) to identify and minimize potential chemical and physical hazards in the laboratory, and know how to handle laboratory emergencies effectively.
Communication Skills: Students will have multiple opportunities to present information in a clear and organized manner, write well-organized and concise reports in a scientifically appropriate style, and use technology for data analysis, chemical structure drawing, and other software to aid in the communication of scientific information.