Chemistry Education (Minor)

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 minor is designed for students wishing to obtain an endorsement 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 minor.
All prerequisite courses must be passed with “C” (2.0) or better.
Credits greater than 10 years old will not be accepted in this minor.
State standards require Chemistry Principles, a laboratory safety course, 3D Teaching course, and Teaching Methods.

Chemistry Education Minor Curriculum (20 Credits)

Required Chemistry Courses (16 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)

Required Physical Science Education Courses (4 Credits)

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

Total Credits, Minor: 20

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.