Chemistry Education

About this Composite Major

The Chemistry Education major is designed to prepare you for teaching in junior and senior high schools. A Bachelor of Science in Education with a Chemistry major plus 12 semester hours in each of the other sciences (biology, earth and environmental science, and physics) will qualify you to teach those secondary science courses. Other opportunities, not part of any regular program, exist on campus and provide sound practical experience, such as student assistantships and participation in the campus-tutoring program.

As a Chemistry Education major you are placed into schools for a series of field experiences including Introduction to Education (40 hours); Practicum (80 hours); Culturally Diverse Practicum (25 hours involving 3 consecutive full days in a classroom), and a 12-week student teaching field experience. Student teaching is the culminating experience of the program and the opportunity for students to apply all they have learned.

Meet a Student

VCSU Student Lindsey Kiecker working in the Chemistry Lab.

VCSU is where I found my place, my role and myself. My passion for teaching science was well received and positively influenced by my peers and professors. I’m sure every student here can say the same, that their passions for what they love and are interested in has been supported while attending VCSU. I transferred to VCSU my sophomore year. I remember visiting the chemistry lab on campus and thinking “you’re telling me I can be in here working with these things?” Not only have I had many opportunities to learn from amazing professors, but I have also been able to teach and tutor chemistry, physics and STEM students. - Lindsey Kiecker, Jamestown, N.D.

Meet a Graduate

“I was drawn to the excitement and energy the faculty and my fellow Chemistry Ed major students brought to the university. The program challenged me and brought out the best of me as a student and person. We were able to compete and grow as friends inside the classroom/laboratory and outside of it. I made connections I will have the rest of my life.” —Jarvis Knudson ’15, Kulm, N.D.

Accreditations

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Get Involved in your Major

Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
Student North Dakota United (SNDU)

Practical Experience

The Rhoades Science Center includes a greenhouse for work in biology and botany, a planetarium and laboratories for biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, computer science, and photography studies.

On campus, the Rhoades Science Center includes a greenhouse for work in biology and botany, a planetarium and laboratories for biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, computer science, and photography studies. Students have access to:

Infrared spectroscopy, Molecular spectroscopy
Potentiometry, Refractometry and Polarimetry
Organic structure software
Excel data analysis
Fully equipped Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Laboratory and Biomedical Research Laboratory

4,285 jobs open every year in the upper Midwest in chemistry education. 90% of jobs in this career field require a bachelor’s degree. $52,700 annual median salary for a job in the field of chemistry education.

Teacher Education Requirements

Students are typically admitted into Teacher Education during their sophomore year or beginning of their junior year of college. This program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher and successful completion of the Praxis I test. Additional criteria for Admission to Teacher Education can be found at the following website: www.onestop.vcsu.edu.

Contact Information

Department Chair

Dr. Nicholas Galt, nicholas.galt@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7459

Faculty Contact

Dr. Teather Sundstrom, teather.sundstrom@vcsu.edu, (701) 845-7458

Department Location

Rhoades Science Center 203, (701) 845-7452

Schedule your visit today!

http://visit.vcsu.edu/

(701) 845-7101 or (800) 532-8641

General Education Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
English Composition
Select one of the following:		6
ENGL 110	College Composition I
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
or
ENGL 120	College Composition II
or ENGL 125	Introduction to Professional Writing
ENGL 210	College Composition III: Persuasive Writing
Speech Communication
Select one of the following:		3
COMM 110	Fundamentals of Public Speaking
COMM 212	Interpersonal Communication
COMM 216	Intercultural Communication
Mathematics
Select one of the following:		3
MATH 103	College Algebra
MATH 104	Finite Mathematics
MATH 107	Precalculus
MATH 110	Mathematics in Society
MATH 165	Calculus I ¹
MATH 210	Elementary Statistics
Lab Science
Select two of the following, one must come from the Natural and Physical Sciences category		8
Natural and Physical Sciences (ND:LABSC)
BIOL 111	Concepts of Biology
BIOL 150	General Biology I
BIOL 151	General Biology II
BIOL 170	General Zoology
CHEM 115	Introductory Chemistry
CHEM 116	Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II
GEOL 100	Introduction to Earth Science
GEOL 106	The Earth Through Time
PHYS 100	Concepts of Physics
PHYS 110	Introductory Astronomy
PHYS 211	College Physics I ²
PHYS 212	College Physics II ²
PHYS 251	University Physics I ²
PHYS 252	University Physics II ²
Additional Sciences (ND:SCI)
PSYC 240	Cognition and Brain Science
TECH 161	Technology, Engineering, and Design
TECH 165	Technology Solutions for Society
Wellness
Select one of the following:		2
HPER 100	Concepts of Fitness and Wellness
HPER 212	Introduction to Stress Management
Computer Science and Literacy
Select one of the following:		3
CIS 147	Principles of Information Security
CIS 170	Introduction to Computer Information Systems ³
CSCI 120	Introduction to Programming
CSCI 127	Introduction to Programming in Java
CSCI 160	Introduction to Structured Programming I
CSCI 289	Social Implications of Computer Technology ³
SE 110	Discovering Computing
Humanities
Literacies
Select one of the following:		3
ASL 101	American Sign Language I
ASL 102	American Sign Language II
COMM 211	Oral Interpretation
ENGL 220	Introduction to Literature
ENGL 225	Introduction to Film
ENGL 231	Bible as Literature
ENGL 232	Mythology
ENGL 236	Women and Literature
ENGL 241	World Literature I
ENGL 242	World Literature II
ENGL 261	American Literature I
ENGL 262	American Literature II
HUM 201	Civilization, Thought, and Literary Heritage
PSYC 200	Ethics and Philosophy of Science
SPAN 101	1st Year Spanish I
SPAN 102	1st Year Spanish II
SPAN 201	2nd Year Spanish I
SPAN 202	2nd Year Spanish II
THEA 110	Introduction to Theatre Arts
Art and Music
Select one of the following:		3
ART 110	Introduction to the Visual Arts
ART 115	Introduction to Digital Media
ART 210	Art History I
ART 211	Art History II
ART 233	History of Craft
HUM 202	Fine Arts and Aesthetics
MUS 100	Music Appreciation
MUS 101	Music Fundamentals
MUS 201	World Music
MUS 207	History of Popular/Rock Music
Social Science
Select 6 credits from the following:		6
COMM 112	Understanding Media and Social Change
COMM 114	Human Communication
ECON 201	Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 202	Principles of Macroeconomics
GEOG 151	Human Geography
HIST 103	United States to 1877
HIST 104	United States to Present
HIST 211	World Civilizations to 1500
HIST 212	World Civilizations since 1500
HIST 267	Environmental History
HIST 270	Native American Studies
POLS 115	American National Government
POLS 116	State and Local Government
PSYC 111	Introduction to Psychology ¹
SOC 110	Introduction to Sociology
SOC 111	Introduction to Anthropology
Additional Humanities or Social Science
Select one additional course from Humanities or Social Science or select from the following:		2
ART 122	Two-Dimensional Design
ART 130	Drawing I
ART 150	Ceramics I
ART 180	Photography I
GEOG 111	Survey of Geography
MUS 104	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 105	Group Piano for Non-Majors
MUS 130	Valkyries
MUS 131	Concert Choir
MUS 140	Athletic Band
MUS 141	Concert Band
PHYS 275	Planetarium Science
THEA 201	Theatre Practicum
Total Credits		39

¹: Required
²: Required to take PHYS 211 College Physics I and PHYS 212 College Physics II or takePHYS 251 University Physics I and PHYS 252 University Physics II
³: Course satisfies the Digital Literacy graduation requirement.

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
BIOL 150	General Biology I	4
or BIOL 151	General Biology II
BIOL 440	Biostatistics and Experimental Design	3
or MATH 321	Applied Probability and Statistics
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I	5
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II	5
CHEM 330	Quantitative Analysis I	4
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I	5
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II	5
CHEM 360	Elements of Biochemistry	4
CHEM 395	Laboratory Preparation and Management	1
CHEM 411	Physical Chemistry I	4
CHEM 490	Secondary Science Methods and Techniques	3
CHEM 491	Integrated Science Capstone	2
GEOL 100	Introduction to Earth Science	4
To become a "highly qualified" teacher in other areas of science (Biology, Physics, or Earth Science), a student must take a minimum of 12 hours in each of the other science areas in which they intend to teach.
Total Credits		49

Total General Education 39-41 Hrs
Total Major Requirement 49 Hrs
Total Professional Education Sequence 32-33 Hrs
Total Credits Needed to Graduate 120 Hrs

Professional Education Sequence

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Professional Education Sequence
EDUC 240	Educating Exceptional Students	3
EDUC 250	Introduction to Education	3
EDUC 283	Understanding Cultural Diversity in Education	3
EDUC 300	Educational Technology	2
EDUC 351	Secondary Practicum and Classroom Management	1
EDUC 352	Culturally Diverse Practicum	1
or EDUC 464	Practicum in the ELL Classroom
EDUC 375	Teaching Reading in the Content Areas	2
EDUC 400	Educational Psychology	2
EDUC 450	Trends in Assessment and Educational Issues	2
EDUC 480	Student Teaching (Secondary)	10
PSYC 250	Developmental Psychology	3
Total Credits		32

For degree and graduation requirements, visit degree requirements and graduation requirements.

Plan of Study

Fall start - even years

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Art and Music (Gen Ed)	3	CHEM 122	5
CHEM 121	5	CHEM 395	1
CIS 170 (Gen Ed)	3	COMM 110 (Gen Ed)	3
ENGL 110 (Gen Ed)	3	ENGL 120 (Gen Ed)	3
UNIV 150	1	HPER 100 (Gen Ed)	2
		Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
	15		17
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 330	4	CHEM 331	4
EDUC 250	3	BIOL 150 or 151	4
GEOL 100	4	MATH 165 (Gen Ed)	4
PHYS 211 (Gen Ed)	4	PHYS 212 (Gen Ed)	4
PSYC 111 (Gen Ed)	3
	18		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Additional Humanities or Social Science (Gen Ed)	2	BIOL 440	4
CHEM 341	5	CHEM 342	5
CHEM 411	4	EDUC 283	3
EDUC 300	2	EDUC 352	1
EDUC 450	2	EDUC 240	3
EDUC 351	1	PSYC 250	3
	16		19
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 360	4	EDUC 480	10
CHEM 491	2
EDUC 375	2
EDUC 400	2
CHEM 490	3
Literacies (Gen Ed)	3
	16		10
Total Credits 127

Fall start - odd years

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Art and Music (Gen Ed)	3	CHEM 122	5
CHEM 121	5	CHEM 395	1
CIS 170 (Gen Ed)	3	COMM 110 (Gen Ed)	3
ENGL 110 (Gen Ed)	3	ENGL 120 (Gen Ed)	3
UNIV 150	1	HPER 100 (Gen Ed)	2
		Social Science (Gen Ed)	3
	15		17
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 341	5	BIOL 150 or 151	4
EDUC 250	3	CHEM 342	5
GEOL 100	4	PHYS 212 (Gen Ed)	4
PHYS 211 (Gen Ed)	4	PSYC 250	3
PSYC 111 (Gen Ed)	3
	19		16
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
Additional Humanities or Social Science (Gen Ed)	2	BIOL 440	4
CHEM 330	4	CHEM 330	4
CHEM 360	4	EDUC 240	3
EDUC 300	2	EDUC 283	3
EDUC 450	2	EDUC 352 or 464	1-2
EDUC 351	1	MATH 165 (Gen Ed)	4
	15		19-20
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
CHEM 411	4	EDUC 480	10
CHEM 491	2
EDUC 375	2
EDUC 400	2
CHEM 490	3
Literacies (Gen Ed)	3
	16		10
Total Credits 127-128

Please note: This plan is intended for general information only. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor each semester before registration.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the major concepts in chemistry.
Exhibit critical thinking skills by applying the scientific method to solve problems.
Exhibit the ability to read and communicate in a scientific style.
Exhibit the ability to collaborate
Understand the importance of chemistry to themselves and society.