Science Teacher Education Program
The Science Education Program is committed to excellence in science teaching and learning. Successful completion of the Science Teacher Preparation Program requires candidates to demonstrate understanding of their content specialty, general science principles, human development and pedagogical principles, research techniques appropriate to questions posed, and instructional strategies rooted in contemporary educational theory.
All undergraduate science education candidates must major in the scientific discipline that they intend to teach. Students majoring in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics and who seek to embed secondary science teacher certification into their undergraduate degree should contact the Science Education Program to obtain information on program requirements. Students should then contact the appropriate departmental advisor for a transcript review and plan of study for the major. The next step is to apply for the Teacher Preparation (TP) program in addition to the major. In conjunction with the TP application, students will have the opportunity to meet with a representative of the Science Education Program to discuss program requirements and course selection. An application to the Science Education Program, with associated documentation and essay, is to be submitted prior to starting the methods classes (SCI 410/449).
Students with an undergraduate major in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, one of the Geosciences, or Physics who wish to apply to the MAT program should contact the Science Education Program for more information on program requirements and can review the application on the University’s School of Professional Development site.
Prospective MAT candidates should contact the appropriate departmental advisor for a transcript review and plan of study and then contact the Science Education Program for advising before enrolling in the methods courses.
A program is also available to students who wish to complete their Bachelor's degree and Master of Arts in Teaching degree within five years. Details about the five-year accelerated BS/MAT in Chemistry, Physics and Biology, and the five-year accelerated BA/MAT in Earth Science can be obtained by consulting the program advisor in the major or the Science Education Program office. These programs require students to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in science classes.
The Science Education Programs at Stony Brook offer a palette of coursework, clinical practice, seminars and special projects that prepares students to assume teaching positions in grades 7-12. The programs are committed to both science teaching and science learning as investigatory endeavors that demand conceptualization and theory building within research traditions. Therefore, successful completion of one of these programs requires the student to demonstrate understandings of his/her content specialty, general science principles, human development and pedagogical principles; research techniques appropriate to questions posed; and instructional strategies rooted in theory.
The programs offer: a wide array of supervised, clinical practice opportunities; a lending library of current theoretical, instructional design and policy literature; a secure, web-based communication system for student and faculty discussion and reflection; personalized assessment system consisting of private and small group meetings with participating faculty; an individual student teaching placement program; and an informal career placement network. The programs require a minimum of three semesters, with evening coursework and daytime clinical practice beginning in the first semester.
The Science Education Programs include three options that lead to New York State teacher certification: Undergraduate, Graduate, and combined Undergraduate and Graduate degrees. Areas of science certification include biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and physics. Details are described in the departmental information packets available through the links below.
For information about the Undergraduate programs in Science Education, please visit the Bulletin and the School of Professional Development MAT in Science page.
For information about each of the science departments, review the following materials:
- Biology: Undergraduate and Graduate
Biology Teacher Education Program Advising Packet
- Chemistry: Department of Chemistry
Chemistry Teacher Education Program Advising Packet
- Earth Sciences: Department of Geosciences
Earth Science Teacher Education Program Advising Packet
- Physics: Department of Physics
Physics Teacher Education Program Advising Packet
Contact Information
Keith Sheppard, EdD
Director
Email: Keith.Sheppard@stonybrook.edu
Biology-Undergraduate
Peter Gergen, PhD
Email: John.Peter.Gergen@stonybrook.edu
Biology-Graduate
Zuzana Zachar, Ph.D
Email: Zuzana.zachar@stonybrook.edu
Chemistry
Susan Oatis, PhD
Email: Susan.Oatis@stonybrook.edu
Geosciences
Gilbert Hanson, PhD
Email: Gilbert.Hanson@stonybrook.edu
Physics
Robert McCarthy, PhD
Email: Robert.Mccarthy@stonybrook.edu
| Previous Section | Next Section |
