Overview

The emphasis in Earth Science Education is intended for students pursuing certification to teach at the middle or high school level.

• General Course Requirements: The major requires 9 hours of upper division geology courses, 6 hours of courses from other areas of earth science, and several education courses. Certification has additional requirements, including other coursework.
• Freshman Year: Entering freshmen should plan to take introductory geology courses, and at least the first semester of required chemistry and mathematics, during the first year so that they can enter into the core-course sequence in their sophomore year.
• Consult Advisor: Students interested in majoring in geology and environmental geosciences should consult with the undergraduate advisor as soon as possible in order to assure an appropriate course schedule, and to discuss job possibilities and perhaps graduate school.

In the 1990s many states, including Illinois, adopted standards that require:

• K-12 students to demonstrate competence in the area of Earth and Space Science, and ...
• Science teacher candidates to demonstrate a high level of competence in all aspects of teaching.

These standards have generated a demand for earth science teachers, while simultaneously requiring a higher level of competency. In cooperation with the other science departments, the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences has implemented a rigorous, standards-based teacher education program. Candidates complete a spectrum of science content courses and a coherent package of pedagogical courses. Competency in all standards is ultimately demonstrated in a comprehensive electronic portfolio.

Admission Requirements

• Admission: These requirements are essentially the same as those for admission to NIU, as described in the NIU Undergraduate Catalog.
• Transfer Students: Undergraduate transfer students with 30 or more semester hours of credit who wish to major in geology with an emphasis in teacher certification are advised to have completed courses in physical geology, general chemistry with laboratory ( first course ), and the first semester of calculus before entering NIU.
• Consult Advisor: Students seeking initial certification in either general science (geology area) or physical science (geology area) to teach in grades 6-12 (Standard High School Certificate) must schedule an interview with the departmental certification coordinator ( Dr. B. Kathleen Kitts, 753-5990 ) to formulate a specific plan of study.

Curriculum

• Degree Requirements: Degree programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at NIU require 120 semester hours for the baccalaureate degree. The B.S. major in geology and environmental geosciences is divided into three emphases. All emphases include an introductory class and 16 hours of core courses.
• Approval Required: The program of courses for meeting certification requirements must be approved by the departmental certification coordinator each semester before registering. Students are responsible for timely submission of the several applications and permits required during the program.
• Additional Courses: Students transferring geology course credits from other institutions will complete additional NIU courses as determined by the departmental certification coordinator.

Total hours for Earth Science Education Emphasis: 67-72 (not including General Education Courses)

Requirements in Department: (39-40 hours)

One of the following: (3-4 hours)

GEOL 105 Environmental Geology (3 hrs)
GEOL 120 Introductory Geology (3 hrs)
GEOL 120 Introductory Geology (3 hrs) with GEOL 121 Introductory Geology Laboratory (1 hr)

Two of the following (6 hours)

GEOL 103 Planetary and Space Science (3 hrs) or PHYS 162 Elementary Astronomy (3 hrs)
GEOL 104 Introduction to Oceanography (3 hrs)
GEOG 105 Introduction to the Atmosphere (3 hrs)

Upper-division course work in geology and environmental geosciences or, with approval of the certification coordinator, from other areas of earth science, usually physical geography, meteorology, or astronomy (6 hrs)

Requirements outside Department: (28-32 hours)

One course approved for use in the department's teacher preparation programs in each of the following areas: (6 hrs)

Educating the Exceptional Child (3 hrs)

Educational Psychology (3 hrs)

Course work from at least two departments to be selected from Group A and Group B, including at least one choice from Group A, with approval of the department certification coordinator (12 hrs)

Group A

• CHEM 211T General Chemistry II (3 hrs) and CHEM 213 General Chemistry Laboratory II (1 hr)
• PHYS 210 General Physics 1 and PHYS 211 General Physics II (8 hrs)
• PHYS 253 Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and PHYS 273 Fundamentals of Physics II: Electromagnetism (8 hrs)
• BIOS 104 General Biology (4 hrs) and BIOS 205T Organismal Diversity (3 hrs) and BIOS 207 Organismal Diversity Laboratory (1 hr)
• GEOG 106 Introduction to the Atmosphere Laboratory (1 hr) and MET 300 Meteorology (4 hrs)

Group B

• BIOS 208 T Fundamentals of Biology I (3 hrs) and BIOS 210 Fundamentals of Biology I Laboratory (1 hr)
• BIOS 209T Fundamentals of Biology II (3 hrs) and BIOS 211 Fundamentals of Biology II Laboratory (1 hr)
• CHEM 230 Introduction to Organic Chemistry (3 hrs) and CHEM 231 Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 hr)
• CHEM 330 General Organic Chemistry I (3 hrs) and CHEM 332 General Organic Laboratory (1 hr)
• CHEM 360 Inorganic Chemistry I (3 hrs)
• GEOG 256 Maps and Mapping (3 hrs)
• GEOG 302 Soil Science (4 hrs)
• GEOG 303 Water Resources and the Environment (3 hrs)
• GEOL 359 Introducation to Geographic Information Systems (3 hrs)
• GEOG 370 Regional Climatology (3 hrs)
• PHIL 354 Philosophical Problems of Natural Science (3 hrs)
• PHYS 283 Fundamentals of Physics: Quantum Physics III (3 hrs)

Further Information

For additional information on geology and environ-mental geosciences programs you may contact these undergraduate advisors:

Chair of the Undergraduate Committee
Dr. Melissa Lenczewski - E-mail

Earth Science Education Emphasis
Dr. B. Kathleen Kitts - E-mail