Science Teacher Certification at USP

Science Teacher Certification at USP
Why USP?
Your Life as a Science Teacher
Your Future as a Science Teacher
Hands-on Learning
Learn from the Best
The Curriculum
Professional Connections
For more information...

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of future generations? Do you love to work with children? Are you as passionate about science as you are about learning? If so, consider USP's science teacher certification program, which will prepare you to teach in the secondary schools of Pennsylvania and 45 other states.

Why USP?

There's no better place than USP to learn how to teach science. As you'll notice, science is our middle name it's our focus. As a student in our program, you'll graduate with a B.S. in biology, chemistry, or health sciences in addition to meeting all of the professional development requirements necessary to qualify for certification to teach.

Our program will prepare you through:

• Hands-on opportunities to participate in field experiences and community educational outreach programs as a tutor, mentor, and science fair judge. You'll analyze teaching situations as you work closely with master teachers.
• Qualification for multiple teaching certifications: secondary certification in biology, chemistry, and general science; K-12 certification in environmental education.
• Opportunity to earn post-baccalaureate education for those seeking initial certification or additional certifications.
• Opportunity to develop and conduct field trips for local school districts to USP's Outdoor Classroom.

Your Life as a Science Teacher

You'll be prepared to teach in several settings, including:

• Private and public secondary schools
• Environmental education centers
• Museums
• Nature parks
• Zoos

In addition, you will be qualified to pursue graduate school to study the sciences or science education.

Your Future as a Science Teacher

According to the National Education Association, nationwide some 2.4 million teachers will be needed in the next 11 years because of teacher attrition, retirement, and increased student enrollment. Some of the greatest teaching shortages are in the sciences.

Given our excellent reputation, USP is uniquely qualified to educate science teachers, and our graduates enjoy tremendous success. Over 90 percent of recent USP graduates were placed in positions before graduation, and about 70 percent of our graduates receive multiple job offers. In addition, our graduates enjoy a 90-100 percent pass rate on the PRAXIS (Professional Assessment for Beginning Teachers).

Average starting salaries for science teachers are in the mid $30,000 range. Because competition for good teachers is fierce, school districts offer excellent benefits packages and oftentimes will pay for graduate education.

Hands-on Learning

Our program provides early field experience in science education. During your second year, you will participate in a full-semester, three-credit Science Education Field Laboratory Course.

During your fourth year, you will complete a 12-week full-time student teaching assignment in varied science classroom settings under the supervision of an experienced teacher and college faculty member. Some of the local school districts where USP students complete their assignments include:

• Abington School District
• Chichester School District
• Colonial School District
• Haverford Township School District
• Lower Moreland School District
• Philadelphia School District
• Rose Tree Media School District
• Upper Darby School District
• Wallingford Swarthmore School District

You may also gain additional experience working as a teaching assistant in the introductory biology and chemistry laboratories at USP.

From these experiences, you'll discover how students learn and how to effectively employ a variety of teaching strategies and classroom management techniques.

Learn from the Best

• Lois H. Peck, Ed.D, program director with more than 12 years of teaching general science and biology in secondary schools and 15 years teaching science education courses at USP. She is a professor of biology and of science teacher education. Dr. Peck has received several awards for teaching excellence and is involved in community outreach programs to improve science education in our schools. In addition, she is a nationally known speaker on teaching and learning.

Faculty members from the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Humanities, Social Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics all teach courses that science teacher certification students take.

Cooperating teachers from local schools are master teachers who work with our students during the early field experience and student teaching.

The Curriculum

Through the Science Teacher Certification program, you will:

• Focus on the teaching and learning process.
• Analyze the learning environment.
• Observe student participation and engagement.
• Study teaching practices.
• Reflect on your own philosophy of teaching.

Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Biology with Secondary Teaching Certification Options in Biology, Chemistry, General Science, and Environmental Education

First Year

• Biological Sciences Orientation
• College Composition
• General Chemistry I and II
• General Chemistry Lab I and II
• Introductory Biology I and II
• Mathematical Analysis I and II
• Physical Education I and II
• Social Science Fundamental Requirement

Second Year

• Basics of Microbiology
• Biological Sciences Colloquium
• Environmental Biology or Ecology
• Intellectual Heritage I and II
• Intelligence, Creativity, and Problem Solving
• Organic Chemistry I and II
• Organic Chemistry Lab I and II
• Plant Diversity and Morphology
• Science Education Field Lab
• Social Science Fundamental Requirement

Third Year

• Adolescent Psychology (Core Distribution Requirement)
• Animal Diversity and Morphology
• Biochemistry
• Core Distribution Requirements
• Core Elective
• Genetics
• Intermediary Metabolic Biochemistry
• Introductory Physics I and II
• Introduction to Communication
• Molecular Structure in Biochemistry
• Philosophy and History of Education

Fourth Year

• Biological Sciences Seminar I and II
• Cell Biology
• Earth and Space Science
• Instructional Communication
• Methods in Science Teaching
• Principles and Practices of Teaching
• Quantitative Science Requirement
• Supervised Teaching Internship

Total credits: 138-140

Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Secondary Teaching Certifications in Chemistry and General Science

First Year

• Chemistry/Biochemistry Orientation
• College Composition
• Introduction to Literature
• Introductory Biology I and II
• Mathematical Analysis I and II
• Physical Education I and II
• Principles of Chemistry I and II
• Principles of Chemistry Lab I and II
• Social Science Fundamental Requirement

Second Year

• Basic Inorganic Chemistry
• Intellectual Heritage I and II
• Mathematical Analysis III
• Mathematical Analysis IV or Introduction to Biostatistics
• Physics I and II
• Principles of Organic Chemistry I and II
• Principles of Organic Chemistry Lab I and II
• Science Education Field Lab

Third Year

• Adolescent Psychology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry Lab
• Discussions in Chemistry
• Instrumental Analysis
• Intelligence, Creativity, and Problem Solving
• Literature of Chemistry
• Molecular Structure in Biochemistry
• Philosophy and History of Education
• Physical Chemistry I and II
• Public Speaking
• Social Science Fundamental Requirement

Fourth Year

• Seminar in Chemistry I and II
• Chemistry Electives
• Core Distribution Requirements
• Core Electives
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Instructional Communication
• Methods in Science Teaching
• Physical Chemistry Lab I and II
• Principles and Practices of Teaching

Fifth Year

• Supervised Teaching Internship

Total credits: 148-149

Professional Connections

You'll broaden your background in science teaching through field experiences, community outreach programs, and student teaching. You can also participate in the Student Chapter of the American Institute of Biological Sciences and the Student Affiliate Chapter of the American Chemical Society, among other organizations.

For more information………

To learn more about the Science Teacher Certification program, contact the Admission Office at 1-888-996-USIP (8747), e-mail admit@usip.edu, or fill out our online information request form.

College of Health Sciences
Department of Biological Sciences
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Admission