Science Teacher Education - B.S. Degree
Middle school and high school science teachers are in critical demand. Eastern Florida State College's Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Science Teacher Education offers three specializations to help meet this need:
- Biology Teacher specialization for grades 6-12
- Chemistry Teacher specialization for grades 6-12
- Middle School Science Teacher specialization for grades 5-9
Students in the program benefit from education courses focused on specialized science content preparation, educational theory, and educational practice, allowing bachelor's students to develop peer relationships.
The curriculum also includes extensive science courses customized for each track. Students must choose one specialization and can only earn the Science Teacher Education B.S. one time.
The Science Teacher Education B.S. degree includes an internship and other hands-on teaching opportunities in middle or high school classrooms, which requires passing a Brevard Public School background check.
The three specializations each have specific course prerequisites you should review as you then explore the course curriculum for each track and how to apply.
Those applying for the biology track must have earned a "C-" or higher in these prerequisite courses in addition to meeting all other requirements.
| Course Prefix | Course Name |
|---|---|
| BSCC 1010 | General Biology 1 |
| BSCC 1011 | General Biology 2 |
| CHM/L 1045 | Chemistry 1 with Lab |
| CHM/L 1046 | Chemistry 2 with Lab |
| STA 2023 | Statistics |
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to the Teaching Profession |
Those applying for the chemistry track must have earned a "C-" or higher in these prerequisite courses in addition to meeting all other requirements.
| Course Prefix | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CHM/L 1045 | Chemistry 1 with Lab |
| CHM/L 1046 | Chemistry 2 with Lab |
| CHM/L 2210 | Organic Chemistry with Lab |
| MAC 2311 | Calculus 1 |
| PHYC 2053 | College Physics 1 |
| PHYC 2054 | College Physics 2 |
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to the Teaching Profession |
Those applying for the middle school science track must have earned a "C-" or higher in these prerequisite courses in addition to meeting all other requirements.
| Course Prefix | Course Name |
|---|---|
| EVR 1001 | Introduction to Environmental Science |
| CHM/L 1045 | Chemistry 1 with Lab |
| CHM/L 1046 | Chemistry 2 with Lab |
| GLY 1000 | Introduction to Physical Geology |
| OCE 1001 | Oceanography |
| EDF 1005 | Introduction to the Teaching Profession |
Science Teacher Education - B.S. Degree
Program Overview
- Degree Type
- Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
- Delivery Method
- On-Campus, Hybrid
- Locations
- Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville
- Total Credit Hours
- 120
- Academic Community
- Education
- Contact Information
-
bachelor@easternflorida.edu
321-632-1111Students with myEFSC Portal access, schedule via Student Services Appointments section.
Science Teacher Education - COURSE Curriculum options
The curriculum for all three specializations includes on-campus course options and hybrid format classes that feature online work and in-person assignments, in some cases at a local public school.
Science Teacher Education B.S. - Admission Requirements
Review the admission and pre-acceptance testing requirements in the accordion carefully, reaching out to a bachelor advisor if you have questions. When you are ready to apply, follow EFSC's general steps for enrolling in a bachelor's program. The program accepts students in the Spring, Summer, and Fall Terms so be aware of deadlines to apply.
Applicants for the Science Teacher Education B.S. degree must meet the following requirements as part of the admissions process:
1. Must have earned an Associate in Arts (A.A.) or Associate in Science (A.S.) degree from a regionally accredited college and must have completed all required general education courses with a grade of C- or higher. Applicants with an A.S. degree must have completed all general education courses. Please schedule an appointment with a bachelor's advisor to ensure you have satisfied the general education requirements before applying for this B.S. degree program, especially if you are applying with an A.S. degree.
2. Have earned a Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher on a 4-point scale as reflected on the official degree transcript.
3. Must submit all final, official non-EFSC, regionally accredited college transcripts following the how-to information in step 3 of the bachelor's enrollment process.
4. Pass all four sections of the FTCE General Knowledge Test. See Pre-Acceptance Testing Requirement section below for more details.
5. Must have completed the state-mandated common program prerequisite courses listed above for their chosen track with a grade of C- or higher.
Applicants to all three specializations must have passed all four sections of the FTCE General Knowledge Test that is required by the state of Florida as part of the teacher certification process.
So that applicants for the Biology and Middle School Science teacher tracks are better
prepared for the exams and the B.S. program's upper-level coursework, these two courses
are highly recommended as part of a student's associate degree elective courses when
applying to those two specializations:
- EVR 1001 Introduction to Environmental Science (required for middle school)
- BSSC 1084 Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology
The Florida Dept. of Education has contracted with Pearson Education, Inc. to administer the General Knowledge exam. Test results must be submitted to EFSC Admissions before a student is admitted to the Science Teacher Education program. When registering for the exam, request the results be sent to Eastern Florida State College.
The General Knowledge Test is offered locally at the Pearson Vue Test Center located at 2176 Sarno Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935. You may ask questions and register via phone by calling 866-613-3281 or 413-256-2893.
You can also visit Pearson's Florida Teacher Certification Exam registration website to view detailed information about the testing process and register online for the FTCE General Knowledge Test.
Brief Costs & Financial Aid Eligibility
As a Florida resident, you can take advantage of EFSC's reasonable in-state tuition for this program. The two years of courses can be completed for approximately $7,200 in base tuition; however, please keep in mind that this doesn't include the cost of course materials or lab fees, which are additional expenses.
Since you will have an associate degree and have 60 transfer credits, you'll need to complete an additional 60 credit-hours for the program.
To help with the costs of the Science Teacher Education program, you may be eligible for financial aid and scholarships. Be sure to apply for Federal aid, Titan Scholarships provided by the EFSC Foundation, as well as community-based external scholarships to assist in paying for your education.
College Courses You Would Take
The three Science Teacher Education specializations share education core courses and then each track has a science core specifically designed for that track.
It's important to keep in mind that the availability of bachelor-level classes can fill up quickly. Therefore, it's essential to plan and register for your courses each term in a timely manner to ensure your program completion goals stay on track.
Here are several education core courses you would take:
Learn to integrate technology into instruction & develop & deliver curriculum. Topics include: motivational concepts, diversity issues, planning techniques, & team-based learning.
Study human development from infancy through adulthood & apply it to the school setting in the areas of learner styles/differences, & learner motivation.
This seminar examines the major philosophical & historical developments of science & their implications on the science classroom plus explores personal views about science.
Prepare for student-teaching with an understanding of how to manage a K-12 classroom effectively & safely. The focus is on best practices & contemporary techniques & strategies.
Prepare for Success: Accepted Student Information
• Due to student teaching activities in local school settings, students accepted into the program are covered by EFSC's Professional Liability Student Insurance. The academic year insurance fee is assessed as a course lab fee connected to a course that requires the insurance coverage.
• Before any courses that require a Brevard Public Schools (BPS) background check, students must obtain security clearance with fingerprinting through BPS. Complete the BPS on-line volunteer application then go to the BPS Office of District & School Security to have the fingerprinting done. There is an initial $35 charge for the fingerprinting and an $8 annual renewal fee. Fees can be paid online when applying or in person before the fingerprinting session. Visit the BPS District and School security website for BPS hours and location.
• Students beginning their bachelor program in the 2021-22 academic year or later must have met Florida's Civic Literacy requirement before their baccalaureate degree will be awarded. See the Civic Literacy page for details on how this requirement can be met.
• The B.S. program science courses for each specialization prepare students to earn a passing score on the corresponding Subject Area Exam for each track (Biology 6-12, Chemistry 6-12, or Middle Grades General Science 5-9), which are normally taken shortly before graduation and are required to become certified to teach those subjects in Florida. The exam registration process and testing location is the same as the General Knowledge Test information in the admissions requirements section above. Information guides for the Florida subject area exams are available on the Pearson website.
Other Program Options
The Associate in Arts degree can prepare students for this bachelor-level teaching degree and can include the required science prerequisite courses as A.A. general education and elective courses. People who already hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in a field other than teaching may be interested in EFSC's Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), which provides an alternate path to Florida teacher certification.