Science for Future Elementary School Teachers at Florida State University

The Certificate Program in Elementary School Science

With the importance of technology in Florida's economy, science has always been a critical subject for the state's school children. The implementation of the science section of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in the spring of 2003 brought a new urgency to science teaching in the state's K-12 schools. While teachers with specific training in science are routinely employed at the middle- and high-school levels, this is not the case at the elementary-school level. Few elementary schools have science specialists. The science content training of nearly all elementary school teachers is dominated by large lecture courses intended to satisfy liberal studies requirements. These courses do not prepare future teachers to provide the hands-on inquiry-based learning environments that their own students need.

In this new era for Florida's schools, elementary teachers will require a much broader and deeper knowledge of science than in the past. Science learning cannot be approached as the memorization of a collection of "facts." K-12 teachers and their students must develop the critical analysis skills used in scientific inquiry.

Florida State University is now offering an opportunity for vastly improved science training for its future elementary school teachers. The Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences and Physics Departments have jointly established the Certificate Program in Elementary School Science that consists of three courses designed specifically for students preparing to teach in elementary schools. These courses are built around "hands-on" activities that prepare future teachers to teach their own students in an inquiry-based environment. The certificate program satisfies the science requirements for admission to FSU's College of Education as well as the university's liberal studies science requirements.
Courses in the Program

The courses in the certificate program are:

GLY 2022C Geology for Pre-service and In-service Teachers
PSC 2801C Physical Science for Early Childhood and Elementary Education Teachers
BSC 1005C General Biology for Non-Majors (a special section for future elementary school teachers)

PSC 2801C is offered in every fall and spring semester. GLY 2022C is offered in the spring semesters, and BSC 1005C is offered in the fall semesters. Each course carries 4 credit hours.
Admission

Admission to the certificate program is open to enrolled FSU undergraduates intending to major in Early Childhood or Elementary Education. To apply for admission to the certificate program, contact the Program's Director, Prof. Paul Cottle of the FSU Department of Physics, at cottle@phy.fsu.edu
Requirements for completing the certificate

To receive the certificate, a student must complete all three courses with a minimum grade of "B" (3.0) in each course. The student must complete the requirements for the certificate while enrolled at Florida State University and by the end of a period of three calendar years from the time the student applies to the program.

For more information...

...contact the Program Director, Prof. Paul Cottle in FSU's Physics Department:

(850) 644-5777.