Science Education Program
The Science Education Program at Stony Brook offers a palette of coursework, clinical practice, seminars and special projects that prepares students to assume science teaching positions in grades 7-12. Three routes towards certification as a science teacher are offered at Stony Brook:
1) for undergraduates who are majoring in biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics
through the undergraduate Teacher Preparation option in each major
2) for those with undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry, earth science and/or
physics through the Master of Arts in Teaching degree program
3) for undergraduates who are majoring in biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics
through the combined BA/MAT program or BS/MAT programs
The program is committed to both science teaching and science learning as investigatory endeavors that demand conceptualization and theory building within research traditions. Therefore, successful completion of this program 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 program offers: a wide array of supervised, clinical practice opportunities; a "Nature of Science and the Human Endeavor" Seminar series featuring distinguished faculty as facilitators; 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 program requires a minimum of three semesters, with evening coursework and daytime clinical practice beginning in the first semester.
For information about the Undergraduate programs in Science Education, please visit the undergraduate bulletin.
For information about Master of Arts in Teaching Science Programs, please visit the School of Professional Development page.
Program Descriptions:
* Becoming a Biology Teacher
* Becoming a Chemistry Teacher
* Becoming an Earth Science Teacher
* Becoming a Physics Teacher
For information about Scholarship/Fellowship opportunities in Science Education, please see the following:
For more information contact:
Keith Sheppard, Ed.D. - Director of the Science Education Program
Linda Padwa, M.A.T. - Coordinator, Science Education Program
Caren Gough, Ed.M.
Zuzana Zachar, Ph.D. - Biology Advisor
Susan Oatis, Ph.D. - Chemistry Advisor
Gilbert Hanson, Ph.D. - Geosciences Advisor
Robert McCarthy, Ph.D. - Physics Advisor