Michigan Technological University will award the Earth Science Education Option in the B.S. in Geology Degree as described below.
Proposal Background
The teacher certification programs
at Michigan Tech are preparing for the first ever specific program review by the
Michigan Department of Education. An Earth Science Teacher Certification
(teacher certification refers to requirements by the Michigan Department of
Education) program is currently offered under the B.S. in Geology Degree.
Students follow the Geology Option with some substitutions allowed for Upper
Division Geology courses. The Geology Option is designed for Geology and not for
Earth Science. An earth science teacher should have courses in astronomy,
meteorology, and oceanography and more emphasis on surface processes. The
Geology Degree already includes a Geology Option and an Environmental Geology
Option like those offered in the Department of Biological Sciences, e.g., the
B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science degree includes a 4+1 Teacher Certification
Option. The easiest method to offer an accredited program specifically designed
for earth science teacher certification is the creation of a new option in the
B.S. Geology Degree.
On April 10, 1997, the Department of Geological Engineering and Sciences faculty unanimously approved adding an Earth Science Education Option to the B.S. in Geology Degree. The proposed catalog listing for the Earth Science Education Option in the B.S. Geology Degree is attached. The Geology Option and Environmental Geology Options are unchanged in course content.
NEED
If the department is to continue to participate in
the teacher certification program, a program is needed that is specifically
designed for earth science teacher certification and that meets standards for
course content. Currently, earth science teacher certification can be obtained
within the B.S. in Geology Degree; the program is really geology and not earth
science, and the program falls short of the standards for course content. In
addition, the earth science teacher certification is not obvious from the
department's catalog listings. The proposed new option will make earth science
education a clearly identifiable option for students. By making a clearly
identifiable option, the department hopes to attract more students into the
Geology degree program. There is a national shortage of science and math
teachers.
PROGRAM FIT
The new Earth Science Education Option
replaces the course content in the already existing Earth Science Teacher
Certification program. The specific course requirements for the proposed Earth
Science Education Option were significantly modified as compared to the current
requirements listed for Earth Science Teacher Certification by the MTU
Department of Education in order to make the student's background more relevant
to a career in secondary education and to make the program meet accreditation
standards for course content. The number of credits currently required to
complete the B.S. in Geology Degree and teacher certification is between 208 and
227 with the larger number being more likely. The proposed new option will make
it much easier for students to graduate with 208 credits and still have some
General Electives. Students in Geology, Geological Engineering, and Geophysics
degree programs are all required to take 208 credits, 192 credits plus 16
credits of summer field courses. The new option is consistent with this total
credit requirement. The goal of the Earth Science Education Option is to provide
the candidate with the course work qualifications to be certified in teaching at
secondary schools and to be able to do graduate studies in geology.
ADMINISTRATION
Since the new Earth Science Education
Option simply replaces the course content in the already existing Earth Science
Teacher Certification, the administration of the program will remain as it is
now.
COST AND REVENUE
There are no new costs associated with
this degree change. All courses for the new option in the B.S. in Geology degree
already exist. Since the new option simply replaces the course content of an
already existing program there will be no new administrative costs.
The department's goal is to increase enrollment in the B.S. in Geology by attracting students into the Earth Science Education Option. As only one student will graduate from the earth science teacher certification Spring 1997, even a few more students will be a significant increase.
Please contact the Senate Office for a copy of the remaining attached
text.
Adopted by Senate: May 14, 1997
Approved by President: August 17,
1997