The chemical education option is directed at students planning to teach high-school chemistry. Students can earn a chemistry degree in four years and obtain experience that can be useful when applying for the Master of Science in Teaching from OSU. This option includes ten courses covering teaching methods, a secondary area, an undergraduate teaching internship and seminar in chemistry.
This page serves as a general suggestion for students looking to complete their chemical education option degree within four years. We always recommend working with your adviser to find the best academic plan for you.
Biology (4): BI 221
General Chemistry (15): CH 231(or 231H) & 271. 232(or 232H) & 272, 233 (or 233H) & 273
Careers in Chemistry (1)b: CH 220
Elementary Functions (4)a: MTH 112a
Calculus (8): MTH 251, 252
Writing I (Bacc Core) (3): WR 121(or 121H)
Speech (Bacc Core) (3): COMM 111 (or 111H) or 114 (or 114H) or 211 or 218
Fitness (Bacc Core) (3): HHS 231 and PAC or HHS Lab
Perspectives (Bacc Core) (3): Options
General Electives (1)
Qualitative Analysis (4) or Analytical Chemistry (9)e: CH 324 or CH 421, 422 and 461e
Physical Chemistry (9): CH 440, 441, 442
Experimental Chemistry II (3): CH 462 (WIC) or 463 (WIC) or 464 (WIC)
Chemistry Teaching Seminar (Fall Term Only) (1): CH 407
General Psychology (4): PSY 202
Field Practicum or Practicum/Clinical Experience (3): ED 309 or 409
Perspective or DPD (Bacc Core) (6): Options
Synthesis (Bacc Core) (3): Options
General Electives and/or Secondary Education Courses (11-13)
Inorganic Chemistry (3-6): CH 411 (If taking CH 421, 422 & 461) or CH 411, 412 (otherwise)
Chemistry Teaching Assistant Internship (3): CH 410
Tech Foundations for Teaching Math & Sci (3): SED 412
Inquiry in Science and Science Education (3): SED 413
Chemistry Ed Electives (2-3): Chemistry Education Elective (see list)
Perspective (3): Options
Synthesis (3): Options
General Electives and/or Secondary Endorsement Electives (21)
a MTH 112 can be taken to prepare for MTH 251 if the score on ALEKS Math Placement test is 59% or less. MTH 112 is not a required course for the chemistry degree.
b Chemistry majors are strongly encouraged to take the chemistry major's orientation course, "Careers in Chemistry," fall term. This is a 1-credit course and graded P/N.
c The analytical chemistry combination of CH 421 (fall), CH 422 (winter), and CH 461 (fall) is recommended for the strongest background in analytical chemistry and should be taken the third year. With this option, only one inorganic chemistry course is required (either CH 411 or CH 412) so that this option adds only 2 credit hours to the total.
d These electives should be decided on no later than winter term of your junior year in consultation with your chemistry advisor. You are advised to also meet with an advisor in the College of Education (Professional Teacher Education - Science and Mathematics) to discuss choices for these electives (15 cr) and they should be from the course lists posted on their web page for the primary endorsement areas other than chemistry.
The order of courses in the table is suggested. For the track-two core courses (CH, MTH, PH), the order is critical because of prerequisites and the fact that most CH courses are taught only one term per year. The options courses (SED, etc.) can be taken at different times than indicated, but one must be concerned with the prerequisites and the fact that many of these courses are taught only one term per year.
Bacc Core courses or the chemistry education electives (secondary endorsement) courses are not shown in this table. Courses in the above table are considered at the "pre-professional" level for teaching science and this program does not result in licensure.
The one year Professional Teacher Education Masters Program at OSU is a Licensure Program. For more information please see the M.S. in Education Site here. OSU also offers a double degree in education that can take an additional year to complete with the B.S. in chemistry program. For more information on the double degree, please see an advisor in the College of Education.
Baccalaureate Core courses are not shown on the chart above.
Also see policies for other information including external research.
The B.S. chemistry degree with an option in chemistry education requires courses that fall into two primary categories:
You are also encouraged to seek out a secondary advisor in the Department of Science and Math Education to discuss these options and graduate school opportunities.
Suggested courses that meet the SEA requirements for the chemistry education option are found on the College of Education department webpage at College of Education Advising sheets.
Note also that these 15 credits cannot be ones already specified in the chemistry core. For example, since PH 201 or PH 211 are already required in the chemistry core, they cannot be counted twice for a SEA in physics. If you select physics as your SEA, then the physics courses you use to satisfy the SEA must be from courses beyond the general physics sequence. However, if you select biology as your SEA, then a biology course such as BI 211 can be used for the SEA requirements because BI 211 is not required for the chemistry core.
Courses in the above table for option courses are considered at the "pre-professional" level for teaching science.
OSU offers both an initial licensure program and a continuing program that lead to the M.S. degree.
