CoS Teacher Preparation Program (STCH)
Course Descriptions

STCH 200A -- Science for Elementary Teachers I (3 units)
Description: This course is designed to develop both content understanding and understanding of the nature of science. It is structured around unifying concepts and processes in science and the Arizona Science Standards, and addresses life science, physical science, and earth/space science.
Usually offered: Fall, Summer.

STCH 200B -- Science for Elementary Teachers II (3 units)
Description: This is a continuation of "Science for Elementary Teachers I" (STCH 200A). This course is structured around unifying concepts and processes in science and the Arizona Science Standards, and addresses life science, physical science, and earth/space science.
Prerequisite(s): STCH 200A
Usually offered: Fall, Summer.

STCH 250 -- Teaching Science or Mathematics (3 units)
Description: This course provides an introduction to secondary science or mathematics teaching. It is appropriate for students exploring science or mathematics teaching as a career and is required for students in the Science or Mathematics Teacher Preparation Programs for teacher certification. Topics include the nature of science or mathematics, teaching science or mathematics for understanding, and assessing student understanding. This course includes a minimum of 16 hours of classroom observations in local secondary science or mathematics classrooms; student's schedule must be flexible enough to accommodate this requirement.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing in a science, mathematics, or science education major.
Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

STCH 310 -- Adolescent Learning in Science and Mathematics (3 units)
Description: This course provides an overview of the contemporary theories on student learning in science and mathematics, adolescent development, student diversity, and student motivation for learning. It is required for students in the Science or Mathematics Teacher Preparation Programs for teacher certification. This course includes a minimum of 16 hours of classroom observations in local secondary science or mathematics classrooms; student's schedule must be flexible enough to accommodate this requirement.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: STCH 250; sophomore standing in a science, mathematics, or science education major.
Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

STCH 410 -- Managing Science Instruction in Diverse Classrooms (4 units)
Description: This course provides knowledge of and experience in managing secondary science classrooms to maximize student learning. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program for teacher certification. This course includes a minimum of eight weeks of internship with an experienced secondary science teacher. This internship requires that students have available a 1.5-hour block of time, at the same time each day, five days a week, for the length of the internship. Students also need to be available for classroom observations at the beginning of the school year at their assigned secondary school sites, typically in late July or mid-August."  This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA) or the former upper-division writing proficiency requirement (UDWPE); STCH 250; STCH 310 or (Concurrent registration).
Usually offered: Fall.

STCH 420 -- Planning and Implementing Science Curriculum (4 units)
Description: This course provides knowledge of and experience in making decisions about curriculum and assessment of student learning. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program. This course includes an on-campus internship during which students co-teach a NATS 101 course. The time commitment for the internship is included in the course meeting times, as indicated in the Schedule of Classes.  This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Prerequisite(s): satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA) or the former upper-division writing proficiency requirement (UDWPE); STCH 250; STCH 310 or (Concurrent registration).
Usually offered: Spring.

STCH 494A -- Science Teaching Practicum (12 units)
Description: This practicum provides student teaching experiences under the supervision of experienced classroom teachers. Responsibility for teaching will increase gradually throughout the semester. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program for teacher certification. A Student Teaching Placement Application must be completed and submitted to student's TPP advisor early in the semester prior to student teaching.
Prerequisite(s): STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410, STCH 420; Concurrent registration, STCH 496A; 40 credits of science and mathematics courses; an overall GPA of 2.5 and a major GPA of 2.5.
Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

STCH 494B -- Year-Long Student Teaching  (6-12 units)
Description:  This course provides student teaching experiences under the supervision of experienced classroom teachers. Responsibility for teaching will increase gradually throughout the semester. A Student Teaching Placement Application must be completed and submitted to student's TPP advisor early in the semester prior to student teaching.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410, STCH 420; 40 credits of science and mathematics courses; consent of the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program Faculty; an overall GPA of 2.5 and a major GPA of 2.5
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

STCH 494C -- Mathematics Teaching Practicum  (12 units)
Description:  This practicum provides student teaching experiences under the supervision of experienced classroom teachers. Responsibility for teaching will increase gradually throughout the semester. It is required for students in the Education Option of the Mathematics Major. A Student Teaching Placement Application must be completed and submitted to Director of the Secondary Education Program in Mathematics early in the semester prior to student teaching.
Prerequisite(s):  LRC 416, LRC 435, SERP301B, MATH 406B; 40 credits in the mathematics courses required for the education option.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

STCH 495A -- Sustaining Partnerships in K-12 Science & Mathematics  (1 unit)
Description:  This seminar will help students involved in K-12 science and mathematics education work more effectively with K-12 educators. Students will participate in discussions, practical exercises and problem solving to develop their teaching and communication skills.
Prerequisite(s):  working in a K-12 classroom to improve science, mathematics, engineering or technology.
May be convened with:  STCH 595A.
Usually offered:  Fall.

STCH 496A -- Science Teaching Seminar (1 unit)
Description: This seminar provides secondary science teachers with opportunities to discuss aspects of their student teaching experiences with peers and university supervisors. It is required for students in the College of Science Teacher Preparation Program for teacher certification.
Prerequisite(s): STCH 250, STCH 310, STCH 410, STCH 420; Concurrent registration, STCH 494A; 40 credits of science and mathematics courses; an overall GPA of 2.5 and a major GPA of 2.5.
Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

STCH 498H -- Honors Thesis  (3 units)
Description: An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

STCH 499 -- Independent Study (1-4 units)
Description: Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
May be repeated: an unlimited number of times.
Usually offered: Fall, Spring.

STCH 595A -- Sustaining Partnerships in K-12 Science & Mathematics  (1 unit)
Description: This seminar will help students involved in K-12 science and mathematics education work more effectively with K-12 educators. Students will participate in discussions, practical exercises and problem solving to develop their teaching and communication skills. Graduate-level requirements include preparation of select presentations, lead discussions in class and online through POLIS.
May be convened with: STCH 495A.
Usually offered: Fall.

STCH 595B -- Colloquium in Science Teaching and Learning  (1 unit)
Description: Colloquium course on contemporary issues in science teaching and learning. Course readings and topics change each time the course is offered to reflect current practices, philosophies in curriculum, instruction, and assessment specific to science education.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

STCH 597A -- Teaching Science for Understanding  (1 unit)
Description:  The practical application of theoretical learning within a group setting and involving an exchange of ideas and practical methods, skills, and principles.
Prerequisite(s):  Open to inservice secondary science teachers only.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

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College of Science
Teacher Preparation Program
University of Arizona
Life Sciences South 246
P.O. Box 210106
Tucson, AZ 85721-0106
Phone: (520) 621-1519
FAX: (520) 621-3709
Question or comments? Contact: mjkramer@u.arizona.edu