Interdisciplinary Studies Major with a General Science Initial Teacher License (5-8)

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The General Science Concentration in Interdisciplinary Studies is designed for students wanting to teach middle school science. Students will be well prepared to pass the new General Science (5-8) Mtel and after completing this major, students will earn their initial teacher license. This degree gives students a strong grounding in the basic natural sciences, including physics, earth and geographic sciences, biology, and chemistry. Although designed for future teachers, graduates from this program could also pursue other careers in areas such as research, science writing or science policy.

Students must complete:
(GEOG 2000 /PHYS 2000 ) Astronomy
(GEOG 1000   Earth Systems Science
(GEOG 2100 ) Geology
(BIOL 1800 ) General Biology I
(BIOL 1900 ) General Biology II
(BIOL 2300  ) Ecology
(PHYS 1100 ) Physical Sciences
(CHEM 1300 )General Chemistry I
(CHEM 1400  ) General Chemistry II
9 additional credits in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering Technology, or Earth and Geographic Sciences at 2000 level or higher

Students must complete a minor in Middle School and Secondary Education which includes 18 credits. When completing this minor, students must complete the following specific courses:
SCI 1860  –Introduction to Education (5-12)
SCI 3015   Methods in Teaching General Science (5-8) I
SCI 4850  Methods in Teaching General Science (5-8) II
EDUC 2012  Teaching the Adolescent Learner
EDUC 2011  Diversity in Education
SPED 3800  Inclusive Instruction (5-12)

IDIS Major Core Requirements

Students must take IDIS Major Core Course Requirements (9 credits). IDIS 1600 (Critical and Creative Thinking, along with two three-credit IDIS Electives. Students may count double-count one science class as both an IDIS elective and an advanced science elective. Choose any two of the following interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary courses:

AMST 1800 - Introduction to American Studies I 3 cr.
ART 2150 - The Art of Puppetry 3cr.
GEOG 1100 - Principles of Human Geography 3 cr.
GEOG 2056 - Climate Change and Human History 3 cr.
HIST 2056 - Climate Change and Human History 3 cr.
IDIS 1000 - Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 3 cr.
IDIS 1002 - Introduction to Disability Studies 3 cr.
IDIS 1200 - Introduction to International Studies 3 cr.
IDIS 1800 - Global Issues 3 cr.
IDIS 1900 - Introduction to Peace Studies 3 cr.
IDIS 2030 - Contemporary Arab World 3 cr.
IDIS 2100 - Dilemmas of Peace and War 3 cr.
IDIS 2501 - Italy Through Film 3 cr.
IDIS 2540 - Global Issues in Film 3 cr.
IDIS 3001 - Italian Culture (in English) I - From Antiquity to 1800 3 cr.
IDIS 3100 - Italian Culture (in English) II - From 1800 to the Present 3 cr.
IDIS 3300 - Women in Italy 3 cr.
MUSC 2000 - Commonwealth of the Arts 3 cr.
MUSC 2100 - Commonwealth of Ancient Arts 3 cr.
MUSC 2120 - Commonwealth of Asian Arts 3 cr.
MUSC 2130 - Commonwealth of the Modern Arts 3 cr.
MUSC 2210 - Commonwealth of the Renaissance Arts 3 cr.
MUSC 3750 - Music in Film 3 cr.
MUSC 3760 - Film Scoring 3 cr.
PHIL 2001 - Medical Ethics 3 cr.
PHIL 2600 - Philosophy of Human Nature 3 cr.
PSY 3010 - Consciousness 3 cr. or
PHIL 3020 - Consciousness 3 cr.
PSY 3050 - Cognitive Neuroscience 3 cr.

Additional Requirements

Additionally, to be eligible for initial licensure and to complete this concentration, students must complete: SCI 4012 : Practicum Seminar (5-12), SCI 4880 : Practicum I General Science (5-8), SCI 4890 Practicum II General Science (5-8), EDUC 3122 Sheltered English Immersion. As part of the completion of this program, students must go through two review processes (Stage I and Stage II) and meet the requirements before continuing on in the concentration. If the student is unable to meet the requirements of either review, then they will be removed from the concentration. They may stay in the IDIS major and work with an advisor to complete their requirements, and students will be able to complete the Middle School and Secondary Education minor, but they will not be eligible to complete the General Science (5-8) Initial Teacher License concentration.