Â鶹ԭ´´

BS in Science Education

Effective fall 2022, undergraduate students interested in applying to Wheelock College will be admitted to its BS in Education & Human Development and will no longer be admitted to the BS in Science Education program. Continuing students will continue to complete the degree program that they entered.

The Science Education Program at Boston University aims to prepare culturally responsive leaders in science education that will support the foundations of sound scientific literacy and scientific ways of thinking through scholarly leadership in pedagogy and policy. It provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers as teachers in public and private school settings.

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University's general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Science Education will ordinarily, through coursework taken in the Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship; Communication; Scientific Inquiry; and some elements of the Intellectual Toolkit, essential for educators working with other professionals. Additional requirements may be satisfied through required Arts & Sciences coursework, and it is important that students keep Hub requirements in mind when selecting these courses. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

BU students specializing in Science Education engage in a comprehensive course of study in general education and discipline specific science education. The program includes a strong base in the arts and sciences, with coursework in the humanities, social sciences, math, and science. Fieldwork with students in area schools is embedded throughout the course of study.

The program of study is carefully designed to enable students to meet both the BU Hub capacities and the requirements that enable Boston University to endorse students for Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for teaching licenses at the Initial Level as a Teacher of General Science for Grades 5–8, and Biology, Chemistry, or Physics for Grades 8–12. Fulfillment of licensure requirements in the program can lead to licensure in states with which the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has reciprocity.

Learning Outcomes

Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment: Promotes the learning and growth of all students by providing high-quality and coherent instruction, designing and administering authentic and meaningful student assessments, analyzing student performance and growth data, using this data to improve instruction, providing students with constructive feedback on an ongoing basis, and continuously refining learning objectives. (Well-Structured Lessons; Adjustments to Practice; Reflective Practice)

Teaching All Students: Promotes the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency. (High Expectations; Meeting Diverse Needs; Safe Learning Environment)

Family and Community Engagement: Promotes the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations.

Professional Culture: Promotes the learning and growth of all students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice. (Meeting Diverse Needs)