Geological Sciences, BA / Earth Science Education, EdM
Become an inquisitive problem solver who is passionate about the earth while you prepare the next generation to address some of the most demanding issues of our time: climate change, resource management and natural disasters.
Unearth Your Gateway to Science
The UB Teach geology education program is an accelerated, combined degree program where you can earn a geological sciences BA and earth science education EdM in just five years. This program provides content expertise in geology while preparing you to teach earth science for grades 5–12. You'll study in both the Department of Earth Sciences and the Department of Learning and Instruction.
Enrolled students will:
- Think spatially and creatively to address modern scientific issues such as climate change and resource management.
- Develop a deep scientific understanding of Earth’s processes to educate others about our planet.
- Participate in intensive clinical education experiences with Western New York schools, learning the nuances of the teaching profession.
- Gain skills, expertise and confidence to implement evidence-based practice in the classroom and co-teach with an expert teacher in a one-year residency.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Education (EdM) |
|---|---|
| Certification option | Successful completion of program leads to an institutional recommendation for New York State initial and professional certification in geology education |
| Grade levels | 7 to 12 with 5 to 6 extension |
| Credits required for completion | 145 |
| Time to completion | 5 years |
| Course delivery | On campus, online |
| Experiential contact hours |
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| Application deadline | Early Action: Nov. 15 Scholarship Consideration: Dec. 8 Regular Decision: Feb. 1 Students can continue to submit an application for fall consideration until capacity is reached. |
Coursework Note
This is a sample course schedule. These courses are subject to change. As a student in the UB Teach program, you must work closely with your advisor before registering for classes.
Geological Sciences BA Courses
- Geological Sciences Core:
- CHE 101 General Chemistry
- CHE 113 General Chemistry Laboratory
- ERT 101 Natural Hazards or ERT 102 Climate Change
- ERT 105 Natural Hazards and Climate Change: Past, Present and Future Laboratory
- ERT 205 Earth Materials
- ERT 303 Geological Mapping Techniques and Communication
- ERT 308 Introduction to Geochemistry
- ERT 312 Surface Process and Hydrology
- ERT 315 Sedimentary Geology and Paleontology
- ERT 325 Geophysics
- ERT 326 Structural Geology/Global Tectonics
- MTH 121 Survey of Calculus and Its Application 1
- PHY 101 College Physics
- PHY 151 College Physics Lab 1
- Geology Sciences Elective:
- 1 ERT 300- or 400-level Elective
- Education Core:
- CEP 400LEC Educational Psychology
- ELP 405LEC Sociology of Education
- LAI 350LEC Introduction to Education
- LAI 414LEC Adolescent Writing Across the Curriculum
- LAI 474SEM Teaching the Exceptional Learner in the Regular Education Classroom
Progression to Graduate Coursework
You will not apply separately to graduate study; instead, there are a series of progression points that you must meet.
Advancement to the graduate portion of the program requires that you:
- maintain a 3.0 GPA
- earn a “C” grade or higher in content courses (courses in the major)
- earn a “B-” or better in all education and graduate-level coursework
Earth Science Education EdM Courses
- Geological Sciences Education Core
- LAI 533 Science Instruction Topics
- LAI 534 Measurement and Evaluation in Science Instruction
- LAI 552 Middle Childhood/ Adolescent Literacy Methods
- LAI 595 Supervised Teaching 2
- LAI 619 Methods for Teaching Science in Grades 5-12
- LAI 667 Field Experience
- LAI 668 Supervised Teaching 1
- LAI 674 Seminar in Teaching
- LAI 698 Instructional Strategies in Secondary Schools
- Four Geology Electives:
- Advisor-approved 500-level science and/or science education electives offered through the College of Arts and Sciences or the Graduate School of Education and/or: LAI 531, LAI 532, LAI 535, LAI 637, LAI 639
- Culminating Experience:
- LAI 700 Capstone
- Earth science teacher
- Environmental consultant
- Hydrologist