Keene State is now offering two new majors, with requirements and worksheets as shown
in PDF format here. One is a Physical Science Degree, with which the holder would be certified to teach science at the middle school level and the other is a General Science Degree for teachers in grades K-6.
The reason for implementation of these broad-based majors with emphasis on hands-on learning by discovery and inquiry is to address the dramatic shortage of elementary scool teachers capable of and excited about teaching the natural and physical sciences and the resulting lack of science literacy on the part of students entering high school and college.
This is a well-publicized national priority. Enroll now-class sizes in upper-level courses must be kept small to be effective. We anticipate graduating 16 students/year until additional faculty and facilities become available. Drs. Harkay, Jean, and Wolf were awarded a nearly $300,000 NSF grant in January, 2001, to develop the necessary curricula and activities in the core "Web of Science" and "Phenomenal Science" courses.
Unique features of the program include its breadth, stress placed on hands-on learning(discovery and guided inquiry), and de-emphasis of math-intensive courses. Many faculty from the natural and physical sciences will be involved, along with a science education specialist. The NSF grant is to be used to purchase instructional modules, or "kits". It is our hope to have our majors learn in the same manner in which their pupils will learn. The kits will provide materials for majors to take with them as they pursue their careers. The upper-level courses will be reserved for majors only. The program is designed to integrate into the education curriculum, including field experience. It will enable graduates to become the "science expert" at their schools and should enhance salaries significantly due to the lack of teachers having this form of expertise and the strong market for individuals possessing such skills.
General Science Education Major
Physics Minor
