Natural Science (Grades 5-12)

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University offer a major in natural science with a minor in secondary education that prepares students for licenses in grades 5-8 general science and grades 9-12 physics, chemistry, or life science.

Students pursuing a natural science major will graduate with strong content and pedagogical knowledge.

Student must select a 9-12 life science, 9-12 chemistry, or 9-12 physics track.

Admission to Teacher Education

Students who want to major or minor in Education need to complete the Education Department’s admission process. Admission typically occurs during the sophomore year and is required for all students seeking an Elementary Education major and Secondary Education minor.

The following items are required for application:

• A cumulative, licensure content major, and education coursework GPA of 2.50 or above
• Completed Intent to Apply form (available in the Education Portal in Canvas)
• Disposition reflection and faculty review (usually completed as part of EDUC 111)
• Completion of a 35-hour teacher shadow in a classroom aligned with the student's licensure program, written reflection, and supervisor evaluation 
• Submission of a professional recommendation completed by a CSB+SJU faculty member, coach, advisor, or supervisor 
• Entry survey form

Descriptions of all admission requirements and the application process are specified on the Education Department's website at https://www.csbsju.edu/education/student-resources/apply-to-the-program

Students completing the natural science major must complete:

• Coursework for one specialized track in physics, chemistry, or life science,
• The grades 5-8 general science requirements, and
• the secondary education minor.

Students who are interested in the natural science major should contact a member of the Education Department for details.

Required Education Courses

The following courses are required for the Secondary Education minor which accompanies this major.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Education Courses
EDUC 111	Introduction to Teaching and Learning in a Diverse World	4
EDUC 203	Development, Learning, and Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence	4
EDUC 213	Clinical Experience for K-12/5-12 Majors	1-2
EDUC 305	Human Exceptionalities: School, Home, and Community	1
EDUC 352	Teaching Reading in the Middle/Secondary Classroom	1-2
EDUC 359	Issues in Education K-12	1-2
EDUC 379A	Educational Psychology: Myths Versus Science	4
EDUC 390	Ethics in Human Relations	4
Content Specific Pedagogy Courses 1		4-10
Student Teaching		16
Total Hours		40-49

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The number of courses and credits required varies from program to program (see this program's specific requirements below).

Natural sciences pedagogy required course

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
EDUC 355D	Science Pedagogy in Grades 9-12	4

General Science (Grades 5-8)

To become eligible to teach Science in grades 5-8 you will also need to take the following courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
EDUC 268	Multidisciplinary Science for Mid-level Educators	4
EDUC 358C	Mid Level Literacy and Pedagogy in Science	2-4