Catalog Year: 2021-2022

University of Colorado Denver

Science Recommendations

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Here NCTQ outlines (1) the set of courses providing candidates with the content most aligned with what elementary teachers need within current institution and program requirements, and (2) suggestions for courses to fill in gaps where candidates still lack coverage. 

"Most Aligned" Set of Courses

  1. Science Requirement 01

    BIOL 1550 - Basic Biology: Ecology and the Diversity of Life

  2. Science Requirement 02

    ENVS 1044/1045 - Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Lab

  3. Science Requirement 03

    SCED 4004 - Elementary Science Teaching

How to Improve Content Coverage

Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 55.56% coverage of science topics.

The topics still lacking coverage include:

  • Forces, Waves, and Energy
  • Structure and Properties of Matter
  • Space Systems
  • Engineering Design

To improve content coverage, the institution or teacher preparation program may need to require additional courses for their candidates to achieve coverage across all topics. Our analysts identified the following courses to cover these topics:

  • Forces, Waves, and Energy: PHYS 1100
  • Structure and Properties of Matter: CHEM 1474
  • Space Systems: PHYS 1052
  • Engineering Design: No applicable courses found in NCTQ's analysis

Analysis of Content Covered by "Most Aligned" Set of Courses

= Course is Currently Recommended or Required by Program

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Themes: Pedagogy Life Science Physical Science Earth & Space Sciences Engineering
Topics (hover to see name):

A

Cross-cutting Concepts

B

Scientific and Engineering Practices

C

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

D

Inheritance and Variation of Traits

E

Forces, Waves, and Energy

F

Structure and Properties of Matter

G

Space Systems

H

Earth's Systems and Processes

I

Engineering Design

BIOL 1550
Basic Biology: Ecology and the Diversity of Life
ENVS 1044/1045
Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Lab
SCED 4004
Elementary Science Teaching
Total Content Covered: 55.56%
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall:

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