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Catalog Year: 2021-2022

Western Colorado University

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

    PHYS 140 - Introductory Physics (with laboratory)

  2. Science Requirement 02

    BIOL 150 - Biological Principles (with laboratory)

  3. Science Requirement 03

    SCI 111 - Nature of Science

  4. Science Requirement 04

    SCI 210 - Dynamic Planet (with laboratory)

  5. Science Requirement 05

    EDUC 210 - Science Methods for Elementary Teachers

How to Improve Content Coverage

Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 88.89% coverage of science topics.

The topics still lacking coverage include:

  • 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:

  • 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
PHYS 140
Introductory Physics (with laboratory)
BIOL 150
Biological Principles (with laboratory)
SCI 111
Nature of Science
SCI 210
Dynamic Planet (with laboratory)
EDUC 210
Science Methods for Elementary Teachers
Total Content Covered: 88.89%
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall:
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