Catalog Year: 2021-2022

Utah State 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

    BIOL 1010 - Biology and the Citizen (BLS)

  2. Science Requirement 02

    PHYS 1200 - Introduction to Physics by Hands-on Exploration (BPS)

  3. Science Requirement 03

    PHYS 3010 - Space Exploration from Earth to the Solar System (DSC/QI)

  4. Science Requirement 04

    Use for Social Studies

  5. Science Requirement 05

    ELED 4020 - Teaching Science in Elementary School

How to Improve Content Coverage

Using the “Most Aligned” Set of Courses, current course requirements can address up to 77.78% coverage of science topics.

The topics still lacking coverage include:

  • Structure and Properties of Matter
  • 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:

  • Structure and Properties of Matter: CHEM 1010
  • Structure and Properties of Matter: CHEM 3650
  • 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

Download Recommendations
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 1010
Biology and the Citizen (BLS)
PHYS 1200
Introduction to Physics by Hands-on Exploration (BPS)
PHYS 3010
Space Exploration from Earth to the Solar System (DSC/QI)
ELED 4020
Teaching Science in Elementary School
Total Content Covered: 77.78%
If a candidate takes the above courses, this is the topic coverage they would experience overall:

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