Science Education Course

Science Education Course, Primary and Secondary Education

Becoming a teacher who "loves science"

The Science Education Course in the Primary and Secondary Education Major provides a wide range of science instruction to cultivate individuals who have strong scientific knowledge and intellect backed by observation and experiment; it aims to develop individuals who can play a central role in the field of science education.

Prospective Students

• Individuals who have a strong desire to become an elementary school or junior high school teacher, and are eager to acquire knowledge related to the natural sciences and explore various issues in their role as a teacher.
• Individuals who have an interest in and experience with exploratory learning in science as well as scientific observation and experiments.
• Individuals who have adequately acquired a wide range of fundamental knowledge and skills related to science in high school, and who have studied three or more of the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and geology.

Students will hone their sensibilities regarding the natural sciences through repeated scientific observation and experiments. They will study a wide range of topics in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, learning scientific methods of thinking and ways to express related ideas. They will also develop a high level of expertise in the fields of science education related to practical classroom skills to foster scientific ways of thinking and form a scientific view of nature among children and youth.

We have created a system where supervisors can appropriately discuss problems related to students' study from the time they enroll until they graduate, and we strive to ensure that students have a positive university experience by regularly checking their academic progress. In the latter part of their sophomore year, students select a field in which they want to conduct specialized study, and from their junior year, they start to receive advice on their research and teaching practicum from the supervisor of their senior thesis research. Thus, students in different years of studies work together and strive to improve quality of their teaching skills.

We offer many opportunities for students to be involved in unique efforts undertaken by our faculty members and to participate in projects sponsored by the university’s Center for Science Education. Students will learn practical science teaching skills through interactions with community members and partnerships with in-service teachers.

Areas of Study

Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Science Education