5 Best Bachelor’s in Science Education

Purdue University is consistently nationally ranked, including the #6 most innovative school in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. Purdue includes 13 schools, including the College of Education, where our #1 ranking originates.

Start your journey to becoming a middle or high school teacher and earn a Bachelor of Science in science education with a concentration in biology, chemistry, physics, or earth/space science.

This 127-credit hour program includes science education, concentration courses, and electives.  Of course, you will take classes such as chemistry and calculus, but by your second year, you will add education courses such as Introduction to Educational Technology and Computing and Multiculturalism in Education. During your fourth year, you will be let loose to teach in a classroom of your own to complete 8 to 16 credit hours.

If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can also add an optional K-12 integrated STEM concentration to this program, which will enhance your resume and future teaching opportunities. If you think Purdue University is in your future, you need a minimum GPA of 2.5 and one semester of calculus with a C or better.

A school rich in history and traditions, the University of Iowa is ranked #2 in the Best Regional Universities (Midwest) by U.S. News & World Report. One reason why UNI made our list is because of its reputable science education programs.

Here, we are going to focus on the Bachelor of Arts in Comprehensive Secondary Science Teaching, but there are others to explore, too.

This program entails a liberal arts core curriculum, professional education requirements, and major credit hours, which add up to 134 credit hours. This is a higher credit count than an average bachelor’s degree, so this program will take additional time to complete. However, the good news is that with this major, you can teach all areas of science at the secondary level.

In addition to a culmination of all science courses, you will take education courses such as Classroom Assessment and Human Relations: Awareness and Application. Another perk of this program is that you will start field experiences as early as the fall of your second year. Your entire final semester will be spent teaching in a secondary classroom setting.

Opened in 1849 as a teacher’s college, Eastern Michigan University continues to offer nationally ranked teacher education programs. Our first two rankings were for future middle school and high school teachers, but if elementary is your focus, the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education integrated science comprehensive major is worth checking out.

In this program, you will learn basic science taught in elementary school, including biology, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy. Along with 69 credits of major requirements, you will complete 56 hours in professional elementary education, such as Curriculum and Methods, Early Literacy, and Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age.

You will devote your final year to the capstone experience, which includes applying all you have learned in your own classroom where you will teach! If you want to add the DI endorsement, you can also teach science in grades 6-8. Once you have 56 college credits and at least a 2.5 GPA, you can apply to this notable program.

For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Arizona State University in the top ten for “first-year experiences,” so if you’re a first-year student, even better!

However, if you’re a transfer student, ASU is for you, too, especially if you want to teach STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to grades K-8!

Through the Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education (STEM), you will gain a “firm grounding in science, using the tools of technology, the processes of engineering and the language of math” (ASU website), which will qualify you to become a math, science, or technology teacher in grades K-8. You will take content and pedagogy courses such as Technology Literacy: Problem Solving Using Digital Technology.

During your junior year, you will intern part-time in a K-8 classroom, which will prepare you for a full-time student teaching position the following year. First-year students, transfer students, and international students are encouraged to apply to ASU, and you can complete your application online through ASU’s Application for Admission, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application.

Penn State’s College of Education is among the best in the country. Among the many reasons this university ranks high is its commitment to educational research and cutting-edge programs.

Check out Penn State’s Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (SECED) with a science education (SCIED) option is a great program if you’re looking to teach science at the middle and high school levels.

To further tailor your program, you can choose from the following areas to study:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Earth/Space Science
• Environmental Education
• General Science
• Physics

You will complete 126 credit hours in core science classes, including your areas of concentration, along with education and elective courses. Notable courses include Teaching Secondary Science, Education in American Society, and Introductory Field Experience for Teacher Preparation.

Speaking of field experience, Penn State’s program prides itself on introducing hands-on experience right away. As a science education student, you will begin early field experience during your third and fourth semesters, which will lead to more field experience during your sixth and seventh semesters to ultimately prepare you for your student teaching practicum.