Bachelor of Science in Geosciences - Secondary Education

Professional & Continuing Education
ASBOG (Geology License)
Scholarships & Grants
Support Geosciences
Contact / Faculty Advising

Share the Wonder of Science

The Geosciences – Secondary Education major at Eastern Washington University prepares you to teach earth and space science at the secondary education levels.

You’ll develop a deep understanding of geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics, and more while learning how to bring these subjects to life in the classroom.

This program combines geosciences coursework with hands-on field experiences and education training, all aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Whether you’re fascinated by natural disasters, climate systems, or the geological forces that shape our planet, you’ll graduate prepared to share that passion with students and make an impact.

 

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Geosciences - Secondary Education Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

Secondary Education Program Prerequisites
All prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last 6 years.
A grade ≥B- in all prerequisite courses is required for admission to the Education program.
CMST 201PUBLIC SPEAKING5
or CMST 340 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
EDUC 201INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION3
ENGL 201COLLEGE COMPOSITION: ANALYSIS, RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION (or approved equivalent)5
SOST 300PEOPLES AND GOVERNANCE OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST5
SPED 363INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION4
PSYC 204EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY5
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning proficiency*5
Total Credits32

* Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning courses

Grade Requirements: A cumulative GPA ≥2.8 for all courses, ≥C in each required geosciences course and required supporting course, ≥B- in each required education course.

Required Geosciences Courses
GEOS 100
& 100L		DISCOVERING GEOLOGY
and DISCOVERING GEOLOGY LAB		5
GEOS 113THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND WEATHER5
GEOS 222
& 222L		THE EARTH THROUGH TIME
and THE EARTH THROUGH TIME LAB		5
GEOS 305INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY5
GEOS 311
& 311L		EARTH MATERIALS
and EARTH MATERIALS LAB		4-5
or GEOS 410
& 410L		 GEOMORPHOLOGY
and GEOMORPHOLOGY LAB
GEOS 314WEATHER FORECASTING5
GEOS 320
& 320L		ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
and ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY LAB		4
GEOS 360GEOLOGIC HAZARDS4-5
or GEOS 441 DISASTERS
Electives: students must take field-oriented coursework from the list below or from special field courses in GEOS approved by the Earth and Space Science advisor.4-5
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE
and FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE LAB
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE
and FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE LAB
WATER RESOURCES
and WATER RESOURCES LAB
WETLAND SCIENCE I
and WETLAND SCIENCE I LAB
GEOSCIENCE FIELD TRIP
EXPERIMENTAL COURSE
Required Supporting Courses
MATH 142PRECALCULUS MATH II5
PHYS 121DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY5
CHEM 161GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES4
or CHEM 171 GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
CHEM 161LGENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES1
or CHEM 171L GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I
Physics (Choose one)
INVESTIGATING PHYSICAL SCIENCE
INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS I
and MECHANICS LABORATORY
GENERAL PHYSICS I
and MECHANICS LABORATORY
Required Education Courses
EDUC 303FOUNDATIONS OF ASSESSMENT3
EDUC 309FOUNDATIONS OF SECONDARY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT3
EDUC 341SECONDARY STRATEGIES, MANAGEMENT, ASSESSMENT3
EDUC 386AFIELD EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICUM3
EDUC 386BFIELD EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICUM3
EDUC 413CONTENT AREA LITERACY: MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION CANDIDATES3
EDUC 426SECONDARY STUDENT TEACHING 5-1212
EDUC 427GENERAL STUDENT TEACHING K-123-15
SCED 390SCIENCE TEACHING METHODS5
Required Senior Capstone
SCED 490ASCIENCE TEACHING CAPSTONE SEMINAR3
SCED 490BSCIENCE TEACHING CAPSTONE FIELD APPLICATION2
Total Credits99-114

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB

General Education Requirements (GER)

  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)

Humanities and Arts 
Natural Sciences 
Social Sciences

University Graduation Requirements (UGR)

Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List

Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Core Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Students who earn a BS in Geosciences - Secondary Education from EWU should be able to:​​

  • demonstrate understanding of core concepts in earth and space science;
  • show evidence of integrating the three dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards;
  • apply best practices to teach earth and space science that are outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards;
  • demonstrate effective strategies for teaching earth and space science to a community of diverse students;
  • describe the procedures for responding to potential safety hazards in the laboratory, classroom, and field.