<p>Would it be laughable for a student to ask a question like this during advising: I want to teach a particular science (say bio or chem) at the high school level. In order to do so, I have to major in that science and then minor in education. Within each science department there are majors like this: biology department has biochemistry, neuroscience, environmental science, etc.; chemistry department has chemistry, biochemistry, etc; physics, nuclear physics, geophysics, etc. Would the sub-categories count as a major in that field? In other words does only chemistry count as a chem degree or could biochem? Or does only bio count or could environmental science?</p>
<p>I don’t know how department stuff works, so is that a ridiculous question?</p>
<p>It is not laughable at all. The options for students who anticipate careers in secondary education may not be the same as those for students who want to take their interest in science in other directions.</p>
<p>“It is not laughable at all. The options for students who anticipate careers in secondary education may not be the same as those for students who want to take their interest in science in other directions.”</p>
<p>Thank you. She’s afraid to ask and I have absolutely no idea.</p>
<p>Advisors are supposed to advise, so I don’t think it’s a dumb question at all.</p>
<p>However, the departmental advisor may not be the best person to ask. Departmental advisors know (hopefully) what classes you need to take to graduate, whether your background adequately prepares you for a class in the department, stuff like that. Since they’re professors, they usually also know about grad school in their field, and possibly med school if they’re MDs as well as PhDs. They don’t necessarily know anything about teaching credentials.</p>
<p>So instead of, or at least in addition to, asking the departmental advisor, I would also ask the career center and/or a trusted faculty member in the education department.</p>
<p>Some colleges, I know Berkeley (my alma mater) is one of them, offer B.A. degrees in science (like chemistry and biology) versus B.S. degrees. The B.A. has a more liberal arts focus and is suited for students who want to teach at the high school level.</p>
<p>When you’re getting a B.S., you will get a degree in physics or chemistry, but you choose a concentration specialty (like nuclear physics, geophysics, etc.), which is often noted on the degree.</p>
<p>What she actually needs to know is what classes (not major) count toward making her highly qualified to teach a certain subject in whatever state she is going to teach in, and what level classes are necessary.</p>
<p>For instance, in NJ, a certain number of bio classes, and a certain percentage of them at 300 level or higher, need to be taken to be certified in biology, and a different set are necessary for physical sciences.</p>
<p>(Here’s the stupidity, though: as a bio undergrad and medical doctor, my H has taken many, many physics and chem classes. However, not a high enough percentage of them are rated at 300 level. What’s stupid is that, say “organic chem” which was a 200 level course at the elite college he went to, is a 300 level course at the much less elite school I work at. Same material, exactly. So his A from a top school in organic will not help him get certified for physical science, but a student getting a C in it at this not so top school will get credit for it. Absolutely nuts.)</p>
<p>The site says that she must have a “degree in the major” and then minor in education and complete the requirements for the major. What we can’t figure out is whether the other majors under the heading “biological sciences” would count. Good advice as to whom to ask, though. Perhaps she could also speak with the education department.</p>
<p>Right. The education department, or a teaching profession career advisor, should know the answer to this in a jiff, and you could probably figure it out yourself by going to the NYS (I presume) Department of Education website. Teacher qualification rules, however, vary from state to state. There could be significant differences among PA, NY, and NJ, and relatively tough rules for “portability” of certification across state lines. So you or your daughter may want to be careful to ask the right question, or to ask more than one question.</p>
<p>(Colleges in PA train a lot of teachers for other states, so a PA advisor ought to be familiar with neighboring states’ requirements. I hope.)</p>
<p>(I would bet money that it doesn’t matter which major within biology a student chooses, if there are multiple choices, as long as there is a solid foundation of core biology courses.)</p>
<p>She should discuss this with someone in the Education Dept, as well as her regular major advisor.
Most school systems require people to have their Masters or be working toward their Masters to teach high school - this may impact her course schedule as well. Our local uni requires a certain number of Masters level class in your field of study, even when the actual Masters degree is in education.</p>
<p>Garland, I feel your pain, when DH went back to become qualified to teach, it took about twice as long as it should have for him to complete his degree - because of the ticky, nutsy requirements. he wasn’t an MD, but he had been working as a chemist in several different settings - industry and academic research for 10 years. His problem was bio, had to go back and do a bio major to qualify to take the courses he needed in his field of study. You would think, as desperate as most places are for science teachers…</p>
<p>I take it back. I just looked at the PA website, and it completely fails to answer your question for PA. Either (a) you or she will have to call the relevant Department of Education, and keep talking to people until you get someone high enough up to answer authoritatively, and maybe try to get something in writing from him or her, or (b) since your daughter’s college has these majors, maybe someone there knows a definitive answer for NY, or (c) since someone there should know, and may not, maybe you can get an advisor at the college to go through the hoops in (a).</p>