Science Education

Introduction

The Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Program is a visionary and practical program designed to enrich the training and education of K-12 pre-service and in-service teachers and, through them, their students. From a collaboration of the disciplines of education, chemistry, geology, biology, physics/astronomy, mathematics and engineering technology, the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Program (SMATE) offers an opportunity for teachers and future teachers to gain specific skills and broaden talents within their chosen discipline.

The General Science major is offered at three levels: Elementary for students intending to teach grades K-8, Middle School for students intending to teach science in grades 4-9, and Secondary for students intending to teach science in middle or high school. Students planning to be teachers and major in one of the sciences or mathematics should consult with the appropriate science education advisor in the appropriate science or mathematics department or with the director of science education regarding the General Science major.

For further information and advisement, consult with an advisor or the director of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Dr. George Nelson, phone 360-650-3637, Science, Math and Technology Education Building, SL 250D, e-mail George.Nelson@wwu.edu. or Lori Torres, Program Manager, SL 220, phone 360.660.7605, e-mail Lori.Torres@wwu.edu

Faculty

ALEJANDRO ACEVEDO-GUTIÉRREZ (2002) Associate Professor. BSc, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, Mexico; PhD, Texas A&M University.
EMILY BORDA (2005) Associate Professor. BS-Chemistry, Gonzaga University; MEd-Educational Leadership and Policy, MS, PhD-Chemistry, University of Washington.
ANDREW BOUDREAUX (2008) Associate Professor, BS, University of California Berkeley (1993), PhD, University of Washington.
DONALD BURGESS (2004) Associate Professor. MS Education-Biology, State University of New York, Cortland.
SUSAN M. DEBARI (1998) Professor. BA, Cornell University; PhD, Stanford University.
DEBORAH A. DONOVAN (1998) Professor. BSc, MSc, University of California-Davis; PhD, University of British Columbia.
STEVEN GAMMON (2002) Professor. BA, Bowdoin College; PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
SCOTT R. LINNEMAN (2000) Professor. BA, Carleton College; PhD, University of Wyoming.
GEORGE D. NELSON (2002) Professor. BS, Harvey Mudd College; MS, PhD, University of Washington.
CHRIS OHANA (1999) Associate Professor. BA, University of California- Berkeley; MA, University of Oregon; PhD, Iowa State University.

Other Departmental Information

Facilities and Resources

Pivotal to this program is a facility designed to accommodate this academic vision. The 15,000 square foot facility contains our state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, one each specifically tailored to elementary and secondary education. They surround a Learning Resource Center with more than 15,000 books on standards, assessment, curriculum and activities. It also contains collections of classic and current materials, laboratory resources, educational technology, and expertise that students, faculty, the local community and teachers from around the state can draw upon either on site or in the schools. In both its approach and facilities, the SMATE Program is a national model for teacher training in undergraduate mathematics, science and technology education. Additionally, the SMATE faculty are engaged in a number of research projects that connect the preservice program to the K-12 schools and offer students the opportunity to gain unique experiences. Numerous scholarships and paid research experiences are available each year for future teachers of science.

To find out more about the Learning Resource Center and SMATE facilities, contact Jamie Harrington, assistant director of the SMATE program, at 360-650-3647, by e-mail at Jamie.Harrington@wwu.edu, visit the website, http://www.smate.wwu.edu/smate/, or stop by the Science, Math and Technology Education Building, Science Lecture 220.

Graduate Study

For a concentration leading to a Master of Education degree in natural science/science education see the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Science Education

Introduction

Faculty

Other Departmental Information

Facilities and Resources

Graduate Study

Undergraduate Degrees and Programs

Graduate Degrees and Programs

Science Education Courses