Jul 17, 2025

2025-2026 Western Washington University Catalog

General Science — Grades 4-9, BAE

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

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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 teachers and, through them, their students. From a collaboration of the disciplines of Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Physics/ Astronomy, Mathematics, and Computer Science, 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.

This major satisfies the academic major requirement for teacher certification with an endorsement in elementary education and leads to a middle level science endorsement. It must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in elementary education or secondary education.

Why Consider a General Science - Grades 4-9 Major?

If you want a broad base of knowledge in the field of science to prepare you for teaching any science subject at the elementary or secondary level, this major will provide it. You will take a range of introductory courses from different areas of science, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geology.

Student Resources

Website: SMATE

Contact information: General Science Education Program Manager/Advisor, Lori Torres, Science Lecture (SL) 220, 360-650-7605, Lori.Torres@wwu.edu

Department advising: See the Advising section of the SMATE website.

Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Career Services Center: Connect major to a career

Sample Careers: Middle School Science Teacher

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

This major must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in elementary education or secondary education. Courses required for a state teaching endorsement must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education and Secondary Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements. Make an appointment with Lori Torres to declare.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required for courses in the education professional programs and all courses required for the endorsement.

Requirements (72-81 credits)

❑ One course from:
ASTR 103 - Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 4
ASTR 113 - Sun, Moon, and Planets Credits: 3
❑ BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab Credits: 5
❑ BIOL 205 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab Credits: 5
❑ BIOL 206 - Introduction to Organismal Biology w/lab Credits: 5
❑ CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I Credits: 5
❑ CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II Credits: 5
❑ GEOL 211 - Physical Geology Credits: 5
❑ GEOL 212 - Historical Geology Credits: 4
❑ GEOL 252 - The Earth and Its Weather Credits: 4
❑ MATH 114 - Precalculus I Credits: 5
❑ PHYS 104 - Physics Applications Credits: 4
❑ SCED 201 - Matter and Energy in Physical Systems Credits: 4
❑ SCED 202 - Matter and Energy in Earth Systems Credits: 4
❑ SCED 203 - Matter and Energy in Life Systems Credits: 4
❑ SCED 204 - Matter and Energy in Chemical Systems Credits: 4
❑ SCED 370 - STEM and Society Credits: 3
❑ SCED 492 - Field Experience in Middle School Science Credits: 3

Additional Requirements

Students must complete either the Elementary Education or Secondary Education pathway.

Elementary Education Professional Program Requirements

Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education, Woodring College of Education

Introduction

This program centers an anti-bias, anti-racist, social justice philosophy and leads to a recommendation to the state of Washington for a teaching certificate with an Elementary Education endorsement. Students seeking a bachelor’s degree with teacher certification and an endorsement in elementary education must complete the GURs, an approved academic major, and the professional education course work listed below.

Admission and Declaration Process

See the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Multilingual Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.

Grade Requirements

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the elementary education professional program and in all courses required for the endorsement.

Requirements (105 credits)

Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program (59 credits)

❑ SEC 303 - Teaching Adolescents: Development and Identity Credits: 4
❑ SEC 310 - Education, Culture, and Equity Credits: 5
❑ SEC 410 - Dynamics of Teaching Credits: 2
❑ SEC 411 - Philosophical Foundations of Education Credits: 4
❑ SEC 425 - Developmental Reading, Writing and Learning in Secondary Schools Credits: 4
❑ SEC 430 - Secondary School Methods I - Instructional Strategies, Daily Planning, and Standards Credits: 4
❑ SEC 431 - Secondary School Methods II-Assessment and Long Term Planning Credits: 4
❑ SEC 432 - Secondary School Methods III - Management, Motivation and Discipline Credits: 4
❑ SEC 433 - Teaching and Learning Laboratory Credits: 1
❑ SEC 435 - Secondary Practicum I Credits: 2
❑ SEC 436 - Secondary Practicum II Credits: 1
❑ I T 444 - Classroom Use of Instructional Technology (Secondary) Credits: 2
❑ SEC 495 - Internship - Secondary Credits: 18
❑ SPED 363 - Secondary Students With Special Needs Credits: 4

Science Education Secondary Course Requirements (8 credits)

Students who choose to complete the Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program requirements must also complete SCED 481 and SCED 491.

❑ SCED 481 - Fundamentals of Teaching Science Credits: 2
❑ SCED 491 - Methods in Secondary Education for Science Teachers Credits: 5

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements 2025-26
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement

General Science — Grades 4-9, BAE

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham

Introduction

Why Consider a General Science - Grades 4-9 Major?

Student Resources

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Grade Requirements

Requirements (72-81 credits)

Additional Requirements

Elementary Education Professional Program Requirements

Introduction

Admission and Declaration Process

Grade Requirements

Requirements (105 credits)

Professional Studies Core (22 credits)

Elementary Program Methods and Curriculum Content (32 credits)

Preparatory Field Experiences (13 credits)

Professional Field Experiences & Methods Courses (38 credits)

Secondary Education Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Program (59 credits)

Science Education Secondary Course Requirements (8 credits)

University Graduation Requirements