Dr. Ravi Koul
The School of Graduate Professional Studies
Penn State Great Valley
30 East Swedesford Road
Malvern, PA 19355
Telephone: 610-468-5250
Fax: 610-725-5253
E-mail: rxk141@psu.edu
The School of Graduate Professional Studies at Penn State Great Valley offers a four course (12-credit) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program in Leadership in Elementary Science Teaching which is designed for teachers who wish to improve their knowledge concerning the nature of science, science content, and science teaching.
Certificate program courses have been selected from the master of education program in Curriculum and Instruction emphasizing Science Education and are regularly offered at Penn State Great Valley. All science content courses in the program are designed to comply with Pennsylvania State Standards and were developed in collaboration with scientists at Penn State. They are designed to help teachers grasp essential science concepts and principles (related to physical, life, and environmental science) and to become more comfortable in teaching science. Science teaching courses promote better understanding of the nature, content, and process of science and the basic principles of science teaching, science process skills, inquiry, and assessment. Course participants develop both knowledge and leadership skills in enhancing the quality of student learning experiences. The research course is designed to help participants learn how to read, interpret, and conduct research. Through discussion, classroom activities, and hands-on projects, course participants can learn the process of qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry and apply this knowledge to enhance the teaching and learning of science teaching in schools.
Four 3-credit courses are required (for total of 12 credits). Students complete one required Science Content course (3 credits), and one required Research course (3 credits) which may be selected from a choice of two. Students also select two Science Teaching courses (6 credits) from a selection of Science Education (SCIED) course offerings based on their backgrounds and interests. All course content in the certificate program provides a balanced mix of theory, research, and practical application in the topics. Students who complete the program with at least a 3.0 (B) average receive the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Leadership in Elementary Science Teaching.
Individuals wishing to enroll in this post-baccalaureate certificate program must have a requisite combination of education and classroom teaching experience. They must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution earned under residence and credit considerations substantially equivalent to those required by Penn State. They also should hold a minimum of an Instructional I Certification. Individuals who do not hold the Instructional I Certificate should contact an adviser about enrollment options.
Applicants should complete and submit the online nondegree application and application fee and will enroll on a nondegree basis. For more information about how to apply on a nondegree basis, refer to http://grsdsch.psu.edu/prospective/apply.html. The program may be started in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
The courses in this post-baccalaureate certificate program are applicable to the master's degree program in Curriculum and Instruction offered through the School.
Students who wish to have the certificate courses applied to the master's degree program in Curriculum and Instruction must be formally admitted to the master's degree program. Note that admission into the master's degree program is a separate step and is not guaranteed. Interested students should contact the Great Valley Admissions Office (610-648-3242) for more information about how to apply and make a change from nondegree to degree status. Once a certificate program student is admitted to the master's degree program and enrolls on a degree basis, the certificate program courses completed with a grade of "B" or better will be "transferred" into the program.
Penn State's Graduate School permits up to 15 credits of course work taken on a nondegree basis to be applied to a graduate degree. However, admission into a graduate program, and credit toward a graduate degree for specific courses taken on a nondegree basis, is up to the graduate program.
A. Science Content Course: Required (3 credits)
457. Environmental Science Education
B. Research Course: Required (3 credits) - Choose one of the following two:
501. Teacher as Inquirer
400. Introduction to Research Literature
C. Two Science Teaching Courses (6 credits). Choose two of the following three or from other departmental offerings of 500-level graduate science education teaching courses:
410. Using Technology to Enhance Science Teaching (3 credits)
551. History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science and Science Teaching (3 credits)
559. Analysis of Instruction in Elementary Science Education (3 credits)
SCIENCE EDUCATION (SCIED) course list
CURRICULIM AND INSTRUCTION (C I) course list
EFFECTIVE DATE: Summer Session 2009
EXPIRATION DATE: Spring Semester 2014
Last Revised by the Department: Fall Semester 2009
Blue Sheet Item#: 37-07-071
Review Date: 6/16/09