The Science Education Minor provides preparation for careers where teaching and conveying science are important components, including secondary, community college, and university teaching, or other science-related outreach.
The curriculum of the Science Education minor provides:
- two quarters of field experiences in elementary, middle and/or high school science classes,
- two quarters of UCLA-based laboratory teaching practicums taught by experts in laboratory instruction in the disciplines,
- the science courses necessary for preparation for the state subject matter exams (if pursuing a teaching credential), and
- the flexibility in education courses to allow individualization of the minor to fit the graduate and/or credential program of your choice.
The minor is designed to provide both theory and hands-on experiences. Students interested in K-12 education, as well as graduate programs in their STEM disciplines, are the primary focus.
Admission to the Minor
Students eligible for admission to the minor will be making normal progress to the preparation for a major in the Sciences whether they have declared such a major or not. As such, they will have completed 9 courses from the following with at least one from each of the four departments below:
1) Life Sciences 7A, 7B, 7C, 23L;
2) Chemistry 14A, 14AE, 14B, 14C, 14BL, 14CL or Chemistry 20A, 20B, 20L, 30A, 30AL;
3) Physics 1A, 1B, 4AL, 4BL or 5A, 5B, 5C;
4) Mathematics 3A, 31A, or Life Sciences 30A.
To enter the minor students must be in academic good standing with an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. Students must consult with the Science Education Minor Coordinator, to plan a coherent program to complete the minor along with their major, prior to filing a petition to enter the minor.
Requirements for the Minor
Seven courses are included in the minor with no more than two as lower division. A minimum of 22 upper division units are required. See UCLA Catalog Science Education Minor.
Lower division preparatory courses
|
# Crs
|
Title/Description
|
Units
|
|
1
|
One course from Science Education 1XP (2), Science Education 10XP (2), or Science Education 15XP (3) |
2-3
|
|
1
|
Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences 1 (5). One of the following courses may be substituted for Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences 1: AOS 101 (5), 102 (4), 103 (4); or EPS 101 (4), C113 (4). |
4-5
|
|
2
|
Total: 2 courses |
6-8 units
|
Upper division major courses
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# Crs
|
Title/Description
|
Units
|
|
1
|
Science Education 100XP (formerly 100SL) |
5
|
|
1 |
Education 127 Note that Education 128 does not count towards the Science Education Minor. |
5
|
| varies |
Lab-based Practicum*: At least 3 units selected from: Chemistry and Biochemistry 192A (4), 192B (4), Physiological Science 192A (1), 192B (2-4), Life Sciences M192A (1), 192B (3), 192C (4), 192D (2), 192E (1), Physics M192S (1), 192M (2-4).
*192 Practicums must be lab-based; for Life Science and Physics, you must choose a lab-based course or section. More information on how to enroll is below. |
3-8
|
|
1-2
|
Education Elective: At least one and no more than two courses selected from the following Education courses: M102 (4), M103 (4), 104A (formerly 134) (4), 105B (formerly 133) (5), 106A (5), 107A (formerly 130) (5), 107B (formerly 164) (5), M108 (5), C111 (formerly C125) (5), 123 (5), 126 (formerly 166) (5), M131A (formerly M194A) (5). 132 (5), M136 (4), 139 (5), 141 (5).
Or, some UC online courses to be approved on a case-by-case basis: UC Cross-Campus Enrollment (Select Education) Or, some non-lab-based practicums (192 courses) by petition.
Education Courses: See Undergraduate course enrollment rules on Education website (scroll down and select Undergraduate course enrollment rules). Currently, Science Education Minors are able to enroll in the above Education courses during second pass. |
4-10
|
|
5+
|
Total: 5 courses (varies) |
22-23 units
|
How to enroll in the practicum:
| Chem/BioChem: |
Contact the instructor for permission to enroll: Dr. Pang - pang@chem.ucla.edu; Dr. Russell - russell@chem.ucla.edu |
|
Physiological Sciences:
|
Contact the instructor for permission to enroll: Dr. Phelps - pphelps@physci.ucla.edu |
| Physics: |
Not all Physics 192 courses are lab-based. To enroll in Physics 192M and M192S, you will need to apply through the Learning Assistant Program (https://ceils.ucla.edu/learning-communities-trainings/learning-assistant-program/). To get credit for the Lab-based Practicum, you will need to be a Learning Assistant for Physics 5AL, 5BL, 5CL, 4AL, or 4BL. Note that you must have taken these courses to be eligible. *When you apply to the Learning Assistant Program for the Lab-based Practicum, you should 1) only apply for lab courses (see above physics list and/or LS23L), and 2) email the LA Program Development Team (uclalearningassistants@gmail.com) once you've applied to tell them that you are applying for a Lab-based Practicum as part of the Science Education Minor, so that they can give you priority enrollment in the lab-based courses. Once accepted, the Learning Assistant Program will provide PTEs to enroll. If you are not offered a spot in the appropriate course, please contact cateach@chem.ucla.edu for assistance. |
| Life Science: |
To enroll in the LS 192 practicums, you will need to apply through the Learning Assistant Program (https://ceils.ucla.edu/learning-communities-trainings/learning-assistant-program/). Not all Life Science 192 courses/sections are lab-based. To get credit for the Lab-based Practicum, you will need to be a Learning Assistant for LS 23L only. Note that you must have taken LS 23L to be eligible. LS7B is no longer an option beginning Fall 2022. *When you apply to the Learning Assistant Program for the Lab-based Practicum, you should 1) only apply for lab courses (LS 23L and/or Physics lab courses), and 2) email the LA Program Development Team (uclalearningassistants@gmail.com) once you've applied to tell them that you are applying for a Lab-based Practicum as part of the Science Education Minor, so that they can give you priority enrollment in the lab-based courses. Once accepted, the Learning Assistant Program will provide PTEs to enroll. If you are not offered a spot in the appropriate course, please contact cateach@chem.ucla.edu for assistance. |
How to declare the minor?
Please contact cateach@chem.ucla.edu to express your interest and ask any questions.