Middle Grades Education, BS: Science

This course deals with the basic principles of biology. Consideration is given to cell biology and structural and functional organization of plants and animals. Principles of reproduction, genetics, and ecology are introduced as well as a brief survey of the kingdoms of living organisms. Beginning course for all biology majors. Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. (Three hours lecture and two hours lab per week.) (Offered every semester.) Corequisite: BIOL 110L

Basic principles of chemical reactions and descriptive chemistry are integrated in terms of atomic structure, bonding theory, molecular geometry, reaction rates, equilibrium, and thermodynamics. Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. (Three lecture hours and three lab hours per week.) (Offered fall semester.) Corequisite: CHEM 111L

This course examines effective strategies for middle grades science students. In addition, methods to be used to assess students' progress will be explored. Pre-service teachers will be provided instructional tools including questioning strategies, mini-lessons, investigations, format of lessons, formative and summative assessment strategies, meeting students' diverse needs including ELL’s, and methods of eliminating gender and ethnic/racial biases in mathematics instruction. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program

This course prepares the candidate for admission to the Teacher Education licensure program. Course content includes the characteristics of the Greenville College Teacher Education Program, the aim of American schooling, a survey of the legal, social, economic, historical, political, and ethical issues involved in public school education. Additionally, the course introduces culturally relevant pedagogy. This course will give you the opportunity to determine whether you want to persist in the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall semester.) $32 Fee.

The purpose of this course is to explore race and poverty issues that impact the classroom environment. Candidates will search for effective strategies to better meet the needs of underserved populations. The hidden rules of economic class and characteristics of generational poverty will be studied, with emphasis on the impact this has on instruction. Students will spend time assisting in a classroom which serves a high minority and low socioeconomic population. Meets the general education global foundations requirement. Prerequisite: EDUC 110. (Offered fall semester) Course fee may apply.

This course prepares the candidate for admission to the Teacher Education licensure program. Course content includes the characteristics of the Greenville University Teacher Education Program. Additionally, this course develops culturally relevant pedagogy. This course includes 52-60 hours of field experience in diverse settings. This course will give you the opportunity to determine whether you want to persist in the Teacher Education Program. (Offered Interterm.) Fee $60.00

This course explores the theories and practice that identify communication skills and competencies in diverse educational settings, including virtual and remote, with multiple stakeholders. The course will also introduce educators to the pedagogy and integration of instructional technologies. Emphasis will be placed on interpersonal and intercultural communication, critical listening and questioning techniques, professional collaboration, digital communication and instructional tools. Students will build a professional, digital portfolio and the option to earn a Level 1 Google Certified Educator certification.

This course will examine the historical context, diverse characteristics, and individual planning for the exceptional child. Students in this course will explore how individuals develop and learn within the context of their cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. Co-teaching instructional plans based on diverse student characteristics, student performance data, and curriculum goals will be developed. Students can take EDUC 110 and EDUC 280 at the same time.

This course will provide a current and comprehensive overview of research and theory related to human learning. The course will emphasize major concepts of learning theory but will also cover relevant motivational and developmental theories. The course will underscore the relationship between theory, research, and practice. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement. Prerequisite: EDUC101; Corequisite: EDUC 280. (Offered every term.)

Emphasis is on teaching reading and writing in content areas from grades 6 through 12. Relationships between reading, literacy, and writing within content areas are established and ways of meeting the needs of culturally diverse and dysfunctional students are explored. Candidates design appropriate learning experiences and apply reading-study skills to the content areas. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered spring semester.)

This course will investigate the structures of a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, positive social interaction, active engagement, and academic risk-taking. A three tiered level of positive behavior supports (PBS) will be explored as a framework for creating plans to accomplish a productive learning environment. Prerequisite: EDUC 280

The purpose of this course is to build your understanding of the link between instruction and assessment and the teacher’s role in monitoring and assessing student learning. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to develop, design, and implement both formal and informal reliable assessments. The student will explore multiple approaches to planning and assessments by learning to describe the advantages and limitations of assessments types. These types will include simple and complex forms such as multiple-choice items, interpretive exercise (using pictorial info like charts and graphs), essay, performance-based, and portfolio). Students will write and select lesson goals, objectives, and assessments that are designed to inform their instruction and student performance. Additionally, students will develop their personal philosophy of grading, identify issues of equity in testing, and understand the importance of data collection and analysis. Students will learn about how to select and/or develop measurement tools such as rubrics and other assessment tools and apps. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered every semester)

A study of social and philosophical assumptions related to curricula, materials, and methods of instruction pertinent to middle grades students. Focus is on organizing classes, making curricular decisions, determining methods and selecting learning resources along with the literacy needs of the middle grades student. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall semesters.)

After admission to the professional internship, candidates receive student teaching placements. Candidates work with their cooperating teachers during the first week of school. Five days of clinical experience required. Prerequisite: Admission to the Professional Internship. (Offered fall semester)

Candidates complete their full semester professional internship and EdTPA assessment. *K-12 physical education majors are required to complete eight weeks of student teaching in conjunction with EDUC 424. Prerequisite: Admission to the Professional Internship. (Offered every semester.)

The seminar addresses professional topics within the field of education. In addition, the seminar provides an opportunity for teacher candidates to focus on the required performance assessment. The performance assessment, aligned with state standards, is an authentic assessment tool that shows how teacher candidates develop and evaluate student learning. The centerpiece is a portfolio that describes and documents authentic practices from the candidate’s teaching experience. The portfolio addresses planning, instruction, assessment, analyzing teaching, and academic language to reveal the impact of a candidate’s teaching performance on student learning. As a capstone seminar, the course requires students reflect mastery of self-reflection and critical self-awareness, collaboration across disciplines, communication in multiple modes with multiple audiences, and reflection on how Christian faith impacts and guides their daily work. The seminar topics and tasks guide and support the candidate’s progress in the teaching profession. Meets the general education senior seminar requirement.

Our everyday wellbeing and sustenance are connected to our environment in many ways, but many of these connections are not obvious. This course focuses on how human society relates to and depends on the environment. This course incorporates the topics of human population, patterns of resource use, energy, and pollution while considering how to move toward a sustainable future for the Creation. Some aspects of the following disciplines are included: ecology, animal and plant biology, physics, chemistry, oceanography, and atmospheric science. Three hours of lecture and two hours lab per week. Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)

This course is a continuation of BIOL 110. It introduces gene replication, expression, and regulation; evolution; diversity of life, with phylogeny, characteristics, and importance of major phyla; and structure and function of selected plant and/or animal systems. (Three hours lecture and two hours lab per week.) Prerequisite: BIOL 110. Corequisite: BIOL 112L (Offered spring semester.)

This course is a study of the basic and fundamental principles of human anatomy and physiology. Over the course of the semester, the organ systems will be examined in terms of structure and function. Additional emphasis will be placed on the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems. Learning will be aided through anatomical dissection, physiological experiments, teaching models, and group work. This course is designed for students who need an introduction to anatomy and physiology for their major (other than Biology). Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. Corequisite: BIOL 145L

Continuation of PHYS 200 covering electric fields and forces, electric potential, resistors, capacitors and DC circuits; magnetic fields and forces, electromagnetic induction and inductors, electromagnetic waves and Maxwell’s equations; and geometrical and physical optics. (Three hours lecture and two hours of lab per week.) Prerequisite: Grade of C- or higher in PHYS 200 and MATH 115. Corequisite: PHYS 210L. (Offered spring semester.)

This course is designed to deal with all the human body systems as to structure and function. Material covered is intended for those planning to teach biology in high school or enter the allied health professions. (Three lectures and one two-hour lab per week.) (Offered fall semester) Prerequisite: BIOL 112, BIOL 150 Corequisite: BIOL 245L

This course introduces students to engineering. Students will study the history of engineering, explore various engineering disciplines and scientific principles behind engineering, engage in design and problem solving processes, and learn safety procedures. Students also practice decision-making, teamwork, and effective communication through key projects. Meets the general education foundation of liberal arts requirement. (Offered fall semester.)

Basic principles of chemical reactions and descriptive chemistry are integrated in terms of the periodic table, atomic structure, bond types, molecular geometry, reaction rates, and thermodynamics. (Three lecture hours and three hours lab per week.) (Offered spring semester). Prerequisite: CHEM 111 Corequisite: CHEM 112L

This course covers general and fundamental areas of physical sciences that are important to educators. Readings and assessments will address scientific principles and underlying relationships from various branches of physical sciences, including earth and space sciences. In-class work revolves around some of the most common misconceptions of the physical sciences. Students use inquiry skills as they: investigate phenomena; collect, interpret, and analyze data; and generate evidence-based arguments and explanations. Students will explore and debate one current event topic where science, technology, and society intersect.

A calculus-based introductory physics course that covers kinematics and Newton’s laws of motion; conservation laws for momentum, energy, and angular momentum; torques and static equilibrium; and simple harmonic motion. Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. (Three hours lecture and two hours of lab per week.) Corequisite: MATH 115, PHYS 200L (Offered fall semester.)