Earth Science Teaching - BA, BS

The earth science teaching major prepares students to teach earth science in secondary schools. A bachelor’s degree in the Earth Science Teaching Major includes: University Studies, as required by the College of Science; the Teaching Major; and the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students majoring in the Earth Science Teaching Major will complete courses which provide an in-depth understanding of geological principles. 

The Earth Science Teaching Major program is fully accredited by the Utah State Office of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. It requires a 3.00 GPA and a grade of C or better in all chemistry and physics prefix courses.

• For more information about Geology, see the Geosciences Department.

• Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor.

• Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

• The highest math requirement for this degree is course.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirement

In addition to completion of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

• Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent) OR

• Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (course) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (course), and by passing an exit interview OR

• Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level or higher in one language and the 2010 course level or higher in the second language (or its equivalent) OR

• Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For non-native English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

• Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students OR

• TOEFL, IELTS, other USU approved exam, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the university admission criteria.

• New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to this major. A 3.0 GPA, ACT scores of 21 composite and 20 verbal/English and 19 mathematics/quantitative and 60 credits of coursework are required for admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional admission criteria.

• Transfer students from other institutions or other USU majors need a 3.0 GPA, ACT scores of 21 composite and 20 verbal/English and 19 mathematics/quantitative to be admitted to the major. They also need 60 credits of coursework to be admitted to the STEP. Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional admission criteria.