Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemistry Education, B.S.


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The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Education is designed for students who wish to become chemistry teachers in grades 9-12. Teacher candidates in the program will learn the content knowledge, pedagogical skills and professional attitudes and dispositions to be outstanding teachers of chemistry at the high school level. Candidates will complete a host of field-based assignments and placements to provide authentic experiences necessary for the profession.

Education (ED)


The School of Education is accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Mission Statement for the School of Education

The School of Education at Avila University is committed to educating innovative, adaptable, and involved professionals who will provide service to a diverse and ever-changing population. Through value-based learning and authentic experiences, our graduates will be qualified, ethical, and responsible contributors to the greater society.

Initial Teacher Education Programs at Avila University and Approved by the State of Missouri

Avila University teacher education programs approved by the State of Missouri are: elementary (1-6); special education: mild/moderate cross categorical (K-12); middle school (5-9) with concentrations in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies; art education and physical education (K-12); and secondary education (9-12) with concentrations in biology, business, chemistry, English, social studies, and speech/theater. For more information see the School of Education website.

Most teacher education candidates apply for Kansas teacher certification along with Missouri teacher certification.

A. Criteria for Formal Admission to the School of Education

  • Admission to Avila University
  • Submission of ACT or SAT Scores
  • Successfully passing all sections of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA) with a score of at least 220 for each section
  • University/College course work
    • 45-60 hours overall
    • 12 hours of professional education coursework at Avila University (elementary & special education majors)
    • 6 hours of professional education coursework at Avila University (middle school majors, business education majors, secondary education minors, and transfer students)
  • Grade Point Average Requirements
    • Overall - 2.75 or above for all college courses
    • Education courses - 3.0 or above
    • Content Area - 3.0 or above
  • Grade of C or above in the following courses:
    • Composition I
    • Composition II
    • Communication
    • College Algebra or Calculus
  • Positive recommendations from ED 185 Practicum
  • Positive Liberal Arts recommendation
  • Positive Professional Dispositions  recommendations
  • Non-native English speakers must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. Scores cannot be more than 2 years old. Required scores are:
    • 580 or higher on the written TOEFL exam or
    • 237 or higher on the computer-based TOEFL exam or
    • 92 or higher on the internet based TOEFL exam or
    • 7.5 or higher overall score with no individual band score below 6.0 on the IELTS exam

For more detailed information on the criteria for admission to the School of Education, please see the School of Education Teacher Candidate Handbook .

The School of Education reserves the right to refuse admission into the teacher education program to any person who has been convicted of a felony or has otherwise committed an offense inappropriate for a teacher.

B. Criteria for Completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Special Education, Middle School Education, Chemistry Education, and Physical Education; the Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Education; and the Secondary Education Minor.

  • Completion of all CORE, major related, and degree requirements
  • Completion of at least 120 credit hours
  • Grade Point Average Requirements
    • Overall - 2.75 or above for all college courses
    • Education courses - 3.0 or above
    • Content Area - 3.0 or above
  • Positive Professional Dispositions  recommendations
  • Successful completion of ED 494 Final Clinical Experience Seminar and ED 495 Final Clinical Experience
  • Successful passing of the Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA)
  • Successful completion of the performance evaluation required by the MoDESE

For more detailed information about the School of Education’s programs and policies, please see the School of Education Teacher Candidate Handbook 

C. Exam Requirements

All Education majors and minors must complete the linked exam requirements .

Core Requirements


All students must complete the Avila University Core Curriculum as a part of their degree programs. The Core consists of a minimum of 39 credit hours that meet the requirements listed below. Please go to Core Curriculum  for more information and to view all Core classes.

Core Foundations (9-11 credit hours)


Foundations requirements provide the basic skills essential for effective participation in other classes as well as the professional world.

Core Pillars & Levels (30 credit hours)


Pillars and Levels requirements address the breadth of knowledge expected of a liberal arts education and challenges students to integrate prior knowledge and create new ideas through higher levels of coursework.

Cross-Application Note: All courses that meet a Pillar also meet a Level and may meet a Designation requirement. Some courses taken for major and/or minor requirements may also meet Core requirements.

CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES
    Social Justice & Civic Life Pillar 
(6 credit hours required)

Creativity & Culture Pillar
(6 credit hours required)

Belief & Reason Pillar
(6 credit hours required)
Explorations of Nature Pillar 
(6 credit hours required)

24 credit hours required 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACQUIRE LEVEL        
TRANSFORM LEVEL        
6 credit hours required CONTRIBUTE LEVEL

 

 

     

Core Designations


Core Component Designations requirements incorporate assignments and experiences focused on developing and deepening student understanding to prepare students for responsible lifelong contributions to the global community.

CORE Designations

Interdisciplinary Studies (IS)

(9 credit hours)

Global Studies (GS)    

(9 credit hours)     

Community Engagement (CE)    

(3 credit hours) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer Students


The Core Component Designations requirement for transfer students is determined by the number of credit hours transferred to Avila University. Please see the Transfer Students  page within this catalog.

Cross-Application


As noted above, courses can have multiple designations and thus meet multiple requirements at once.

Example: BI 215 - Humans & the Environment (3)  meets all of the following requirements:

  • Belief & Reason Nature Pillar
  • Transform Level
  • Global Studies (GS) Designation
  • Major Requirement

Major Requirements


Candidates who are preparing to teach Chemistry at the secondary level (grades 9-12) must complete Avila University’s general degree requirements, the education course requirements, the major related requirements, and the chemistry certification course requirements in order to receive initial teacher certification. 

Technology Requirement


Computer competency will be demonstrated by successful completion of:

Outcomes


Conceptual Framework for the School of Education

In addition to the general degree requirements stated earlier in this university catalog, education majors and minors must meet the following ten program goals/outcomes identified in the Conceptual Framework. These goals/outcomes are aligned with the Missouri Teacher Standards and Quality Indicators. These goals/outcomes are designed to produce excellent teachers who meet the university and School of Education missions. A full text copy of the School of Education Conceptual Framework, including goals/outcomes assessment information, is available in the School of Education office and on the School of Education website.

Goal 1: Professional Communication

Candidates will demonstrate strong competencies in the communicative arts including exemplary use of oral, written, nonverbal, technological communication, and group processing skills with professors, students, colleagues, administrators, parents, and others in the educational arena.

Goal 2: Critical Reflection and Decision Making

Candidates will exhibit critical reflection on practice and display exemplary decision making skills including higher level thinking, evaluative thinking, and problem solving in both university classrooms and in K-12 schools.

Goal 3: Professional Dispositions

Candidates will demonstrate appropriate professional dispositions toward self, students, colleagues, administrators, and parents. Candidates’ professional dispositions will foster positive human relationships and demonstrate respect for the profession and the responsibilities it entails.

Goal 4: Content Expertise and Standards Based Curricular Alignment

Candidates will demonstrate content expertise and the ability to align content and curriculum to appropriate standards.

Goal 5: Instructional and Assessment Methods

Candidates will demonstrate appropriate use of varied research-based teaching strategies and technologies to deliver effective lessons. Candidates will design and demonstrate appropriate use of varied assessments for promoting and measuring the learning of all students.

Goal 6: Diversity Knowledge and Commitment

Candidates will understand and recognize differences in students who represent various categories of diversity. Candidates will demonstrate ability and commitment to promoting the intellectual and personal growth of all students.

Goal 7: Human Behavior, Motivation, and Classroom Management

Candidates will use theoretical knowledge and research about learning and human behavior to create motivating learning experiences, manage the classroom, and respond appropriately to classroom events.

Goal 8: Field Experiences and Clinical Practice

Candidates will fully grasp the realities of classrooms by applying principles, theories, and methods in diverse field-based and clinical experiences.

Goal 9: Leadership and Service

Candidates will demonstrate a commitment to lead and serve in an ethical manner through interactions at the university and in school-based communities.

Goal 10: Foundation for Continued Professional Development

Candidates will establish a foundation for continued professional growth and development.

Alignment matrices showing the relationship between Conceptual Framework Goals/Outcomes and Missouri Teacher Standards and Quality Indicators are available in the School of Education office. Alignment matrices showing the relationship between course key assessments and Conceptual Framework goals/outcomes and Missouri Standards and Quality Indicators are also available in the School of Education office. Individual course syllabi show the ways the courses address and evaluate University Wide Outcomes, Conceptual Framework goals/outcomes, Missouri Teacher Standards and Quality Indicators, and InTASC  standards.

Assessment


Conceptual Framework goals/outcomes and Missouri Teacher Standards and Quality Indicators are assessed through:

  1. Performance on the MoGEA examination
  2. Admission to the School of Education process
  3. Performance on course assignments, key assessments, and mastery assessments as indicated on course syllabi
  4. Admission to Final Clinical Experience process
  5. Final Clinical Experience course assessments
  6. Performance on MoCA, and
  7. Performance evaluations in field-based and clinical courses

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