Teaching Degree in Chemistry
Only those that understand the importance of education and the need to educate upcoming generations consider teaching as a career. A good teacher is one that desires to inspire his students to learn more. Students who are taught by good teachers have the drive to make research after class work and they ask very intelligent questions. Chemistry teachers make the students to have passion for discovering the nature of atoms, the relationship between elements in the universe and the great potentials of studying chemistry as a subject.
What does a teaching Degree in Chemistry Look Like?
Individuals with a teaching degree in chemistry know how to make their students understand chemistry. They learn chemistry as a subject and the most effective ways of making students understand the subject. High schools are always willing to employ students who have obtained a teaching degree in chemistry because of their great potentials.
A teaching degree in chemistry is a very important discipline so some measures are considered while admitting students for the course. Here are some of the basic requirements:
- The GPA or ACT score of the student must be at the minimum requirement of the school. The minimum requirement is not the same for all courses so a prospective student should endeavor to go to the admissions office of the school for clarifications.
- Students who intend to transfer their college credits should be sure that their credits meet the minimum GPA requirements of the course. They also need to visit the admissions office to obtain more details.
- The students may also have to get certification in a teaching minor program before they graduate.
Course Contents of the Chemistry Program
Students enrolled for teaching degree in chemistry will be required to complete courses in chemistry and education. Chemistry courses they are likely going to encounter include quantitative analysis, general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry. They also learn other science subjects such as biology and physics. The students are also exposed to lab work where they learn how to make precise measurements in quantitative analysis. Education courses for these students include psychology, secondary education, learning and development and lesson planning. In addition, they learn how to score students' performance, plan lessons and manage their classrooms. These education and chemistry courses enable the aspiring chemistry teachers to perform very well when they start teaching in high schools.
Other Vital Qualifications Apart from the Degree
Even after obtaining a teaching degree in chemistry, there are some qualifications you must possess before you start teaching. It is therefore important to find out what these qualifications are from your school's counselors. For example, if you want to study in California, you must be able to pass the California Basic Educational Skill Test (CBEST) before you are issued your teaching certificate. The students are also required to practice teaching during their degree program. In the state of Utah, a bachelor's degree is the basic requirement for a level 1 teacher and this certification is only valid for four years as long as the teacher teaches for at least three years out of the four. In some states, students have to go for fingerprint background check before they are given their teacher certificate.
