Science Degrees Online

Why Should I Major in Education at Southeast?

Southeast is the nation’s only two-time winner of the prestigious Christa McAuliffe Showcase for Excellence Award presented by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
Southeast’s education program is fully accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This national accreditation and Southeast’s strong program requirements and reputation offer our graduates enhanced opportunities when searching for and obtaining employment nationwide.
Southeast’s education program differs from that of many other universities by providing you with extensive field experience, beginning with first-hand classroom training and observation during your freshman year and continuing through student teaching during your senior year.
As a student in Southeast’s education program, you will receive a full semester of on-the-job student teaching experience, as opposed to the traditional eight or nine weeks of training, thus better preparing you for a career in education.
Southeast’s education program’s unique block format, in addition to providing increased professional experience, allows you to meet other students with your major early on, thus enabling you to form common bonds and establish professional relationships with others in your field.
As a student in Southeast’s education program, you will have the opportunity to personally experience another culture’s educational system through international student teaching programs.
Southeast’s education program is one of 20 national model programs selected by the AASCU. Our program was one of four nationwide cited for innovative curricular development.
Southeast’s College of Education received the “Best Practice Award for Global and International Teacher Education” from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE).
The Missouri Board of Education has cited Southeast’s education program as “Exemplary.”
Southeast is a member of the prestigious Renaissance Group of Institutions, an organization developed to improve the education of teachers.
Southeast students benefit from small classes and a low student-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Marine Science

Marine biology, marine ecology, marine geology and geophysics, chemical oceanography, and physical oceanography are career areas that are best approached through an undergraduate major in one of the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, geology or physics, or through mathematics. Slippery Rock University, through its membership in the Marine Science Consortium, offers students interested in ocean-related phenomena an opportunity to pursue that interest through a series of summer courses offered at the Wallops Island Marine Science Center, near the Atlantic Ocean in the Virginia eastern shore region. Four three-week summer sessions are offered.

Students interested in marine studies will pursue a major in one of the natural sciences or mathematics at SRU, augmenting their studies with summer courses at the Wallops Island Marine Science Center. The number of summer courses taken will depend on the students’ interests and the majors they pursue on campus. Individual programs may be tailored in consultation with an advisor, and the Department of Biology offers a minor in Marine Biology.

The Marine Science Consortium pools the talents and resources of 16 colleges and universities in the mid-Atlantic States. Classrooms, wet and dry laboratories, computer room, a workshop, dock facilities, dormitories, apartments, a cafeteria and recreational facilities are available at or near the Wallops Island Station. Several research and training vessels are available for work along the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay. Some courses offered at the Marine Science Center may be applied to the liberal studies requirement in the natural sciences so that any Slippery Rock University student, regardless of major, may take advantage of a first-hand experience in the marine environment. Advisement from one of the Slippery Rock University faculty members associated with the consortium is recommended for any student using Marine Science Consortium courses to fulfill the liberal studies requirement in science. Students should contact the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment or the Department of Biology for names of the advisors.

Associate in Science

Purpose

This degree is intended to prepare students to transfer to Washington’s public four-year colleges and universities and many private colleges with junior standing and the majority of the prerequisites for selected science majors completed. This degree partially fulfills the general education requirements as explained in the AAUCT degree. You will need to take additional credits from Culture and the Arts Distribution Areas at SVC or the four-year transfer institution to satisfy bachelor’s degree requirements.

Selecting and planning courses with a science advisor is strongly recommended to ensure a seamless transition to a science major program at a specific university or four-year college. Students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university in order to major in a specialized program, such as veterinary medicine or pharmacology, should research the prerequisite re-quirements at the four-year schools and work very closely with their science advisor to plan the appropriate coursework.
Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 90 credits in courses numbered 100 or above which include General Education courses plus a specific science major option. At least 25 credits must be earned at SVC with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Additional General Education Requirements (GERs) must be completed at the four-year school where the student transfers.
1. Communications Skills (5 cr.)

English 101 taught with a science course in a learning community.
2. Quantitative Skills (10 cr.)

Mathematics 151, 152
3. Chemistry (15 cr.)

Chemistry 161, 162, 163
4. Skills Designated Courses

Courses are skills-designated as Writing, Speech, Reading, and Quantitative. Look for the W or R, S or P, B or K, and Q or M next to the course line number. The Annual and Quarterly Class Schedules identify courses which are skills designated each quarter.

Two different skills designated courses

NOTE: Many of the Skills Designated courses will also meet science or General Education Requirements (GERs).
5. Integrative Learning Experiences

Integrative learning experiences include Learning Communities and Integrative Experiences.

A Learning Community is the integrated combination of two or more courses from different areas of inquiry (e.g. sociology and literature, or physics and math, or speech and economics, or composition and philosophy). Learning Communities are indicated in the course schedule.

Integrative Experiences (IEs) are curricular or co-curricular experiences designed by faculty in which students demonstrate their ability to integrate information, concepts, analytical frameworks, and skills from two or more areas of inquiry in a purposeful project or experience. Integrative Experiences that are classes are indicated in the course schedule; co-curricular IEs are indicated in promotion and advising for the experience or project.
Two Learning Communities are required; the third integrative learning experience can be another Learning Community OR an Integrative Experience.
Under the direction of a faculty supervisor, a Learning into Action project can be designed to meet the requirements for both the LIA and an IE.

NOTE: Learning Communities specifically designed for this degree may be offered; consult your advisor for information.
6. Diversity Requirement

At least one Diversity Intensive course is required. Students should consult with their faculty advisor or counselor to identify courses that fulfill this requirement.
7. Distribution Requirements (15 cr.)

These courses may be used to partially satisfy the General Education Requirements (GERs) of the four-year degree and may also satisfy Interdisciplinary and Skills course designated requirements for the SVC degree.
AREAS OF STUDY
CULTURE AND ARTS (15 CR.)

Select 5 credits in Culture and 5 credits in Arts and an additional 5 credits in either Culture or Arts for a total of 15 credits.
8. Science Major Options (25-50 cr.)

Select one science discipline from the following choices:
A. BIOLOGY (35 CR.)
Biology 211, 212, 213 (15 cr.)
Chemistry 241, 242, 243, 251, 252 (15 cr.)
Math 146 or 153 (5 cr.)
B. CHEMISTRY (35 CR.)
Chemistry. 241, 242, 243, 251, 252(15 cr.)
Math 153 (5 cr.)
Physics 221, 222, 223 (15 cr.)
C. COMPUTER SCIENCE (30 CR.)
Computer Science 210 and 211, or 142 and 143 (10 cr.)
Math 146 or Math 153 (5 cr.)
Physics 121, 122, 123, or 221, 222, 223 (15 cr.)
D. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (50 CR.)
Biology 211, 212, 213 (15 cr.)
Economics 201 (5 cr.)
Geology 101 (5 cr.)
Math 146 (5 cr.)
Political Science 101, 200 or 203, 201, 202, (20 cr.)
E. GEOLOGY (25 CR.)
Geology 101 (5 cr.)
Math 153 (5 cr.)
Physics 221, 222, 223 (15 cr.)
F. PHYSICS/ENGINEERING (30 CR.)
Computer Science 142 (preferred), or 210 (5 cr.)
Engineering 123 (Engineering only–5 cr.)
Math 153 (5 cr.)
Physics 221, 222, 223 (15 cr.)
9. Learning Into Action (1 cr.)

Learning Into Action (LIA) is completed under the supervision of a faculty member. You should wait to take your LIA until after you complete 45 credits.
10. Electives

Electives should include any college-level math prerequisites (Math 141 or 142 if needed), as well as courses which satisfy the Arts and Culture distribution requirements (15 credits each from Arts and Culture lists).
11. Recommended Courses
Communication Studies 210, 220, 230 (5 cr.)
PE 100 (1 cr.)

A maximum of five non-transferable “gray area” credits may be applied toward the 90-credit minimum for the degree.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Science Pre-Major Associate of Science (AS) degree program prepares students for transfer to science programs
at four-year colleges and universities and will give students basic skills needed by scientists studying fields such as
Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, and Earth Science. Students study basic mathematical and
scientific principles with an emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking. Additionally, the program provides
students with extensive laboratory experience. The curriculum also develops other job related skills such as
communications, human relations and technical report writing. Credits earned with the AS degree at South Seattle
Community College can be applied toward the first two years of a four-year bachelor’s degree in sciences such as
Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, and Earth Science.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Students who successfully complete this program will show:
• An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics and scientific principles to scientific problems.
• An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
• An ability to think critically in evaluating information, solving problems and making decisions.
• An ability to function on diverse, multi-disciplinary teams.
• An ability to access and evaluate information from a variety of sources including the Internet.
• An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
• An ability to communicate effectively with written, oral, and visual means.
• The broad education necessary to understand the impact of scientific solutions in a global and societal context.
• A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
• An ability to use modern scientific techniques, skills, and technology including computing and laboratory
tools necessary for scientific practice.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The employment outlook for scientists is very good. Graduates can be employed in private industry as well as various
governmental departments, consulting services, education, and technical sales. Starting salaries for graduates with a
Bachelor’s degree in the sciences varies from $30,000 to $53,000 depending on the field studied.