Earth Science Education
A BS in Earth Science Education will prepare you for a rewarding and challenging teaching career, where you will share your passion for our world, its environments and its place in the larger universe.
As an educator, you will facilitate student learning and understanding of Earth and other planets through hands-on field and laboratory study. In the process, you will also shape the lives and minds of young people and perhaps inspire the next generation of future scientists. This degree prepares you for licensure to teach in grades 5-12.
Everyone knows you by name in the Anthropology and Earth Science Department. With upper-level classes averaging 15-20 students, you’ll get the individual attention you deserve as you explore the challenging and exciting world of Earth science.
Knowledgeable professors who have earned their Ph.D.’s teach all classes for the Earth Science Education major. Faculty members are master teachers, some of whom have elementary or secondary classroom teaching experience, while also being respected scholars in their fields of expertise.
You’ll spend time observing, assisting and teaching in local classrooms for more than 100 hours prior to your student teaching experience, so you’ll be exceptionally prepared to lead your own classroom. Fieldwork is also a critical component of the major. You may participate in multiple formal field experiences, including one-day and multi-day field trips to see regional geology, an elective multi-week course, and possibilities for field work as part of research projects carried out with faculty.
Just as the Minnesota K-12 science standards emphasize science as a practice of investigation more than a body of knowledge, your own coursework will emphasize hands-on, experience-based learning. Curriculum includes abundant lab and field work, independent research, opportunities for faculty collaboration and participation in regional & national conferences.
You will work in well-equipped labs, including the experimental petrology, stratigraphy and thin-sectioning, and geophysical laboratories and have the option to receive hands-on training with cutting-edge technology such as GPS equipment, GIS software and drones.
Students explore many different aspects of Earth science, including astronomy, meteorology, geology, geography, archaeology and anthropology. This diverse experience prepares students for teaching range of Minnesota earth science standards.
Teach and observe in local classrooms. Tutor. Study abroad. Conduct field research. Be a scientist. Discover your passion in and out of the classroom.
Learn about all the Earth Science Education program opportunities
You might also be interested in…
Anthropology | Geosciences | Chemistry Education | Mathematics Education | Life Science Education
MSUM’s earth science program has a strong reputation of preparing teachers. You can find a job teaching at a school all across the country. Here is just a sample of earth science careers that are predicted to have job growth in the next 10 years.
What are some Common Earth Science Related Careers?
| Career | Job Growth (2021-2031) | Median Pay |
|---|---|---|
| High School Science Teacher | 5% | $62,000 |
| Middle School Science Teacher | 4% | $61,000 |
| Community Educator | 12% | $74,000 |