Science and Mathematics Education Department

College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Discovery Hall, room 301
Mail Stop 7540
509-963-2929
https://www.cwu.edu/academics/science-education/
https://www.cwu.edu/academics/teach-stem/index.php

Faculty and Staff
Chair
Bruce Palmquist, PhD

Professors
Anne Egger, PhD, geological sciences, science and mathematics education
Bruce Palmquist, PhD, physics, science and mathematics education
Ian J. Quitadamo, PhD, biological sciences, science and mathematics education
Tim Sorey, PhD, chemistry, science and mathematics education
Mark Oursland, PhD, mathematics, science and mathematics education

Associate Professors
Emilie Hancock, PhD, mathematics, science and mathematics education
Vanessa Hunt, PhD, science and mathematics education
Allyson Rogan-Klyve, PhD, science and mathematics education

Lecturers
Linda Graf, MA, science and mathematics education
Katherine Miller, MA, science and mathematics education

Staff
Cori Totten, secretary supervisor

Department Information
The primary function of the science education department is preparing people to teach science. Coursework in science pedagogy is offered for students in the Teacher Certification Programs as well as for teachers in the schools. The science education department works with science departments in the design and operation of degree programs for students who are preparing to teach in the secondary schools. We believe that students learn via the active construction of knowledge. To facilitate that process, all of our instruction follows the learning cycle model.

Our program seeks to help students become facilitators of learning in a diverse world. To that end, the science education department has the following goals for an effective science teacher:

Demonstrate an ability to individually and collaboratively engage in inquiry and integrate the nature of science
Explain and apply fundamental science content concepts, principles, and methods
Demonstrate an ability to effectively facilitate learning for all students
Create safe, effective learning environments that support inquiry, collaboration, intellectual risk-taking, ethical decision-making, and student construction of knowledge
Demonstrate an ability to assess teaching and learning outcomes using multiple methods, effectively evaluate teaching and learning effectiveness, and improve practice based on reflection and data
Demonstrate an ability to make science personally and socially relevant to individual and community by incorporating current events within collaborative and social networks

Students seeking endorsement for certification to teach a specialized science at the high school level must satisfactorily complete the teaching major within the specific science department. Students desiring to become middle or junior high school specialized teachers of science are encouraged to obtain a teaching major in one or more of the following areas: biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, middle-level science or physics. All students are advised to work toward a second major or minor endorsement.

All students enrolled in science majors leading to certification are required to have an approved schedule on file with a science education advisor as early as possible and before endorsement for student teaching.

Graduate Information
The Master of Education, Science Education Program is on reserve and may be offered subject to program needs. Applications for the program are not being accepted at the present time. However, our faculty work closely with other programs on campus that do offer master’s degrees. It is possible to earn a master’s degree in another program (i.e., Master Teacher) with a focus on science education.

Course Offerings
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: www.cwu.edu/science-education or by contacting the department directly.