Science Education Department Information
College of the Sciences
Ellensburg
Science Bldg., room 107
Mail Stop 7540
509-963-2929
www.cwu.edu/science-education
See the website for how these programs may be used for educational and career purposes.
Faculty
Chair
Bruce Palmquist, PhD
Professors
Martha J. Kurtz, PhD, chemistry and science education
Bruce Palmquist, PhD, physics and science education
Ian J. Quitadamo, PhD, biological sciences and science education
Associate Professor
Vanessa Hunt, PhD, science education
Tim Sorey, PhD, chemistry and science education
Jennifer Dechaine, PhD, biological sciences and science education
Assistant Professors
Anne Egger, PhD, geological sciences and science education
Lecturer
Allyson Rogan-Klyve
Staff
Nicole Ciraulo, secretary senior
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.
College of the Sciences Information
Administration and Organization
Dean
Tim Englund, PhD (Dean Hall, room 130)
Associate Dean
Mike Harrod (Dean Hall, room 130)
Associate Dean
Martha Kurtz, PhD (Dean Hall, room 130)
Staff
Brad Weekly, development officer
Velma Henry, administrative assistant
Cindy Klein, fiscal specialist
Janis Orthmann, administrative assistant
Colleen Falconer, program coordinator
Dannica Price, event coordinator
Mail Stop 7519
509-963-1866
Fax: 509-963-1977
www.cwu.edu/sciences
The College of the Sciences (COTS) is comprised of 13 departments and 12 interdisciplinary programs representing disciplines in the behavioral, natural, and social sciences, and mathematics. The departments and programs of the college offer undergraduate baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees, minors that supplement other degree programs, and a comprehensive range of service coursework. As an essential part of its mission, the college offers an extensive general education curriculum. The departments play a major role in Central’s Teacher Certification Programs, offering bachelors and master’s degrees for students preparing to be secondary teachers and providing coursework in educational foundations and discipline-specific content and methods.
Departments within the college are committed to teaching excellence, active engagement by faculty in research, scholarship and professional service activities, student involvement in research, community service, and employing practical applications of academic specializations.
Departments
All departments offer baccalaureate degree programs and, in some cases, minors, educational specialist degrees and master’s degrees. In addition to consulting department/program headings in this catalog, students are encouraged to contact individual departments and program offices directly.
Anthropology and Museum Studies: Kathleen Barlow, PhD, Dean Hall, room 356, 509-963-3201
Biological Sciences: James Johnson, PhD, Science Building, room 338, 509-963-2731
Chemistry: Levente Fabry-Asztalos, PhD, Science Building, room 302, 509-963-2811
Computer Science: Aaron Montgomery, PhD, Hebeler Hall, room 219, 509-963-1495
Geography: John Bowen, PhD, Dean Hall, room 301, 509-963-1188
Geological Sciences: Carey Gazis, PhD, Lind Hall, room 108B, 509-963-2701
Law and Justice: James Huckabay, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 300, 509-963-3208
Mathematics: Stuart Boersma, PhD, Bouillon Hall, room 108, 509-963-2103
Physics: Bruce Palmquist, PhD, Lind Hall, room 201A, 509-963-2727
Political Science: Todd Schaefer, PhD, Psychology Building, room 415, 509-963-2408
Psychology: Stephanie Stein, PhD, Psychology Building, room 421, 509-963-2381
Science Education: Bruce Palmquist, PhD, Science Building, room 107, 509-963-2929
Sociology: Delores Cleary, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 409, 509-963-1305
Interdisciplinary Programs
These programs offer specialized coursework, interdisciplinary baccalaureate majors or minors, master’s degrees or research, and public service functions.
American Indian Studies: Toni Culjak, PhD, Language and Literature, room 408D, 509-963-1531
Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education: Martha Kurtz, PhD, Dean Hall, room 130, 509-963-2135
Environmental Studies: Carey Gazis, PhD, Lind Hall, room 108B, 509-963-2701
or Pam McMullin-Messier, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 441, 509-963-2222
Ethnic Studies: Nelson Pichardo, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 440, 509-963-1348
Interdisciplinary Studies - Social Sciences: Steve Schepman, PhD, Psychology Building, room 429, 509-963-2389
Museum of Culture and Environment: Mark Auslander, PhD, Dean Hall, room 334, 509-963-3209
Primate Behavior and Ecology Program: Lori Sheeran, PhD, Dean Hall, room 335, 509-963-1434
Resource Management Program: Karl Lillquist, PhD, Dean Hall, room 319, 509-963-1184
or Steve Hackenberger, PhD, Dean Hall, room 349, 509-963-3224
Science Talent Expansion Program (STEP): Lucinda Carnell, PhD, Science, room 338G, 509-963-2821
Women’s and Gender Studies: Judith Hennessey, PhD, Farrell Hall, room 436, 509-963-1574
Affiliated Centers and Institutes
Center for Spatial Information and Research: Anthony Gabriel, PhD, Dean Hall, room 320, 509-963-1166
Center for the Environment: Anne Johnasen, PhD, Science, room 207D, 509-963-2164
Central Washington Archaeological Survey, Anthropology: Patrick McCutcheon, PhD, Dean Hall, room 340, 509-963-2075
or Steve Hackenberger, PhD, Dean Hall, room 349, 509-963-3224
Community Counseling and Psychological Assessment Center: Heath Marrs, PhD, Psychology Building, room 346, 509-963-2349
or Elizabeth Haviland, PhD, Psychology Building, room 118, 509-963-2371
Geodesy Laboratory and Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array (PANGA) Data Analysis Facility: Tim Melbourne, PhD, Hebeler Hall, room 110A, 509-963-2799
Health Career Resources: Keith Monosky, PhD, Dorothy Purser Hall, room 108, 509-963-1145
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