Skip to main content

Search NYU Steinhardt

The 128-credit BS in Teaching Science, Grades 7-12 (Initial Certification) program is designed to provide a rigorous specialization in biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics. Emerging teachers in this program will engage in a thorough study of their chosen science field alongside a strong foundation in pedagogy, encompassing knowledge of human development and classroom management. The curriculum ensures that graduates enter teaching with a strong grasp of the special education and educational policy issues that affect schooling. Additionally, the program aims to equip future teachers with the skills to effectively address social justice, bias, and equity issues and adopt innovative approaches to science instruction.

Core Course Sequence

This program's coursework is comprehensive, covering a wide range of areas, including the NYU CORE, liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences studies, foundational classes in education and education policy, pedagogical content for their chosen science area, and science education (including the historical and sociological foundation of education, integration of science with other disciplines, and instruction methods). The program of study culminates in two semesters of teaching in a public school middle and high school setting, which provides approaches, theories, and practical strategies for teaching middle and high school students. 

Teaching Biology: Grades 7-12

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas 4
Societies and the Social Sciences4
Cultures and Contexts4
Quantitative Reasoning
MATH-UA 121Calculus I4
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Content Core
BIOL-UA 11Principles of Biology I4
BIOL-UA 12Principles of Biology II4
BIOL-UA 21Molecular and Cell Biology I4
BIOL-UA 22Molecular and Cell Biology II4
BIOL-UA xxxx Biology Electives by advisement16
CHEM-UA 125General Chemistry I & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 126General Chemistry II & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 225Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory5
Major Requirements
APSY-UE 20Human Development I (must take 003 section)2
APSY-UE 23Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section)2
PHYS-UA 11General Physics I5
SCIED-UE 1039Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools3
SCIED-UE 1040Meth II:Teach of Science in High School3
SCIED-UE 1911Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School3
SCIED-UE 1922Student Teaching Science Education:High School3
SOED-UE 1015Educ as Soc Institution4
or HSED-UE 610 Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
or TCHL-UE 41 American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
SPCED-UE 1005Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm4
TCHL-UE 1Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I4
TCHL-UE 5Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings0
TCHL-UE 1030Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt4
TCHL-UE 1999Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA:1
Electives15
Total Credits128

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
EXPOS-UA 1
or EXPOS-UA 4
Writing as Inquiry
or International Writing Workshop I
4
BIOL-UA 11 Principles of Biology I 4
CHEM-UA 125 General Chemistry I & Laboratory 5
MATH-UA 121 Calculus I 4
 Credits17
2nd Semester/Term
TCHL-UE 5 Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings 0
ACE-UE 110
or EXPOS-UA 9
Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions
or International Writing Workshop II
4
BIOL-UA 12 Principles of Biology II 4
CHEM-UA 126 General Chemistry II & Laboratory 5
Texts and Ideas (or Steinhardt approved course) 4
 Credits17
3rd Semester/Term
BIOL-UA 21 Molecular and Cell Biology I 4
CHEM-UA 225 Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory 5
TCHL-UE 1 Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I 4
HSED-UE 1005 Introduction to US Education (or Steinhardt/CAS approved Societies & Social Sciences course) 4
 Credits17
4th Semester/Term
APSY-UE 20 Human Development I (must take 003 section) 2
APSY-UE 23 Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section) 2
BIOL-UA 22 Molecular and Cell Biology II 4
HSED-UE 1033 Global Culture Wars (or CORE-UA 5XX, or any Steinhardt approved course) 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credits16
5th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1039 Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools 3
TCHL-UE 1030 Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt 4
BIOL-UA ---Biology course by advisement 4
PHYS-UA 11 General Physics I 5
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1040 Meth II:Teach of Science in High School 3
BIOL-UA ---Biology course by advisement 4
BIOL-UA ---Biology course by advisement 4
Unrestricted Electives 5
 Credits16
7th Semester/Term
BIOL-UA ---Biology course by advisement 4
SCIED-UE 1911 Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School 3
SOED-UE 1015
or HSED-UE 610
or TCHL-UE 41
Educ as Soc Institution
or Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
or American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
4
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits15
8th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1922 Student Teaching Science Education:High School 3
SPCED-UE 1005 Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm 4
TCHL-UE 1999 Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA: 1
Unrestricted Electives 6
 Credits14
 Total Credits128

Teaching Chemistry: Grades 7-12

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas 4
Cultures and Contexts4
Societies and the Social Sciences4
Quantitative Reasoning
MATH-UA 121Calculus I4
MATH-UA 122Calculus II4
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Content Core
PHYS-UA 11General Physics I5
PHYS-UA 12General Physics II5
CHEM-UA 125General Chemistry I & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 126General Chemistry II & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 225Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 226Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 651Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy4
CHEM-UA 652Thermodynamics & Kinetics4
CHEM-UA 661Physical Chemistry Laboratory4
CHEM-UA xxxx Chemistry Elective by advisement4
Major Requirements
APSY-UE 20Human Development I (must take 003 section)2
APSY-UE 23Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section)2
SPCED-UE 1005Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm4
SOED-UE 1015Educ as Soc Institution4
or HSED-UE 610 Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
or TCHL-UE 41 American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
SCIED-UE 1039Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools3
SCIED-UE 1040Meth II:Teach of Science in High School3
SCIED-UE 1911Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School3
SCIED-UE 1922Student Teaching Science Education:High School3
TCHL-UE 1Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I4
TCHL-UE 5Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings0
TCHL-UE 1030Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt4
TCHL-UE 1999Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA:1
Electives17
Total Credits128

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
EXPOS-UA 1
or EXPOS-UA 4
Writing as Inquiry
or International Writing Workshop I
4
CHEM-UA 125 General Chemistry I & Laboratory 5
MATH-UA 121 Calculus I 4
HSED-UE 1005 Introduction to US Education (or any Steinhardt/CAS approved course) 4
 Credits17
2nd Semester/Term
TCHL-UE 5 Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings 0
ACE-UE 110
or EXPOS-UA 9
Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions
or International Writing Workshop II
4
CHEM-UA 126 General Chemistry II & Laboratory 5
MATH-UA 122 Calculus II 4
HSED-UE 1033 Global Culture Wars (or CORE-UA 5XX, or any Steinhardt approved course) 4
 Credits17
3rd Semester/Term
CHEM-UA 225 Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory 5
PHYS-UA 11 General Physics I 5
TCHL-UE 1 Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I 4
Texts and Ideas or any Steinhardt/CAS approved course 4
 Credits18
4th Semester/Term
APSY-UE 20 Human Development I (must take 003 section) 2
APSY-UE 23 Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section) 2
CHEM-UA 226 Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory 5
PHYS-UA 12 General Physics II 5
Foreign Language 4
 Credits18
5th Semester/Term
CHEM-UA 651 Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy 4
SCIED-UE 1039 Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools 3
TCHL-UE 1030 Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt 4
Unrestricted Electives 5
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
CHEM-UA 652 Thermodynamics & Kinetics 4
CHEM-UA 661 Physical Chemistry Laboratory 4
SOED-UE 1015
or HSED-UE 610
or TCHL-UE 41
Educ as Soc Institution
or Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
or American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
4
SCIED-UE 1040 Meth II:Teach of Science in High School 3
 Credits15
7th Semester/Term
CHEM-UA ----Chemistry couse by advisement 4
SCIED-UE 1911 Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School 3
TCHL-UE 1999 Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA: 1
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits12
8th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1922 Student Teaching Science Education:High School 3
SPCED-UE 1005 Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm 4
Unrestricted Electives 8
 Credits15
 Total Credits128

Teaching Earth Science: Grades 7-12

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Foreign Language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas 4
Societies and the Social Sciences4
Cultures and Contexts4
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Quantitative Reasoning
MATH-UA 121Calculus I4
Specialization Requirements
BIOL-UA 11Principles of Biology I4
BIOL-UA 12Principles of Biology II4
BIOL-UA 63Fundamentals of Ecology4
CHEM-UA 125General Chemistry I & Laboratory5
CHEM-UA 126General Chemistry II & Laboratory5
ENVST-UA 100Environmental Systems Science4
ENVST-UA 340Earth System Science4
PHYS-UA 7The Universe: Its Nature and History4
ENVST-UA --- Or PHYS-UA --- courses by advisement (4 courses, for a total of 16 credits)16
Major Requirements
APSY-UE 20Human Development I (must take 003 section)2
APSY-UE 23Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section)2
SCIED-UE 1039Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools3
SCIED-UE 1040Meth II:Teach of Science in High School3
SCIED-UE 1911Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School3
SCIED-UE 1922Student Teaching Science Education:High School3
SOED-UE 1015Educ as Soc Institution4
or HSED-UE 610 Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
or TCHL-UE 41 American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
SPCED-UE 1005Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm4
TCHL-UE 1Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I4
TCHL-UE 5Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings0
TCHL-UE 1999Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA:1
TCHL-UE 1030Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt4
Electives17
Total Credits128

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
EXPOS-UA 1
or EXPOS-UA 4
Writing as Inquiry
or International Writing Workshop I
4
BIOL-UA 11 Principles of Biology I 4
CHEM-UA 125 General Chemistry I & Laboratory 5
MATH-UA 121 Calculus I 4
 Credits17
2nd Semester/Term
TCHL-UE 5 Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings 0
ACE-UE 110
or EXPOS-UA 9
Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions
or International Writing Workshop II
4
BIOL-UA 12 Principles of Biology II 4
CHEM-UA 126 General Chemistry II & Laboratory 5
Texts and Ideas (or any Steinhardt approved Texts and Ideas course) 4
 Credits17
3rd Semester/Term
BIOL-UA 63 Fundamentals of Ecology 4
ENVST-UA 100 Environmental Systems Science 4
TCHL-UE 1 Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I 4
HSED-UE 1005 Introduction to US Education (or any Steinhardt/CAS approved Societies and the Social Sciences course) 4
 Credits16
4th Semester/Term
APSY-UE 20 Human Development I (must take 003 section) 2
APSY-UE 23 Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section) 2
PHYS-UA 7 The Universe: Its Nature and History 4
HSED-UE 1033 Global Culture Wars (or CORE-UA 5XX, or any Steinhardt approved course) 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credits16
5th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1039 Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools 3
ENVST-UA 340 Earth System Science 4
ENVST/PHYS-UA course by advisement 4
TCHL-UE 1999 Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA: 1
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1040 Meth II:Teach of Science in High School 3
TCHL-UE 1030 Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt 4
ENVST/PHYS-UA course by advisement 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
Unrestricted Electives 1
 Credits16
7th Semester/Term
ENVST/PHYS-UA course by advisement 4
SCIED-UE 1911 Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School 3
SOED-UE 1015
or HSED-UE 610
or TCHL-UE 41
Educ as Soc Institution
or Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
or American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
4
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits15
8th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1922 Student Teaching Science Education:High School 3
SPCED-UE 1005 Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm 4
ENVST/PHYS-UA course by advisement 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits15
 Total Credits128

Teaching Physics: Grades 7-12

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Core Courses
Foreign Language4
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas 4
Cultures and Contexts4
Societies and the Social Sciences4
Quantitative Reasoning
MATH-UA 121Calculus I4
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Content Core
MATH-UA 122Calculus II4
MATH-UA 123Calculus III4
PHYS-UA 71Introductory Experimental Physics I2
PHYS-UA 72Introductory Experimental Physics II2
PHYS-UA 73Intermediate Experimental Physics I2
PHYS-UA 74Intermediate Experimental Physics II2
PHYS-UA 91Physics I3
PHYS-UA 93Physics II3
PHYS-UA 95Physics III3
PHYS-UA 106Mathematical Physics3
PHYS-UA 112Advanced Experimental Physics3
PHYS-UA 120Dynamics3
PHYS-UA 123Quantum Mechanics I3
PHYS-UA 140Thermal & Statistical Physics3
PHYS-UA xxxx Three Physics Electives, by advisement (three 3-credit courses, for a total of 9 credits)9
Major Requirements
Select one of the following:4
SOED-UE 1015
Educ as Soc Institution
HSED-UE 610
Educ/American Dream: Historical Perspectives
TCHL-UE 41
American Dilemmas: Race, Inequality, and the Unfulfilled
APSY-UE 20Human Development I (must take 003 section)2
APSY-UE 23Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section)2
SCIED-UE 1039Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools3
SCIED-UE 1040Meth II:Teach of Science in High School3
SCIED-UE 1911Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School3
SCIED-UE 1922Student Teaching Science Education:High School3
SPCED-UE 1005Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm4
TCHL-UE 1Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I4
TCHL-UE 5Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings0
TCHL-UE 1030Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt4
TCHL-UE 1999Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA:1
Electives18
Total Credits128

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
EXPOS-UA 1
or EXPOS-UA 4
Writing as Inquiry
or International Writing Workshop I
4
MATH-UA 121 Calculus I 4
PHYS-UA 71 Introductory Experimental Physics I 2
PHYS-UA 91 Physics I 3
HSED-UE 1005 Introduction to US Education (or any Steinhardt/CAS approved Societies and the Social Sciences course) 4
 Credits17
2nd Semester/Term
TCHL-UE 5 Field Observ in Schools and Other Educ Settings 0
ACE-UE 110
or EXPOS-UA 9
Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions
or International Writing Workshop II
4
MATH-UA 122 Calculus II 4
PHYS-UA 72 Introductory Experimental Physics II 2
PHYS-UA 93 Physics II 3
Texts and Ideas (or any Steinhardt approved Texts and Ideas course 4
 Credits17
3rd Semester/Term
MATH-UA 123 Calculus III 4
PHYS-UA 73 Intermediate Experimental Physics I 2
PHYS-UA 95 Physics III 3
TCHL-UE 1 Inquiries Into Teaching & Learning I 4
Foreign Language 4
 Credits17
4th Semester/Term
APSY-UE 20 Human Development I (must take 003 section) 2
APSY-UE 23 Human Development II: Early Adolescents and Adolescents (must take 001 section) 2
PHYS-UA 74 Intermediate Experimental Physics II 2
PHYS-UA 106 Mathematical Physics 3
PHYS-UA 120 Dynamics 3
HSED-UE 1033 Global Culture Wars (or CORE-UA 5XX, or any Steinhardt approved course) 4
 Credits16
5th Semester/Term
PHYS-UA 123 Quantum Mechanics I 3
PHYS-UA 112 Advanced Experimental Physics 3
PHYS-UA ---Physics by advisement 1 3
SCIED-UE 1039 Meth I:Teach of Science in Middle Schools 3
TCHL-UE 1030 Lang Acquis and Literacy Educ/Multi & Multi Cntxt 4
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
PHYS-UA 140 Thermal & Statistical Physics 3
PHYS-UA ---Physics by advisement 3
SCIED-UE 1040 Meth II:Teach of Science in High School 3
SOED-UE 1015 Educ as Soc Institution 4
Unrestricted Electives 2
 Credits15
7th Semester/Term
PHYS-UA ---Physics by advisement 3
SCIED-UE 1911 Student Teaching Science Education:Middle School 3
TCHL-UE 1999 Drug, Alcohol Ed/Child Abuse ID/School Violence/DASA: 1
Unrestricted Electives 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits15
8th Semester/Term
SCIED-UE 1922 Student Teaching Science Education:High School 3
SPCED-UE 1005 Teach Stu With Disabili in General Ed Class Rm 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits15
 Total Credits128
1

PHYS-UA 131 Electricity & Magnet I recommended.