Overview

As an elementary integrated science minor or major, you'll be certified to teach elementary school and science at any level from Kindergarten through eighth grade. By combining courses in science and pedagogy with hands-on classroom experiences, you'll develop the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to become an inspirational Christian educator.

Careers in Science Education - Elementary

• Elementary Teacher
• Middle School Science Teacher
• Early Childhood Specialist
• Overseas Teaching and Missions Work

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Volunteer at local schools; lead Young Life; work with churches and schools in Grand Rapids to coordinate youth-centered events; become a Big Brother or Big Sister; lead on-campus children's programs through the nature center, science departments, and more.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Science Education Studies - Elementary major

(at least 38 semester hours)

• SCES-121 The Content and Nature of Science for Elementary Teachers
• SCES-122 Science Content and Skills for Elementary Teachers
• BIOL-111 Biological Science
• CHEM-101 Molecular World
• Once course from:
  • GEOL-112 Earth Science for Educators
  • GEOL-120 Earth Systems
  • GEOL-153
• PHYS-212 Inquiry Based Physics
• One course from:
  • SCES-312 Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School
  • SCES-313 Science Teaching in Elementary and Middle School
• One course from:
  • ASTR-110 Planets, Stars and Galaxies
  • ASTR-111 The Solar System
  • ASTR-211 Planetary and Stellar Astronomy
• An advisor-approved elective in life science
• An additional advisor-approved elective in science

Science Education Studies - Elementary minor

(at least 26 semester hours)

This minor is designed for students in the elementary education program wishing to minor in integrated science.

• SCES-121 The Content and Nature of Science for Elementary Teachers
• SCES-122 Science Content and Skills for Elementary Teachers
• BIOL-111 Biological Science
• CHEM-101 Molecular World
• Once course from :
  • GEOL-112 Earth Science for Educators
  • GEOL-120 Earth Systems
  • GEOL-153 Not listed
• PHYS-212 Inquiry Based Physics
• One course from:
  • SCES-312 Teaching Science in Elementary and Middle School
  • SCES-313 Science Teaching in Elementary and Middle School

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Henry Bengelink Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; intend to become a teacher at the high school or college level
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bette and John Bosma Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• junior, senior or post BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference will be given to those who are returning to college after some time away from campus or because of a change in career choice
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Katherine and Annette Bratt Scholarship

• award amount: $2,00
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; elementary education; preference to those wanting to teach in a Christian school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Virginia and Edward L. Brock Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• any class level
• GPA 2.8+
• financial need required, preference to African American, Native American or Hispanic students
• automatic consideration

Gysbert and Marie Bron Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John L. De Beer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need reqiured
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Roy De Boer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kevin Dale De Rose Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bruce and Joanne Deckinga/Compassion International Scholarship

• award amount: $3,100
• sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing elementary education or a pre-med program
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students who worked on a garbage truck or play the organ
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Louis (Luke) and Helen DeJonge Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need is considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Eugene and Joan Deur Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• sophomore or junior education major, pursuing a pre-ministry program or missions
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

DeVries-Post Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to ethnic minorities or students with physical disabilities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Brian E. Dyk Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• first-year
• financial need required; first preference West Side Christian School graduate
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1

Find Us Faithful - Lester and Gladys DeVries Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; preference to graduates of Kalamazoo Chr. HS or Illiana Chr. HS
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Beulah B. Goodenough Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing elementary education; preference to those who have attended a public school themselves
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Marsha Greenwood Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Mae Groeneveld Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; pursuing a K-8 education program; preference to students from Western Michigan
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Carl and Sandra Gronsman Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.75+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Haverkamp Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• first-year
• financial need considered; demonstrate commitment to and evidence of volunteerism or student leadership
• automatic consideration

Donna T. and Louis H. Hekman Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• financial need required; pursuing elementary education; exemplify a passion for teaching, think creatively and focus on the ability of each child to succeed
• apply through the Calvin Portal

David and Shirley Hubers Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior pursuing a program in nursing or education
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Harley A. and Julia Janssen Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.2+
• financial need required; preference to those pursuing secondary education
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Paul W. Johnson Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; interest in teaching English or language arts
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Gerald L. Klein Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need considered; preference to those who demonstrate Christian character and concern for others through active involvement in church and community activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John A. Kuiper Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,250
• junior, senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in teaching in a Christian school in an urban setting
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Hazel Lawson Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior, senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

J.C. Lobbes Scholarship

• award amount: $1,450
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arthur and Kathryn Mervenne Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

MJB Educational Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jay and Lois Mol Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+ (typically)
• financial need required; preference to those wanting to pursue a career in Christian education
• apply through the Calvin Portal

William and Matilda Monsma Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students from the South Chicago area
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Tom and Marcia Nobel Education Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing an elementary education program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jacob and Jeannette Nyenhuis Scholarship

• award amount: $1,800
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in teaching at the middle or upper school levels
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Mike and Bette Oostendorp Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; participation in volunteer activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Lori Powell Central Ohio Scholarship

• award amount: $600
• first-year
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need not required; resident of the central OH area
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your academic qualifications and career goals by February 1

Prince Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,000; $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; demonstrate evidence of a great love for children by involvement in volunteer activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Pauline Roskam Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Owen and Bonnie Rottschafer Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration for prospective students; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

Roland and Ellen Schroder Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• sophomore
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; at least one parent who graduated from Calvin College
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Schultze-Weemhoff Family Christian Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; pursuing a career in teaching in a Christian school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Secondary Science Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• sophomore, junior or senior
• financial need required; major in secondary science education
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Marion and Nella Snapper Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; preference to those from the State of Washington
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Angeline Nydam Spoelhof Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required; planning to teach at the elementary or secondary level
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John L. and Carolyn J. Steen Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• first-year
• financial need required; graduate of Eastern Christian HS
• application available through Eastern Christian HS

Norma Weiden Sterk Teaching Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jennie and Sylvia Stielstra Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• any class level
• HS GPA 3.0+; Calvin GPA 2.7+
• financial need required; preference given to children of missionaries
• prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

James and Dolly (Hofman) Strikwerda Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• evidence that the scholarship is needed to help meet educational expenses
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John R. and Annie Struyk Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• financial need required;demonstrate Christian character and involvement in extracurricular activities in the community and college
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kenneth and Phyllis Timmer Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; Michigan resident
• automatic consideration

Jan D. and Nancy M. Treur Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; pursuing a secondary education program; interest in public urban secondary education
• apply through the Calvin Portal

George J. Van Wesep Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John and Marian Vanden Berg Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• any class level
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; participation and leadership out of the classroom
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Vander Ark Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Vander Haagen Family Scholarship for 5th Year Education Students

• award amount: $1,700
• 5th year senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Margaret and Donald Vander Haar Scholarship

• award amount: $1,300
• junior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; be pursuing a major or minor in the sciences within the education (elementary or secondary) program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arnold and Janice VanderBok Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• first-year
• financial need required; speak Spanish fluently; preference to Hispanic students
• prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

Janet D. Van Dyke Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing an elementary education program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Frank and Helen Veldhuizen Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Lois R. (Post) and Nelson L. Veltman Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; planning to teach at the junior high or middle school level
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Rodolfo E. Vilaro Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; preference given to an hispanic student
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John and Theresa B. Wierenga Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; intending to teach in the sciences
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jeannette and Menno Wolters Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• first-year
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

Wendell and Dorothy Yonker Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,450
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Ken Bergwerff Assistant Professor of Science Education Department of Science Education Studies NH 052A kbergwer@calvin.edu (616) 526-6371 Crystal Bruxvoort Associate Professor of Chemistry and Science Education Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry NH 052B cb29@calvin.edu (616) 526-6019

Jim Jadrich Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy NH 052C jjadrich@calvin.edu (616) 526-6409