Overview

As a science education studies student, you'll be certified to teach science at either the K-8 or the 6-12 level. By combining courses in biology, chemistry, physics 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 Studies - Elementary

As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:

• High School Teacher
• Professor
• Journalist
• Textbook Author or Editor

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Volunteer at local high schools; lead Young Life; work with churches 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, chemistry department, English department and more.

Course Requirements 2011-12

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 2010-11 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

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 Department of Geology Geography & Environmental Studies kbergwer@calvin.edu (616) 526-6371 Crystal Bruxvoort Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry cb29@calvin.edu (616) 526-6019

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