Catalog Navigator

All courses carry 4 quarter hours of credit unless otherwise specified.

SDV 411          FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE I
This course explores the nature of scientific inquiry, using historical and contemporary case studies and current topics in genetics, astrobiology, and climate. It explores the roles of observation, classification, experiments, theory, and mathematical models in science as well as the character of scientific change.

SDV 412          FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICAL SCIENCE II
Fundamental concepts of physics examined quantitatively: velocity, acceleration, surface area, volume, density. Elementary modeling for data analysis, including spreadsheets and data acquisition software. Scaling of physical quantities.

SDV 413          LIGHT AND WAVES
Fundamentals of wave motion with application to light, water, and sound. Teachers are introduced to a variety of physical science topics in the curriculum as well as an example of the extraordinary unifying power of physics concepts such as waves.

SDV 420          CHEMISTRY FOR TEACHERS
The structure and composition of matter. Physical and chemical change, examined from conceptual viewpoints which include atomic theory, stoichiometry, periodicity, bonding, equilibrium, thermodynamics and kinetics.

SDV 421          BIOLOGY FOR TEACHERS
This course focuses on the chemical and cellular nature of living organisms, cell structure and function, and heredity. Enzymes, the movement of materials across membranes, photosynthesis, respiration, cell division, and basic genetics.

SDV 422          EVOLUTION AND ECOLOGY FOR TEACHERS
This course first examines the evidence for evolution and its mechanisms and provides an overview of current views on the origin and history of life. In the second half, students analyze the characteristics of ecosystems: interdependence of living things with each other and their environment, energy flows, food chains, succession.

SDV 430          ASTROBIOLOGY FOR TEACHERS
Astrobiology focuses on basic questions such as: How does life of any kind begin and develop? Does life exist elsewhere in the universe? What are the environmental limits for life? What is the future of life on the earth and beyond? The course reviews the origin and evolution of life on Earth and goes on to examine the prospects of habitats capable of supporting life in our solar system, and the potential for planets and life to exist orbiting other stars. Students will work with NASA remote sensing data of the earth, the other planets, and their moons.

SDV 431        ASTRONOMY FOR TEACHERS
This course emphasizes astronomy particularly relevant to the middle school science curriculum. The structure of the solar system, motion of the sun, phases of the moon, familiarity with the night sky, stellar structure and evolution, galaxies, and introduction to cosmology. Students will be familiarized with student reading materials particularly appropriate for the combined teaching of science and reading. Students will make observations and use sky simulation software.

SDV 432          GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS
Planetary formation and evolution. Plate tectonics and the rock cycle, including volcanism, planetary interiors, weathering, sedimentation, and metamorphism.

SDV 440          HEAT AND ENERGY FOR TEACHERS
Concept of energy, its nature, forms, and transfer with applications to physical science and earth science. Definition of energy in terms of work, potential and kinetic energy, conservation of energy, thermal energy, solar energy, energy in earth systems.

SDV 441        WEATHER AND CLIMATE FOR TEACHERS
Basic physical and chemical processes that shape weather and climate. Solar radiation and the seasons, composition and structure of the atmosphere, atmospheric processes, human effects, historical and contemporary climate change. This course emphasizes quantitative methods.

SDV 442        ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE FOR TEACHERS
A general introduction to the scientific background of some of the most important environmental problems facing urban areas, the nation and the world. Population dynamics, water and energy resources, ecosystem degradation, extinction and the loss of biodiversity, and climate change. The course will include a field observation and experiment.

SDV 490        SCIENCE TEACHING CAPSTONE
Teachers will further examine current research on the how students at the middle school level learn science concepts and conduct an action research project involving science teaching. Prerequisite: SDV 411, 412, 413, and six courses from among SDV 420, 421, 422, 430, 431, 432, 440, 441, 442.