About the Department
The Science Education Department at California State University, Long Beach is one of the largest Science Education departments in the country. Housed in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, we work closely with our CNSM colleagues and our College of Education colleagues in addition to collaborating with each other. Faculty members often work together on grants and projects, articles and other scholarly activities.
Mission Statement
The Science Education Department is strongly committed to the improvement of teaching and learning of science at all levels (pre-Kindergarten through University) and in all settings (classrooms and non-classroom locales). Activities of the Department are diversified, ranging from teacher preparation (elementary through university) to science professional development for practicing professionals.
Courses Offered
The Department teaches courses to Liberal Studies majors as well as elementary and secondary science credential students. We teach over 800 students per year in our Science Capstone, general education critical thinking course, and Science Methods courses. Additionally, we also offer a Professional Development/Teaching Techniques course to science graduate student teaching associates to support excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level.
Our graduate program, an M.S. in Science Education, has pathways and options for practicing TK teachers and informal science educators. Applications for the Master's Program are accepted each spring.
Research
Our research spans from early childhood to post-secondary science settings and touches on themes including:
- assessment.
- science-based integrated teaching.
- inquiry-based teaching and learning.
- science learning environments.
- the impact of teacher beliefs on the teaching of science.
- alternate and misconceptions in science learning.
- technology-enhanced science teaching.
- science learning in informal settings.
- role of caring in teaching and learning science.
- using literature circles to support nature of science learning.
- post-secondary science reform in physics and earth science.
Grants and Projects
Science Education Department faculty are engaged in a range of research projects, grants, and outreach activities, spanning everyone from toddlers through doctoral students and pre-K educators to university faculty. We collaborate with scientists, school districts, informal science institutions, and each other to research and support effective science teaching and learning in a variety of settings. View our list of grants and projects.
