Curriculum

Course offerings are not limited to the curriculum listed below. Additional courses found in the course catalog may apply to a certificate. Please seek approval from the your academic advisor before choosing a course not listed under the certificate of interest. 

Graduate certificate students are eligible to take summer campus-based field and lab courses offered by the MS in Science Education. Both online and campus courses are listed below, as well as additional offerings provided in the course catalog. 

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Chemistry

These high-energy, high-interest courses will increase your content knowledge and confidence in teaching chemistry in your classroom. This well-balanced program covers the broad field of chemistry and can be used as an introduction to chemistry or to strengthen your current knowledge.

Students will successfully complete 12 credits selected from:

 
Rubric No Course Semester Credit Location
CHMY 587 Exploring Chemistry Summer 3 Online
CHMY 593 Kinetics, Equilibrium, & Thermodynamics Spring 3 Online
CHMY 594 Science Lab Safety and Risk Management Summer 1 Campus
CHMY 595 Chemistry of the Environment: Water, Air, and Earth Summer 3 Online
CHMY 596 Exploring Organic Chemistry for Teachers Fall 3 Online
CHMY 597 Exploring Biochemistry I Summer (odd years) 3 Online
CHMY 598 Exploring Biochemistry II: Metabolism Summer (even years) 3 Online
CHMY 599 AP/IB Chemistry for Teachers: An Atoms-First Primer Fall (odd years) 3 Online
LRES 582 Streamside Science for Teachers Summer 3 Online
LRES 584 Soil Science for Middle and High School Teachers Fall 3 Online
LRES 585 Water Quality for Teachers Spring (even years) 3 Online
MSSE 502 Emerging Technology & the Science Classroom  Summer 2 Online

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Climate Science

Select from this suite of courses and investgate the important topic of climate science and its impact on our planet. Develop an understanding of and ability to communicate the current state of climate change and the science surrounding climate change. Using new knowledge and pedagogy, create custom lesson plans and instruct your students in the use of weather instrumentation.

Students will sucessfully complete 12 credits selected from:

Rubric
No
Course
Semester
Credit
Location
BIOE
595
Marine Ecosystems for Teachers
Fall 
3
Online
BIOE 596 Land Use Issues in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Summer
2 Campus
CHMY 595 Chemistry of the Environment: Water, Air, and Earth
Summer
3 Online
EELE 508 Solar Cells Basics for Science Teachers Summer
2
Campus
ERTH 519 Watershed Hydrology for Teachers Spring (odd years)
3
Online
ERTH
520 Fundamentals  of Oceanography Summer, Spring (even years) 3 Online
ERTH
523
Weather for Elementary and Middle School Teachers Summer
3
Online
ERTH
524
K-14 Earth System Science
Fall 
3
Online
ERTH
525
Landforms for Elementary Teachers
Summer
1
Online
ERTH
527
Weather and Climate for High School Teachers
Spring
3
Online
ERTH
528
Understanding Climate Change for Teachers
Summer 
3
Online
ERTH 596 Geology of Glacier National Park Summer 2

Campus

LRES 585 Water Quality in the Classroom for Teachers Spring (even years) 3

Online

MB 536 Exploring Microbiology Summer (even years)  3

Online

MB 540 Environmental Microbiology for Teachers Summer (odd years)  3

Online

MSSE 503 Integrating Literature into the Science Classroom   Spring 3

Online

PHSX 597 Physics of Renewable Energy for Teachers Summer  3

Online

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Earth Science

Teachers can select from a diverse offering of courses ranging from geology and landforms to hydrology and paleontology. Round off your course of study with an Earth System Science course focusing on the broader picture.

Students will successfully complete 12 credits selected from:

Rubric No Course Semester Credit Location
ERTH 516 Northern Rocky Mountain Geology Summer 2 Campus
ERTH 519 Watershed Hydrology for Teachers Spring (odd years) 3 Online
ERTH 520 Fundamentals of Oceanography for Teachers Summer, Spring (even years) 3 Online
ERTH 521 Geology of the Moon Spring (even years) 3 Online
ERTH 523 Weather for Elementary and Middle School Teachers Summer 3 Online
ERTH 524 K-14 Earth System Science Fall 3 Online
ERTH 525 Landforms for Elementary Teachers Summer 1 Online
ERTH 527 Weather and Climate for Teachers Spring 3 Online
ERTH 528 Understanding Climate Change for Teachers Summer 3 Online
ERTH 587 Invertebrate Paleontology for Teachers Spring (odd years) 3 Online
ERTH 594 Geology Seminar: Geology of Earthquakes Summer 1 Campus
ERTH 595 Historical Geology for Teachers Fall 3 Online
ERTH 596 Geology of Glacier National Park Summer 2 Campus
ERTH 597 Vertebrate Paleontology for Teachers  Spring (even years) 3 Online
GEO 521 Dinosaur Paleontology I Summer 2 Campus
GEO 522 Dinosaur Paleontology II Summer (even years) 2 Campus
GEO 585 Mineralogy for Teachers Summer 1 Campus
LRES 582 Streamside Science for Teachers Summer 3 Online
LRES 584 Soil Science for Middle and High School Teachers Fall 3 Online
LRES 585 Water Quality in the Classroom for Teachers Spring (even years) 3 Online
MSSE 503 Integrating Literature into the Science Classroom   Spring 3 Online
PHSX 511 Astronomy for Teachers Fall 3 Online

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Elementry School Science

This certificate is designed to give K-8 teachers a basic understanding of a broad range of topics in physical science, life science and earth/space science. These courses are specially designed to help you integrate inquiry-based science into your classroom while improving your own science content knowledge.

Students will successfully complete 12 credits selected from:

Rubric No Course Semester Credit Location
BIOE 536 Local Ecosystems for Teachers Fall 2 Online
BIOE 585 Exploring Biology Spring 3 Online
BIOH 585 Human Dissection for Teachers Summer 2 Campus
ERTH 523 Weather for Elementary and Middle School Teachers Summer 3 Online
ERTH 524 K-14 Earth System Science Fall 3 Online
ERTH 525 Landforms for Elementary Teachers Summer 1 Online
MSSE 501 Inquiry through Science and Engineering Practices Fall, Spring, Summer 2

Online

MSSE 502 Emerging Technology & the Science Classroom  Summer 2

Online

MSSE 503 Integrating Literature into the Science Classroom Spring 3 Online
MSSE 511 STEM Methods for Teachers Spring (odd years) 2 Online
MSSE 518 Master Teaching Strategies for Science Teachers  Spring (odd years) 3 Online
MSSE 536 Construction of Curriculum  Summer (odd years) 2 Online
MSSE 537 Contemporary Issues in Science Education: The 3 D's of NGSS Summer (even years) 2 Online
NUTR 526 Nutrition for Fitness and Performance Spring 3 Online
PHSX 514 Comparative Planetology for Teachers Summer 3 Online
PHSX 571 Electric Circuits & Magnetism for Teachers Summer 3 Online
PHSX 572 Space Science for Elementary Teachers Fall (odd years) 1 Online
PHSX 573 The Science of Sound for Teachers Spring 2 Online
PHSX 574 The World of Motion and Force Summer 2 Online
PSPP 521 Plant Science: It Grows on You Summer 1 Online
PSPP 522 Insect-ology Summer 3 Online

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Life Science

This certificate offers a broad spectrum of courses. Teachers can create a diverse program that includes anatomy and physiology, nutrition, ecology, plants, microbiology, insects and slime, or focus in on a specific area of interest.

Students will successfully complete 12 credits selected from:

Rubric No Course Semester Credit Location
BIOE 513 Terrestrial Ecology of Plains and Prairies Summer 1 Online
BIOE 519 Biology of Riparian Zones and Wetlands Summer 2 Online
BIOE 520 Understanding and Managing Animal Biodiversity in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Summer 2 Campus
BIOE 522 Birds of Prey of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Summer (odd years) 2 Campus
BIOE 523 Wildlife Ecology of Northern Rocky Mountains Summer 2 Campus
BIOE 526 Symbiosis for Teachers: Eat, Prey, Love Spring  3 Online
BIOE 527 Teaching Evolution Fall 3 Online
BIOE 536 Local Ecosystems for Teachers  Fall 2 Online
BIOE 585 Exploring Biology Spring 3 Online
BIOE 593 Alpine Ecology Summer (odd years) 2 Campus
BIOE 595 Marine Ecosystems for Teachers Fall 3 Online
BIOE 596 Land Use Issues in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Summer 2 Campus
BIOE 597 Ecology of Trout Streams Summer (even years) 2 Campus
BIOE 599 Advanced Ecology Fall (Winter session) 2 Campus
BIOH 585 Human Dissection for Teachers Summer 2 Campus
BIOH 586 AP Biology for Teachers Fall (even years) 3 Online
BIOH 595 Anatomy & Physiology Summer 3 Online
ERTH 520 Fundamentals of Oceanography for Teachers Summer, Spring (even years) 3 Online
ERTH 587 Invertebrate Paleontology for Teachers Spring (odd years) 3 Online
ERTH 597 Vertebrate Paleontology for Teachers Spring (even years) 3 Online
GEO 521 Dinosaur Paleontology I Summer 2 Campus
GEO 522 Dinosaur Paleontology II Summer (even years) 2 Campus
LRES 557 Thermal Biology in Yellowstone National Park Summer 2 Campus
LRES 569 Ecology of Invasive Plants in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Summer 2 Campus
LRES 582 Streamside Science for Teachers Summer 3 Online
LRES 584 Soil Science for Middle and High School Teachers Fall 3 Online
LRES 585  Water Quality Spring (even years) 3 Online
M 517 Advanced Mathematical Modeling for Teaching Summer (odd years) 3 Online
MB 533 Current Topics in Microbiology Fall 3 Online
MB 536 Exploring Microbiology for Teachers Summer (even years) 3 Online
MB 540 Environmental Microbiology for Teachers Summer (odd years) 3 Online
MB 541 Microbial Genetics Spring 3 Online
MSSE 503 Integrating Literature into the Science Classroom   Spring 3 Online
NUTR 526 Nutrition for Fitness and Performance Spring  3 Online
PHSX 582 Astrobiology for Teachers Spring 3 Online
PSPP 521 Plant Science for Teachers: It Grows on You Summer 1 Online
PSPP 522 Insect-ology for Teachers Summer  3 Online
PSPP 547 Biomimicry: the Technology of Biology Spring (even years) 2 Online
PSPP 548 Flowering Plants of the Northern Rocky Mountains Summer 2 Campus
PSPP 549 Botany of Spices & Medicinal Plants Fall 2 Online

Graduate Certificate in Teaching Physics

From the study of basic forces to investigating the farthest reaches of the Universe, this certificate will allow you to meet your varying interests or focus in-depth on a single area such as mechanical physics or astronomy.

Students cannot use more than four credits of 400-level courses on a Certificate Program of Study.

Students will successfully complete 12 credits selected from:

Rubric No Course Semester Credit Location
EELE 508 Solar Cell Basics for Science Teachers Summer 2 Campus
PHSX 511 Astronomy for Teachers Fall 3 Online
PHSX 512 General Relativity Spring 3 Online
PHSX 513 Quantum Mechanics for Teachers Summer 3 Online
PHSX 514 Comparative Planetology for Teachers Summer 3 Online
PHSX 571 Electric Circuits & Magnetism for Teachers Summer 3 Online
PHSX 572 Space Science for Elementary Teachers Fall (odd years) 1 Online
PHSX 573 The Science of Sound for Teachers Spring 2 Online
PHSX 574 The World of Motion and Force Summer 2 Online
PHSX 579 Special Relativity for Teachers Fall 3 Online
PHSX 580 Conceptual Physics for Teachers Summer 3 Online
PHSX 582 Astrobiology for Teachers Spring 3 Online
PHSX 584 Physics by Inquiry: Light and Color Summer (even years) 2 Campus
PHSX 586 Physics by Inquiry: Heat and Temperature Summer (odd years) 2 Campus
PHSX 587 Physics by Inquiry: Geometric Optics Summer (even years) 2 Campus
PHSX 597 Physics of Renewable Energy for Secondary Teachers Summer 3 Online

Graduate Certificate in Teaching STEM

This certificate is designed to give K-12 teachers a basic understanding of a broad range of topics of STEM education. These courses are specially designed to help you integrate inquiry-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) into the classroom while improving content and pedagogical knowledge in each of these areas. Students will successfully complete 12 credits, with at least one course from each of the STEM content areas AND one methods course in either STEM or Engineering. The methods course will also count as the content course in that STEM area. 

Students cannot use more than four credits of 400-level courses on a Certificate Program of Study.

Students will successfully complete at least one course from each of the STEM content areas (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and one required Methods course for a minimum of 12 credits as follows:

Content Area Rubric No Course Semester Credit Location
Methods            
  EGEN

511

Engineering Methods for Teachers* Spring (even years) 3 Online
  MSSE

501

Inquiry Science and Engineering Practices Fall, Spring, Summer 2 Online
  MSSE

511

STEM Methods for Teachers ** Spring (odd years) 2 Online
Science     Choose from any science content course from the MSSE Course Catalog, as well as from the AGED courses listed below      
  AGED 507 Program Planning and Evaluation Spring 3 Online
  AGED 511

Philosophy of Teaching and Learning in Agricultural Education

Fall 3 Online
Technology            
  CSCI 581 Computational Thinking for Teachers TBD 2 Online
  CSCI 582 Joy Beauty Data for Teachers TBD 2 Online
  CSCI 583 CSCI 583 Integrating Computer Science into Science Classrooms Summer 3

Online 

  MSSE 502 Emerging Technology and the Science Classroom Summer 2 Online
  MSSE 511 STEM Methods for Teachers ** Spring (odd years) 2 Online
Engineering            
  EELE 508 Solar Cell Basics for Teachers Summer 2 Campus
  EGEN 511 Engineering Methods for Teachers * Spring (even years) 3 Online
Mathematics            
  M 517 Advanced Mathematical Modeling for Teaching Summer (odd years) 3 Online
  M 518 Statistics for Teaching Summer (even years) 3 Online
  M 520

Access and Equity in Mathematics Teaching

Fall (odd years) 3 Online
  M 521

Mathematics Learning Theory for Teaching

TBD 3 Online
  M 525

Analysis for Teaching 

Fall 3 Online
  M 534

Research in Mathamatics Education

Fall 3 Online
  MSSE 508

Statistics Bootcamp for Capstone Projects*** 

Spring 1

Online

     

 

   

 

 

* EGEN 511 may count towards both Methods and Engineering

** MSSE 511 may count towards both Methods and Technology

*** MSSE 508 is restricted to students also enrolled in MSSE 575