Forces of Change
• Student & parent mandate
– Vocationalization of higher education
• External mandates on our department
– Productivity Efficiency Accountability
• Internal Department mandate:
– Equity: distribute courses
among faculty, share of productivity
Forces of Constancy/Homeostasis
• Traditions of higher education
• Traditions of classical geology training
• Traditions of teacher preparation
Productivity
Faster
Price
Efficiency
Cheaper
Service
Accountability
Better
Quality
• Class size
• Graduation rates
• 120 credit cap for baccalaureate degrees
• Internal Assessment programs
• External Accreditation programs
BS Mandates
• SSHE directives
– Increase # of majors
• recruit, retain, graduate
– Increase productivity
• larger class size
BSEd Mandates
• SSHE directives
– Increase # of majors
– Increase productivity
– Assessment standards:
PDE-NSTA-NCATE
– Assessment standards
– 120 credit maximum
• PA Professional
• PDE Act 354 teacher prep
Geologists Certification
• ASBOG & PA-BOG
– 120 credit maximum
– curricula … BS = BSEd
– GPA: 3.0 min
• NSTA Folios
• NCATE Accreditation
Professional Geologist
Certification for Pennsylvania
• Education: Major in Geology or related discipline w/ 30+
semester hours in discipline
• Experience: 5 years professional geology work, less a yr for
each grad. degree
• Examinations: ASBOG tests
– Fundamentals of Geology (FG) Examination: test of knowledge
& skills acquired in an academic setting that leads to a
baccalaureate degree
– Practice of Geology (PG) Examination: test to assess skills &
knowledge acquired or expanded through employment, typically
after 5 years of experience
ASBOG Examination Content
PA Teaching Certification
PDE Standards for Earth & Space Science
I. Knowing the Content
I.A. Basic principles of biology, chemistry, physics and math as
related to earth & space science
I.B. Concepts of Earth & Space Science interactions of
lithosphere-hydrosphere-atmosphere-biosphere
I.C. Physical Geology
I.D. Historical Geology
I.E. Oceanography
I.F. Meteorology
I.G. Astronomy and Space Science
I.H. Environment, Natural Resources, Social Impacts
I.I. Scientific Instrumentation and technology
PA Teaching Certification
Praxis Testing Requirements
BS
Geology
BS
Earth Sys
BSEd
48
48
48
6
6
9
12
12
9
30
30
30
Other Geol 3 ESS req
9 req
9 req
9 ESS elec 6 ESS elec
30 Educ
19 elec
22 elec
Gen Ed
Math 3 GE cr
Sci 6 GE cr
Geol Core
The New Curricula
BS Geology
•
•
•
•
Require:
Statistics & Calculus
Require:
Chem 1, Phys 1
Recommend Bio 1, Chem 2, Phys 2
Core Geology
– 101 Intro to Geol
– 104 Historical Geol
– 201 Field Techniques
– 213 Env Geochemistry
– 302 Mineralogy
– 331 Paleontology
– 343 Geomorphology
– 405 Petrology
– 420 Structural Geology
– 450 Sed & Stratigraphy
BS Earth Sys & BSED
•
•
•
•
•
Require:
Stats & Pre-Calculus
Require:
Bio 1, Chem 1, Phys 1
Recommend: Chem 2, Phys 2
Core Geology (10 courses, 30 cr.)
Additional requirements
– 111 Astronomy
– 370 Meteorology
– 330 Oceanography
Increasing the # of Majors
• Recruit:
– open houses
– feeder schools and community colleges
– grants to new students
• Retain
–
–
–
–
–
Core curriculum that develops a “community of learners”
An active department club
Field experiences
Research/internship experiences
Flexible curriculum gives students choices, encourages
transfers
– Grants to assist students with financial woes
Alumni
Communication
• BSEd alumni: Teachers
– return for continuing education credits /MA program
– cooperating teachers for WCU student teachers
• BS alumni: professional/gov’t geologists
– return for continuing education
– supervise interns from WCU in their offices