What you will study
UCM’s Secondary Education degree in Chemistry brings you the best of two worlds: expert
education to enrich your understanding of the science and time-tested training that
has produced countless successful chemistry teachers.
You’ll begin your four-year chemistry teacher program with fundamental science and
general education courses. In your sophomore year, you’ll begin to spend time in real
classrooms in Missouri, at first observing and then teaching chemistry classes.
As the semesters go on, you’ll take on more advanced science projects in your UCM
classes and spend increasing amounts of time in the field. By the time you reach your
final semester, you’ll have the scientific background and educational tools to ensure
your success as a full-time student teacher.
Chemistry teacher colleges offer training in your discipline, as well as in educational
theory and best practices. At the University of Central Missouri, we prepare future
chemistry teachers for their careers with classes such as:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Introduction to English Language Learners and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
- Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics
- Science Teaching Methods
Excellence in Secondary Education
- Science Education program is recognized by the National Association of Science Teachers
(NSTA).
- Chemistry program is also accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
- Top 15% of Most Focused Colleges for Education(College Factual, 2022)
- One of the Most Focused Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- One of the Most Focused Colleges for Secondary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 4.5% of the Most Popular Colleges for Secondary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 5% of Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Secondary Education (College Factual,
2022)
- Top 10% of Best Value in Education (College Factual, 2021)
Unique learning opportunities in chemistry teacher education
Jobs for chemistry teachers require hands-on experience, so you feel confident running
your own classroom.
- Student teaching: Put your growing knowledge into practice with over 100 hours of real classroom experience
even before your studies culminate in a semester of running your own classroom in
a local school.
- Undergraduate research projects: Develop your critical and creative thinking and research techniques as you collaborate
with faculty and fellow students, building long-lasting mentor relationships.
- Professional meetings: Our future chemistry teachers are encouraged to present their research at state, regional
and national meetings. These are opportunities for you to engage with the latest chemistry
research and gain global perspective as you network with researchers from around the
world. Our Secondary Education majors have participated in the National Meeting of
the American Chemical Society (ACS), the National Conference for Undergraduate Research
(NCUR), the Argonne Symposium and many more.
- Student clubs: UCM sponsors an active chapter of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliates
on campus. As a Secondary Education major in Chemistry, you’ll be encouraged to participate
in this student-led group and its presentation and networking events.
What can you do with a Chemistry Teacher degree from UCM?
High school chemistry teachers have the opportunity to engage students in this exciting
discipline at a critical stage of their development. You’ll be able to interpret scientific
concepts for your students, demonstrate how ideas and applications in chemistry relate
to each other and create a safe science lab environment for conducting experiments.
You’ll be fully prepared to work in jobs for chemistry teachers in grades 9–12 once
you earn your BSE and apply for certification through the Missouri Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education (DESE). Our attentive faculty will work with you every step
of the way.
Jobs for chemistry teachers
Nearly all our graduates are immediately employed by a Missouri school district. Use
our interactive tool below to find out more about typical salaries, career paths and
market trends.
Financial assistance options for your Chemistry BSE
Providing affordable, high-quality education for teachers has been a priority at the
University of Central Missouri for 150 years and counting. Our tuition rates are lower
than many in the state and in the country, keeping our commitment to making excellent
education accessible to everyone. We make it easy to finance your college degree and graduate with low student debt. We want new chemistry teachers to be able to
focus on their students, not their bills.
Multiple scholarships are available specifically for Secondary Education majors in
Chemistry.
- UCM Scholarship Finder: Search our database of scholarship options that may be available to you as a Chemistry BSE student.
- Work-study opportunities: Get paid to work within the department assisting in the lab, grading, providing tutoring
services and more.
Meet Your Mentors
Experts in their fields who treat you like family
Few Chemistry Teacher colleges offer an environment as supportive, welcoming and student-centered
as UCM. In our Chemistry and Secondary Education programs, you’ll find faculty who
have deep experience in their fields, value diversity and inclusion and truly care
about your progress toward graduation and your career.
Meet Your Chemistry Faculty
Train on Leading Technology
Hands-on experience with the latest chemistry equipment
At UCM, you’ll gain expertise using sophisticated chemical instrumentation that rivals
most chemistry teacher colleges. Master techniques to:
- Assess molecular structure using UV-Visible, FT-IR and FT-NMR spectroscopy
- Identify different parts of complex chemical mixtures using GC, GC/MS and HPLC chromatography
- Quantify material properties such as heat and light using calorimetry, fluorometry
and electrochemical analysis
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