FSU Science Education Programs Receive National Accreditation

Fairmont State University’s Science Education programs received recent recognition from two national organizations giving the programs continuing accreditation.

The programs were recognized by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly known as NCATE. With the recognition, all eight initial preparation undergraduate and the graduate science teacher preparation programs in Biology (9-Adult), Chemistry (9-Adult), Physics (9-Adult) and General Science (5-Adult) are now fully accredited until the year 2020.

In order to receive the accreditation, Dr. Deb Hemler, Geoscience Program Coordinator at Fairmont State, said the programs had to demonstrate that students were competent in several aspects from teaching professionalism as a scientist and teacher to showing their ability to measure and respond to student learning.

Hemler said the recognition and continuing accreditation will hopefully give students and the program confidence.

“When I indicate to the students the assignments they submit are reported for accreditation, they no longer feel like the work they produce is busy work but that it means something,” Hemler said. “It makes their assignments more relevant.”

The Science Education programs have been accredited under Hemler since 2003 and also received the recognition several years prior. Hemler said FSU’s College of Science and Technology will be pursuing a certification program in Earth and Space Science during the 2016-2017 academic year.

“I am proud of our faculty in Fairmont State’s College of Science and Technology and our students for their accomplishments,” said Dr. Don Trisel, Dean of the College of Science and Technology. “Congratulations to Dr. Hemler for her outstanding work to further the accreditation process.”

Fairmont State’s Science Education program prepares students to meet current expectations for classroom teachers. The learning cycle, collaborative learning and project-based learning are integral parts of the Science Education programs. Science Education majors should also expect hands-on learning opportunities early in their Fairmont State careers.

For more information about Science Education programs at FSU, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/collegeofscitech/academics/science-education.

 

College of Science and TechnologyDr. Debra HemlerScience Education