Mathematics-Science Dual Minor

In recognition of the fact that many current elementary and middle school teachers feel inadequately prepared to teach mathematics and science, this minor is intended for all Elementary Education and Special Education majors wishing to enhance their content preparation in mathematics and science. It is particularly suitable for those Elementary Education majors who are seeking Middle Childhood-Early Adolescence certification and who intend to teach mathematics and science in the middle school.

Mathematics Component

The mathematics sequence emphasizes problem solving, mathematical reasoning and justification, communicating, and building on students' mathematical ideas in areas such as algebraic thinking, calculus, and probability and statistics. The capstone course, Math 138, is for students to build connections across core ideas in upper-level elementary and middle school mathematics and to understand how these evolve from and into elementary and higher level mathematics. This sequence is also intended to prepare students to take the Praxis examination for middle school mathematics, thereby permitting certification and licensure in most other states that require more in depth content preparation.

Complete the following courses:

• Math 135 Algebraic Reasoning for Teaching Mathematics. Prereq: Math 130 or exemption. Meets Quantitative Reasoning Part B. Students completing this minor will take this course instead of Math 132 in the Elementary Education sequence (once Math 138 has been implemented). Offered each spring semester. For more detailed information about Math 135, see this website: http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lempp/ed.html.
• Math 136. This will be a 6-credit course based on the large lecture of Math 171 (Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I) with a special discussion section for this minor. Offered each Fall Semester. The following students will be exempt from this course requirement: students having taken Math 213, 217, 221, 222, 234, 275, 276, or 375 (or an exact transfer equivalent of any of these) with a grade of B or better; students having passed the AP Calculus AB test with a score of 5; and students having passed the AP Calculus BC test with a score of 4 or better.
• Math 138. This new 3-credit capstone course will be similar to Math 132. To be offered starting Spring Semester 2010. Students who have already entered the Elementary Education program by the Spring 2009 semester may substitute Math 132 for Math 138.

Science Component

The aim of the Science component of this minor is for students to understand science as an intellectual activity. The goals of science and the diverse means by which scientific knowledge is generated and validated should be at the core of the Science portion of this minor. Upon its completion, students should have had opportunities to understand some of the most powerful organizing ideas in the various scientific disciplines as well as how those ideas have been and are generated. Such an understanding should provide students with the fundamental tools and outlook necessary to teach the variety of science content typically taught in middle schools. The committee that developed this Science component has indicated that the primary purpose for the minor should be consistent with the goals of a liberal or general education—thus viewing the minor as an extension of the current Liberal Studies requirement. This minor is also expected to provide Elementary Education program students with a background in the sciences that are most commonly taught at the middle school level. 

Besides the 9 credits of science required for the Liberal Studies requirement, students completing this minor must also take 9 credits in science that are to be a part of the Math-Science dual minor. With these 18 credits it is possible to provide a minimal level of breadth and depth of science coursework. Students must complete the following between their Liberal Studies Science course work and the additional 9 credits:

1. At least one course in each of three of four science areas—biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth and space science. (Integrated Liberal Studies 153 does not count as falling into any one of these areas.)
2. No more than 12 credits at the introductory level--those courses below marked with an asterisk (*)--will count toward the 18 credits required. (Students who have already entered the Elementary Education program by the Spring Semester 2008 may take up to 15 credits at the introductory level.)

The following courses are approved for inclusion in the science component of the Math/Science minor:

Integrated Liberal Studies

• ILS 153*

Biology

• Bacteriology 101*, 102*, all courses 300 level and above
• Biochemistry, all courses 500 level and above
• Biology Core Curriculum, all courses
• Botany 100*, 123*, 130*, 151*, 152, 260*, all courses 300 level and above
• Entomology 201*, all courses 300 level and above
• Genetics, all courses 400 level and above
• Plant Pathology 123*, all courses 300 level and above
• Wildlife Ecology, all courses 300 level and above
• Zoology 101*, 102*, 151*, 152, 260*, 302, 315, 316, all courses numbered 350 and above

Chemistry

• Biochemistry, all courses 500 level and above
• Chemistry 103*, 104, 108*, 109*, 115*, 116, all courses 300 level and above

Physics

• Physics 103*, 104, 107*, all courses 200 level of above

Earth and Space Science

• Astronomy 100*, 103*, 104*, (113* and 114* eligible if taken concurrently with 103 and 104 respectively), 150, 200*, 236*, all courses 300 level and above
• Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 100*, 101*, 105*, 171*, 265*, all courses 200 level and above
• Geography 120*, 127*, all courses 300 level and above designated as physical science (P)
• Geology and Geophysics 100*, 101*, 102*, 105*, 107*, 110*, 202, 203, 204, 290, 302, 303, 304, 320, 370, 420, 430, 455, 456, 524, 527, 530, 540, 544, all other courses numbered 556 and above.

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