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NSEC Minor

Natural Science Education Minor with Teaching Credential (NSEC)

NSEC is a joint program with UC Berkeley. Completing the NSEC minor allows students to graduate simultaneously with both a bachelor's degree from UC Merced and a Single Subject teaching credential in science or mathematics from UC Berkeley.

  • Open to STEM majors at UC Merced (i.e. Biology, Math, Engineering majors) or SSHA majors with sufficient math and science coursework
  • Complete the entire program at UC Merced or spend a semester at UC Berkeley taking both teacher education coursework as well as courses from your major!
  • Experience teaching in both rural and urban schools.
  • Become part of a larger cohort of teachers from UC Berkeley and UC Merced!

STAGE 1:

  • Complete 29 units of NSEC coursework at UC Merced (see list of courses below)
  • Complete 3 units of credential coursework online in summer with UC Berkeley

STAGE 2: 

  • Prepare and submit an application to the CalTeach Teaching Credential program at UC Berkeley that consists of the following:
    1. Completed application form
    2. Prepare a portfolio that highlights the work you have done in your CalTeach courses 
    3. Required tests: If your major is the same as the Single Subject credential you are seeking, you do NOT need to take the California Subject Matter Examination for Teachers (CSET) tests. If your major is NOT the same as the credential you are seeking, you DO need to take the CSET tests in that subject. You are not longer required to take the California Basics Skills Test (CBEST) test. 

STAGE 3: 

  • Once a student is admitted into the Teaching Credential program, she/he enroll and complete two courses to receive a single subject teaching credential:
    • EDSTEM 303 - Supervised Apprentice Teaching- Seminar *Simuntaneous enrollment with UCB
    • NSED 184 - Supervised Apprentice Teaching - Student Teaching

NSEC Course Requirements

Two lower division NSED seminar and Fieldwork courses (4 units)

  • NSED 25 and 26: Introduction to Teaching Elementary School Science and Math

THEN

  • NSED 45 and 46: Introduction to Teaching Middle School Science and Math

OR

  • NSED 65 and 66: Introduction to Teaching High School Science and Math

PSY 130: Developmental Psychology (4 units) or PSY 134: Adolescent Development (4 units)

NSED 100: Project Based Instruction: Assessment and Management for beginning Teachers (4 units) take concurrently with NSED 174: Contemporary issues in Teaching with Fieldwork (1 unit)

NSED 120: Classroom Interactions in Science and Mathematics: A focus on Equity in Urban and Rural Schools (4 units) ake concurrently with NSED 174: Contemporary issues in Teaching with Fieldwork (1 unit)

NSED 130: Technology in Education (3 units)

NSED 150: Research Methods in Education (4 units)

NSEC UC Berkeley Coursework

EDUC 130: Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science (3 units)

UGIS 188: Research Methods for Science and Mathematics K-12 Teachers (3 units) OR UGIS 189: Integrating Research Methods into K-12 Teaching Summer Research Institute

Coursework after official admission into the credentialing program:

UGIS 303: Supervised Apprentice Teaching - Semester (3 units)

NSED 184: Supervised Apprentice Teaching - Fieldwork (2-6 units)

*Note: since NSEC coursework amounts to less than full-time semester status at UC Berkeley, students will be able to complete coursework that will fulfill requirements for their major during semester a UC Berkeley.

To add the minor stop by the CalTeach office in S&E1 270 or email melissaamarillas@ucmerced.edu to set up an appointment!