Minor Options

CalTeach offers two education minor options for UC Merced undergraduates. Courses in each minor focus on enhancing student organization, time management, classroom management, and leadership skills to help train our future leaders. You do not have to be in the minor to take NSED classes! For information on enrolling at UC Merced as a community college student, find more information about the MC2UCM Cross-Campus Enrollment here.

 

Natural Science Education Minor (NSED) 

The NSED minor allows students to complete courses at UC Merced to introduce students to the classroom and develop skills used to run a classroom efficiently. This will give help students gain experience and prepare them to excel through a teaching credential program. 

  • Open to ALL majors at UC Merced!
  • The NSED minor provides most of the requirements for any teaching credential program in the State of California.
  • Learn what it is like to be a teacher, including classroom management techniques.
  • Gain over 80 hours of experience in an elementary, middle, or high school classroom!

NSED Course Requirements - 24 Units

Lower Division

  • NSED 25 and NSED 26: Introduction to Teaching Elementary School Science and Math Seminar and Fieldwork (2 units)
Then take 
  • NSED 45 and NSED 46: Introduction to Teaching Middle School Science and Math Seminar and Fieldwork (2 units) ONLY OFFERED IN FALL
Or
  • NSED 65 and NSED 66: Introduction to Teaching Middle School Science and Math Seminar and Fieldwork (2 units) ONLY OFFERED IN SPRING

Upper Division

  • PSY 130 or PSY 134: Developmental Psychology or Adolescent Development (4 units) Prerequisite: PSY 001
  • NSED 120: Classroom Interactions (4 units)
  • NSED 130: Technology in Education (3 units)
  • NSED 150: Research Methods in Education (4 units)
  • NSED 100: Project Based Instruction (4 units)
  • NSED 174: Contemporary Issues in teaching with Fieldwork (1 units) 

Recommended Courses (not required for minor):

Can meet the US Constitution requirement for a California Teaching Credential
  • HIST 016 or POLI 001: Forging of the US or Introduction to Political Science

*All of the NSED courses are approved under the UC Merced General Education Requirements

 

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 students with course credits in Math or Science
  • Either 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!

NSEC Course Requirements - 36 Units

Lower Division

  • NSED 25 and NSED 26: Introduction to Teaching Elementary School Science and Math Seminar and Fieldwork (2 units)

Then take 

  • NSED 45 and NSED 46: Introduction to Teaching Middle School Science and Math Seminar and Fieldwork (2 units) ONLY OFFERED IN FALL

Or

  • NSED 65 and NSED 66: Introduction to Teaching Middle School Science and Math Seminar and Fieldwork (2 units) ONLY OFFERED IN SPRING

Upper Division

  • PSY 130 or PSY 134: Developmental Psychology or Adolescent Development (4 units) Prerequisite: PSY 001
  • NSED 120: Classroom Interactions (4 units) and NSED 174: Contemporary Issues in teaching with Fieldwork *take concurrently (1 unit)
  • NSED 130: Technology in Education (3 units)
  • NSED 150: Research Methods in Education (4 units)
  • NSED 100: Project Based Instruction (4 units) and NSED 174: Contemporary Issues in Teaching with Fieldwork *take concurrently (1 unit)
  • EDUC 130: Knowing and Learning in Science and Math *summer session online at UC Berkeley (3 units)
  • NSED 180: Critical Perspective in the History of Science and Mathematics (4 units)

Prior to the final semester of apprentice teaching, submit a Calteach credential application to UC Berkeley. Once admitted, enroll in the following courses:

  • EDSTEM 303: Supervisory Apprentice Teaching *Simultaneous enrollment with UCB (3 units)
  • NSED 184: Apprentice teaching fieldwork (2-9 units)

Recommended Courses (not required)

Can meet the US Constitution requirement for a California Teaching Credential

  • HIST 016 or POLI 001: Forging of the US or Introduction to Political Science

*All of the NSED courses are approved under the UC Merced General Education Requirements

 

To add one of the two minors, make an appointment here!