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Apr 10, 2026
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2026-2027 Catalog
Natural Sciences Education Minor
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The Natural Sciences Education (NSED) minor is designed to prepare UC Merced students for careers in education including but not limited to teaching professions, graduate studies in education and other related jobs. Students who complete the coursework and the fieldwork associated with this program will be eligible for priority admission into teaching credential program at partner institutions and credit for the coursework in other teaching credential programs. In particular, students who complete the NSED minor are eligible for priority admission, course credits and scholarships for the teaching credential program at Fresno Pacific University (FPU) through a joint UC Merced-FPU program. The NSED courses will also fulfill requirements for the UC Merced Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) which provides significant financial benefits to those completing TPP. Extensive additional advising, support and resources are available for students interested in teaching careers through the SNS CalTeach program which administers the NSED minor.
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Minimum Requirements
To be awarded a minor in Natural Sciences Education, students must successfully complete at least 24 units. Seminar Courses [4 Units]
Elementary School Seminar Requirement [1 unit]
Complete the following course. - NSED 025: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in Elementary School
Elementary School Fieldwork Requirement [1 unit]
Complete the following course. Seminar and Fieldwork Electives [2 units]
Complete either of the following seminar and fieldwork course sequences. Note: the seminar and fieldwork courses in the sequence will be taken concurrently. Middle School
- NSED 045: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in Middle School
- NSED 046: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in Middle School
High School
- NSED 065: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in High School
- NSED 066: Introduction to Teaching Science and Mathematics in High School
Natural Sciences Education Core Requirement [19 Units]
Complete the following courses, all of which must be taken for a letter grade. Upper Division Fieldwork Requirement [1 unit]
Complete the following course. Natural Sciences Education Minor Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the NSED minor program students are expected to: - Be able to comprehensively articulate what constitutes a profession of a science or mathematics teacher and to demonstrate familiarity with the structure of the California K‐ 12 educational system, including being able to address the following:
- Identify what constitutes the responsibilities and duties of a teacher.
- Identify what skills and knowledge are necessary to become a successful professional.
- Describe credentialing process in the State of California.
- Articulate instructional state standards and requirements for K‐12 education.
- Demonstrate familiarity with educational strategies to address diverse demographics of California schools such as instruction to English Learners.
- Demonstrate basic teaching skills and familiarity with effective teaching methodologies and learning strategies in science and mathematics, including being able to:
- Develop a lesson plan and deliver an effective lesson at the primary or secondary school level.
- Design different existing types of assessments to evaluate students learning in the K‐12 environment.
- Distinguish between students with different learning abilities and needs and adapt their teaching methodology to address this diversity.
- Demonstrate basic understanding of innovative teaching methodologies and learning-enhancing technologies and the ability to use these techniques in the classroom.
Guidelines Applying to all Natural Sciences Minors
To declare a minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 (C) or better. Students should consult an advisor in the School of Natural Sciences to officially declare the minor and plan their courses. The following guidelines must be adhered to: - At least five courses, four of which must be upper division, must be taken for a letter grade.
- At least three of the required courses must be taken at UC Merced.
- Only one course may be used to satisfy two minor programs’ requirements.
- Only one course may be used to satisfy both a minor and a major requirement.
- Work for the minor must be completed within the 150 unit maximum limit for graduation. If the student’s major and minor are in different schools, the higher unit maximum will apply.
- Students must consult the course descriptions for prerequisites to required courses.
- The minor will appear on the student’s transcript.
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