Department of Geology and Astronomy Mission Statement

In keeping with the mission of West Chester University, the primary mission of the Department of Geology & Astronomy is to provide high quality undergraduate education for geoscience professionals and future teachers in the broad fields of the earth and space sciences. Our secondary mission is to provide graduate training, mainly in the field of science education but also including continuing professional instruction. The Department seeks to strengthen its educational roles by supporting individual scholarship and creative exploration undertaken by faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students, and by striving for the optimal use of student, faculty, and material resources. Within the University, we provide general education for all students and service courses for those in the School of Education. In the larger community, we serve as resource people in our respective fields for local government, schools, and industries. Within these constituencies, we further seek to contribute our unique perspectives as astronomers and geoscientists to decision-making processes. Our program is unique to the area by virtue of the recognized excellence of our teaching, the personalized attention we give to our students, the breadth and quality of our equipment base, and the flexibility and adaptability of our curricula to students with disparate backgrounds both with and without prior scientific training.

Department Goals

In keeping with this mission, we aspire to maintain and strengthen our roles as:

1. Broad and thorough educators in the sciences of geology and astronomy at both the undergraduate and postbaccalaureate levels.
2. Providers of training and retraining (including teacher certification) for educators in the fields of earth and space sciences, ranging from elementary and secondary education to graduate training of future faculty.
3. Contributors to scholarly advancement in the areas of basic research, application, and pedagogy within the geosciences and astronomy.
4. Leaders in the applications of advanced technologies to earth sciences, by providing students with training in the use of tools they will need to succeed in their chosen fields.
5. A leading program in environmental education, with application to students working or teaching in the environmental field.
6. Providers of expertise and facilities for use by the local business community.
7. A program with the flexibility to expand to other areas of geoscience which provide employment for our graduates in response to the unique and cyclical nature of geoscience employment opportunities.
8. Resources for state and local problems of geological and astronomical importance, bringing the unique perspective of the earth and space sciences to bear on the decision-making processes within our communities.

Student Learning Outcomes

M.A. Geoscience

• Outcome 1. Develop the knowledge & skills to sustain successful geoscience careers (Department Goals 1, 2).
• Outcome 2. Enhance research skills and accomplish scholarly growth (Department Goals 1, 2).
• Outcome 3: Serve as geoscience resources for their community (Department Goals 2, 8).

B.S. Geoscience

• Outcome 1. Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to sustain a successful geoscience career (Department Goals 1, 4, 5, 7).
• Outcome 2. Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct scientific research and skills in information literacy (Department Goal 3).
• Outcome 3. Students will respond to the technical, educational, and cultural needs of the University and larger communities (Department Goals 6, 8).

B.S.Ed. Earth and Space Science

West Chester University Conceptual Model for Teacher Education

The department of Geology and Astronomy has unanimously adopted the conceptual model for teacher education. This model is summarized below. The goals of the School of Education (and the Department of Geology & Astronomy) at West Chester University is to prepare teachers who:

• Knows learners, subject matter, pedagogy, and curriculum.
• Constructs effective learning experiences/outcomes assessments, closes the evaluation loop, and assesses continuously.
• Directs personal growth, professional practice, and reflective practice.
• Applies knowledge of the context of education and engages in collaborative activities, partnerships, service and advocacy.
• Values diversity and community in the classroom through practice

State and National Standards for Earth and Space Science Teacher Certification

The B.S.Ed. program of the Department of Geology and Astronomy meets or exceeds the student learning and performance outcomes required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The NSTA is the professional organization responsible for establishing the standards for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Performance standards for Earth and Space Science for these professional organizations are contained in appendix 5. The BSEd Earth and Space Science program is accredited by the PDE (last re-accreditation was in the spring of 2006). This program is Nationally Recognized with Conditions by the NSTA in 2007.

Learning Outcomes for students in the B.S.Ed. program

• Outcome 1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the content subject matter of the Earth and Space Sciences.
• Outcome 2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in pedagogy to construct effective curricula and assessments that document student learning of that curricula.
• Outcome 3. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in science research for their continuing professional development.
• Outcome 4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in developing student success in diverse learning communities within and beyond their classroom, school and community.