http://www.princeton.edu/integratedscience/
In Curriculum 21 Jacobs (2010) mentions Princeton University and their introductory science program. Jacobs briefly mentions it and continues on, so it left me wondering and I had to check it out. The program is for students who know they want to major in science, but not sure what specifically. It allows the student to explore multiple areas of science and still allowing them to pursue careers that require a science related degree. Students explore all of the various areas of science and at the end of their sophomore year select a specific science major. It allows students to explore different areas of science so that can discover that area they excel or are most interested in. The curriculum covers the core material of introductory physics, chemistry, biology (genetics and biochemistry), and computer science, all in an integrated manner. It has a key focus on problem solving and stresses its importance. It also focuses on the fundamentals of science most likely to be important to students in the 21st century, as opposed to the traditional path of science education.
As someone who works with college students and academic advising, I think this program is brilliant. I work with so many students who know they want to teach, but do not know what they want to teach. Many know they want to teach science but can't decide between life or physical and then have to decide what they want to concentrate in for whatever science they end up selecting. Having a program like this would not only give them an excellent base knowledge for all of the different areas of science. But it also allows them to try out all of the different areas, which they wouldn't of had the opportunity to do if they would have been forced to select their science major on day one.
This program is now in its sixth year. It sounds like it has been successful. It will be interesting to see if other schools follow their lead.
UMaine had an integrated course last year about the 150th anniversary of some of Darwin's work - I read the descriptions and really wanted to take the course!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome program! My bachelor's degree is in "Secondary Education, Science" which means I have a "general degree". I am certified to teach both life and physical science. The benefit to this degree is that I can teach any science class 7-12 which in essence makes me more "versatile". However, the disadvantage to this degree is that I only have a general knowledge of many different subjects in science so when I first start teaching a new course I have more work to do in order to learn the content myself. I have been teaching for ten years now and have always taught in the physical science end of things - Chemistry, Physics, etc. I wonder if I had attended a program like Princeton's if I would have decided to just go the physical science route. In a sense it is a question of depth versus breadth . . .
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