Earth Space Teacher

Earth/space science teachers educate students on the four basic areas of scientific study classified as part of earth science: oceanography, astronomy, meteorology and geology.

Summary

Earth scientists play a vital role in scientific research; they directly study important problems involving the impact of human actions on the environment, such as climate change. They also discover alternative energy sources and new metals and mineral resources.

Earth scientists document and study events that threaten human existence, including floods, earthquakes and volcanic activity. Perhaps most important, it is earth scientists who are searching earnestly for a solution to the impact of overpopulation on both quality of life for humans and the environment.

Becoming a earth science teacher allows you to explore all of these issues, while helping train new generations of scientists who can help expand the scientific understanding of what happens on and around our planet.

Educational Requirements

The earth/space science teaching program through the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences department provides a broad earth science core; a strong background in math, chemistry, and physics; and courses in education covering student development, integration of content and teaching methods, use of technology, fostering community, and assessing outcomes. All of which help prepare students to teach in junior high/middle/secondary schools (grades 5-12) and meet the requirements set by the University-wide Teacher Education Council.

Salary Information 2022

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of an Earth and Space Science Teacher in 2022 was $107,540.

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Information retrieved from Purdue University: Earth/Space Science Teaching.