Issue date: 10/20/06 Section: News

Karen Randazzo, a senior chemistry and secondary education major, is in a discussion with Dr. Joseph Smith, associate professor of chemistry.

Sitting surrounded by textbooks and scattered papers on a late weeknight while cramming for the latest physical chemistry exam, Karen Randazzo, a senior chemistry and secondary education major, is exhausted. The work is piled high for Randazzo and the endless hours of studying are just the beginning of her work.

Randazzo said, "It's one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life."

Nationwide, finding science majors like Randazzo is becoming a rarity. At the college level, America is faced with two problems in science education. The first issue science education is dealing with is that too few Americans are performing at the highest level in science compared with the competitors abroad.

The second issue science education bumps into is the aspiring science majors who are turned off by unimaginative teaching at the college level. As many as half of the aspiring science majors leave the field of science and migrate to other fields, according to the New York Times.

Randazzo is one of the few who have remained in the science field. This year, Randazzo will be the only chemistry major to graduate in May. Also, Randazzo is the first chemistry and secondary education major in nine years.

"You have to be really dedicated," she said.

Randazzo must take up to 55 credits in her field. As part of the core curriculum, science classes are a requirement. The requirement includes one lab that is counted as one credit. Also, two other science classes must be taken for six credits. One of the two science courses must correspond with the lab. Dr. Charlie McCormick, dean for academic affairs, explained the importance of the science classes being included within the core requirements.

McCormick said, "Learning the scientific method is important. It's transferable to all sorts of areas." McCormick also explained that globally, it is necessary to be able to cross-culturally communicate.

Although Randazzo has managed to remain in her field, the other students who are turned off by the intensity of the science programs and their presentation could be inspired by future programs. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, has given their science program a new spin to get students more involved and interested. The New York Times reported that U.M.B.C.'s Meyerhoff Scholars Program receives about 1,900 nominees a year for their program, mostly from Maryland, for merit-based scholarships. About 100 scholarships are offered, and of these about 50 are accepted. After the students enter the program, they work side-by-side and with scientists-to-be for the next four years setting up the stage for their college career.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools