C670 Concepts in Science is a Western Governors University course for already-licensed teachers seeking an additional license or endorsement in science education.
WGU describes it as an introduction to essential themes found within and across chemistry, physics, biology and the geosciences.
These include comprehending the magnitude of the physical and natural world, analyzing and converting measurements, understanding the basic nature and behavior of matter and energy, examining atomic structure, identifying and naming basic types of chemical bonds, and analyzing and interpreting scientific data.
The course appears across WGU's graduate science education programs. Teachers returning to science after years away often find the maths and chemistry the steepest part.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | C670 |
| Audience | Licensed teachers adding a science license or endorsement |
| Level | Graduate, competency-based |
| Subject area | Cross-disciplinary science foundations |
| Typical work | Conversions, atomic and bonding questions, data analysis |
What C670 Covers
| Theme (from WGU's description) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Magnitude of the natural world | Scale from atoms to galaxies, powers of ten |
| Measurements and conversions | SI units, prefixes, dimensional analysis |
| Matter and energy | States of matter, energy forms and conservation |
| Atomic structure | Protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes |
| Chemical bonds | Identifying and naming ionic and covalent bonds |
| Scientific data | Graphs, tables, trends and conclusions |
Key Concepts with Worked Examples
Dimensional Analysis
Multiply by conversion factors written as fractions so unwanted units cancel. It works for any conversion, however many steps.
Example: Convert 72 km/h to m/s. 72 km/h × (1000 m / 1 km) × (1 h / 3600 s) = 20 m/s. Writing the units in each fraction shows km and h canceling, leaving m/s.
Scientific Notation and Scale
Very large and small numbers are written as powers of ten. An atom is about 10-10 m across and Earth about 107 m, a difference of 17 orders of magnitude.
Atoms and Isotopes
The atomic number is the number of protons; the mass number is protons plus neutrons. Carbon-12 and carbon-14 both have 6 protons but 6 and 8 neutrons.
Example: Sodium (Na) loses one electron to become Na+; chlorine gains one to become Cl-. The attraction between them is an ionic bond, giving sodium chloride. Two non-metals, such as hydrogen and oxygen in water, share electrons in covalent bonds.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
WGU assesses competency through performance assessments or objective assessments. Check your course page for the current format. Work in this course typically includes:
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion problems | Units and prefixes | Write every factor with units |
| Atomic structure questions | Particles and isotopes | Use the periodic table systematically |
| Bonding and naming | Ionic versus covalent | Check metal and non-metal first |
| Data interpretation | Graphs and trends | Describe, then explain, then conclude |
Interpreting Scientific Data
Data analysis runs through every science course that follows, so it pays to master it here:
- Identify the independent variable (usually the x-axis) and dependent variable (y-axis).
- Describe the trend in words, with numbers from the graph.
- Note outliers and possible sources of error.
- Distinguish correlation from causation in your conclusion.
Matter and Energy Across the Sciences
Matter and energy are themes that cross every science discipline, which is why C670 places them early. A few principles recur constantly:
- Conservation of mass: in chemical reactions atoms are rearranged, not created or destroyed.
- Conservation of energy: energy changes form but the total stays the same.
- States of matter: solids, liquids and gases differ in particle arrangement and movement.
- Energy forms: kinetic, potential, thermal, chemical, electrical and radiant.
Example: A burning candle links all four sciences. Chemistry: wax reacts with oxygen. Physics: chemical energy becomes heat and light. Biology: the same type of reaction releases energy in cells. Earth science: the carbon dioxide produced joins the carbon cycle.
Using cross-disciplinary examples like this shows the integrated understanding the course is designed to build.
SI Units and Prefixes to Know
Measurement and conversion are central to C670. Learn the base SI units (meter, kilogram, second, kelvin, mole, ampere) and the common prefixes with their powers of ten: kilo (10³), centi (10-2), milli (10-3), micro (10-6) and nano (10-9).
Also practice temperature conversions (K = °C + 273) and derived units such as density (g/cm³) and speed (m/s). These skills appear again in every later chemistry, physics and Earth science course.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Metric prefixes. Learn kilo, centi, milli, micro and nano with their powers of ten.
- Naming compounds. Ionic and covalent naming follow different rules.
- Calculator errors with scientific notation. Practice entering exponents correctly.
- Overstating conclusions from data. Say what the data support, no more.
Study Tips for C670
- Practice a few conversions daily until dimensional analysis is automatic.
- Keep the periodic table beside you and learn to read it, not memorize it.
- Draw atoms and ions with electron shells to visualize bonding.
- Check your program guide for where C670 sits in your plan.
How We Help with C670
Tell us which topics feel rusty, share the task instructions and rubric, and a science tutor prepares worked examples, explanations and practice problems on conversions, atomic structure, bonding and data analysis, or reviews your written work for accuracy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU describes it as a course for already-licensed teachers seeking an additional license or endorsement in science education.
Scale, measurement and conversions, matter and energy, atomic structure, naming basic chemical bonds, and analyzing scientific data.
No, it is introductory, but revising the periodic table and basic algebra helps.
A method of converting units by multiplying by conversion factors so unwanted units cancel.
WGU uses performance and objective assessments. Check your course page for the current format.
No. We are an independent service with no connection to Western Governors University.