D872: Secondary Chemistry Curriculum

Secondary Chemistry Curriculum is built directly around the Chemistry Praxis exam — the content synthesis and evidence-based teaching-approach evaluation a MAT chemistry candidate needs.

What D872 covers

The course synthesizes the core content of the Secondary Chemistry Program, preparing candidates to apply education theory and teaching approaches to the chemistry content areas. It aligns with the areas covered by the Chemistry Praxis exam, ensuring candidates demonstrate both a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to effectively deliver content in a secondary classroom setting.

Through evidence-based methods of learning science, candidates evaluate learning experiences and resources that effectively convey chemistry concepts to secondary students. Topics include atomic structure, chemical bonding, energy relationships, chemical reactions, solutions, and the role of science and engineering in society. There are no prerequisites for this course.

The D872 performance assessment

Expect a performance assessment requiring you to synthesize chemistry content knowledge with a secondary teaching approach for a given topic, evaluating instructional resources using evidence-based methods.

Key topics in D872

• Atomic structure and chemical bonding
• Energy relationships and chemical reactions
• Evaluating chemistry learning resources
• Praxis-aligned content review

Writing tips for D872

Follow the task instructions and rubric line by line

WGU performance assessments for D872 are graded against a fixed rubric — every rubric line has to be visibly addressed, usually with a labeled heading that mirrors the rubric language. Skipping a rubric point because it seems minor is the single most common reason a competent submission comes back "Not Yet Competent" for revision.

Ground every claim in a specific secondary grade level and science content

MAT Secondary Science Education courses like D872 typically ask you to apply content knowledge and pedagogy to a specific grade level and science topic rather than write about teaching in the abstract. As a post-baccalaureate candidate, connecting your prior professional background to your instructional reasoning strengthens a response further.

Because WGU is self-paced, don't let "no deadline pressure" become no submission

There's no weekly due date forcing progress, which means procrastination costs more at WGU than at a traditional term-based school — a stalled task can quietly eat weeks of a term. Treat your own target date for each D872 assessment as a real deadline.

Why students seek help with D872

MAT candidates sometimes write a purely content-focused chemistry review without the resource-evaluation component the course specifically requires — a strong response addresses both content mastery and evaluating how well a resource conveys that content.

How GradeEssays helps with D872

Share your topic and rubric, and your writer will build a response that genuinely bridges chemistry content mastery with resource evaluation, not content review alone.

Prerequisites and program context

D872 has no prerequisites.

• Master of Arts in Teaching, Science Education (Secondary Chemistry)

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