WGU C670: Concepts in Science

What C670 Concepts in Science actually is

C670 Concepts in Science is a foundational content course in WGU's School of Education, built for already-licensed teachers who are pursuing an additional license or endorsement in a science field. Rather than diving deep into a single discipline, it introduces the essential themes that run across all the natural sciences at once: chemistry, physics, biology, and the geosciences. Think of it as the connective tissue that ties those subjects together before you take more specialized science content courses.

Direct answer: To pass C670, treat it as a broad conceptual survey rather than a deep dive. Work steadily through each science theme in the course materials, drill the quantitative pieces (measurement, unit conversion, atomic structure, and bonding) with practice problems and flashcards, and confirm your readiness with the WGU pre-assessment before you schedule the objective assessment.

Because it is designed as a starting point, C670 has no prerequisites and is meant to be taken before other science content courses. If you are the kind of student who has been away from science for a while, that ordering is a gift: the course rebuilds your vocabulary and your comfort with basic scientific reasoning so the harder discipline-specific courses feel less intimidating. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by WGU, but the goal is the same one your program has for you: real, durable understanding of core science ideas you can eventually teach.

Topics the objective assessment covers

C670 is assessed by a single objective assessment (OA) that you complete online with proctoring. The exam samples across the breadth of the course, so no single discipline dominates. Based on WGU's course description and the closely related C371 course of study, the themes you should expect include:

• The scale of the physical and natural world — reasoning about magnitude, from the very small to the very large, and why scale matters in science.
• Measurement and unit conversion — reading, analyzing, and converting measurements accurately, including working within the metric system.
• The nature and behavior of matter and energy — states of matter, energy transfer, and the basic rules that govern how both behave.
• Atomic structure — the components of the atom, isotopes and atomic mass, the periodic table, and how structure relates to an element's properties.
• Chemical bonding — identifying and naming the basic types of chemical bonds and understanding how atoms combine into ionic and covalent compounds.
• Analyzing and interpreting scientific data — reading graphs and tables, understanding basic experimental design, and drawing evidence-based conclusions.

Notice how many of these are cross-cutting rather than tied to one subject. That is intentional: the course wants you fluent in the shared language of science before you specialize.

How hard it is and how long to plan for

The honest read on C670 is that its difficulty comes from breadth, not depth. You are not expected to master graduate-level chemistry or physics here; you are expected to hold a wide range of introductory concepts in your head at the same time. Students who have a recent science background often move through it quickly, while those returning to science after years away tend to need more runway to rebuild fundamentals.

Many students report that a focused few weeks of consistent study is enough, especially when they lean on the WGU pre-assessment to find their weak spots rather than trying to relearn everything. Because competency-unit values and pacing can change between program versions, check your own degree plan in the WGU portal for the official count instead of relying on secondhand numbers. If science makes you anxious, budget on the longer end and study a little every day rather than cramming; the material rewards repetition.

A study plan that fits this course

The breadth of C670 is exactly what makes deliberate study techniques pay off. Here is a sequence that works well:

1. Take the pre-assessment early, not just at the end. Use an early attempt as a diagnostic. It tells you which theme areas are already solid and which need real work, so you spend your hours where they matter.
2. Work theme by theme with active recall. After reading a section in the course materials, close the book and write down what you remember about that theme before checking. Retrieving information is what builds retention — rereading alone rarely does.
3. Space your reviews. Revisit chemistry one day, physics the next, biology and earth science after that, then cycle back. Spaced repetition across disciplines mirrors how the OA mixes topics and keeps earlier material from fading.
4. Drill the quantitative skills with practice, not memorization. Measurement conversions, reading atomic structure, and naming bond types are procedural. Do problem sets until the steps feel automatic; flashcards are great for the terms, but you also need to do the calculations.
5. Practice interpreting data. Pull up sample graphs and data tables and ask yourself what conclusion the evidence supports. This is a recurring exam skill and an easy one to sharpen.
6. Use short, high-quality videos for stuck points. When a single concept won't click, a focused tutorial can unlock it faster than rereading. Keep it targeted rather than binge-watching.

If you enjoy the science-teaching thread of your program, you may also be preparing for related School of Education courses. Guides like D671 Elementary Science Curriculum, BYT1 Physics: Mechanics, and C894 Astronomy pair naturally with the foundation you build here. You can browse everything in the School of Education hub or the full guide index.

Common mistakes students make in C670

• Going too deep in one subject. Some students who love biology sink weeks into it and neglect chemistry and physics. The OA is balanced across themes, so your study should be too.
• Treating conversions as memorization. Unit conversion and measurement problems trip people up when they memorize answers instead of the method. Learn the process and you can handle any variation the exam throws at you.
• Skipping the data-interpretation practice. It feels less concrete than "facts," so students skip it — then lose easy points on graph and table questions.
• Ignoring the pre-assessment feedback. Taking it once and glancing at the score wastes its real value. Review every missed item and map it back to a theme.
• Confusing this course with a lab course. C670 is conceptual. Don't over-prepare for hands-on procedures that aren't part of this assessment.

C670 Readiness Checklist

Before you schedule the OA, work through this self-check. If you can honestly answer yes to most of these, you are in good shape:

• Can you convert between common metric units and reason about orders of magnitude without hesitating?
• Can you describe the states of matter and explain, in plain terms, how energy moves and transforms?
• Can you label the basic parts of an atom and connect atomic structure to an element's behavior?
• Can you identify and name the basic types of chemical bonds and explain why atoms bond at all?
• Can you read a graph or data table and state what conclusion the evidence actually supports?
• Can you recall the core themes from all four areas — chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science — not just your favorite?
• Have you passed the WGU pre-assessment comfortably and reviewed every question you missed?
• Can you explain each major concept out loud, as if teaching it, without notes?

C670 FAQ

Is C670 an OA or a PA?

C670 is assessed by a single objective assessment (OA) — a proctored, computer-based exam. There is no separate performance task for this course. Always confirm against your own degree plan, since program requirements can be updated.

How is C670 different from C371?

They cover the same core "Concepts in Science" content. C670 is the code used in WGU's graduate teaching programs — for already-licensed teachers earning an additional science endorsement — while C371 is the closely related undergraduate version. If you come across C371 materials, they are generally relevant to the same themes, but always confirm your own course code in the WGU portal.

Do I need a science background to pass?

No. The course is designed as an entry point with no prerequisites, and it is meant to be taken before other science content courses. A prior background helps you move faster, but the material starts from fundamentals.

How long does C670 usually take?

It varies with your background. Many students report finishing in a few weeks of steady study, with returning students needing longer to rebuild fundamentals. Study a little each day rather than cramming, since the breadth rewards repetition.

What is the best single study resource?

The WGU pre-assessment, used as a diagnostic and then reviewed question by question. Nothing else targets your specific gaps as precisely. Pair it with the official course materials for content and problem sets for the quantitative skills.

Is C670 a lab course?

No. C670 is a conceptual content course focused on understanding science themes and interpreting data, not on hands-on laboratory procedures. Prepare for concepts and reasoning rather than experiments.