WGU C371: Concepts in Science

What C371 Concepts in Science Is Really About

WGU C371, Concepts in Science, sits in the School of Education and is built for students preparing to teach science, the foundational science course in WGU's teacher-licensure programs. Rather than diving deep into any single discipline, it introduces the big ideas that run through every branch of science: chemistry, physics, biology, and the geosciences. Think of it as the connective tissue course, the one meant to give you a common vocabulary and a shared toolkit before you move into more specialized science content.

Direct answer: To pass C371, master the foundational themes the course names directly, measurement and unit conversion, the nature of matter and energy, atomic structure, chemical bonding, and interpreting scientific data, using WGU's provided materials plus the pre-assessment as your diagnostic. Study actively (self-quizzing over re-reading), retake the pre-assessment until you are consistently strong across every topic area, and only then schedule the official objective assessment.

Because the course is built as a foundation, it is generally taken before other science content courses. It assumes very little prior coursework, which is good news, but it also means the material moves across a wide range of topics quickly. If it has been a while since you sat in a chemistry or physics classroom, that breadth is the real challenge, not the depth of any one subject.

What the Objective Assessment Covers

C371 is assessed by a proctored objective assessment (a multiple-choice style exam). The course themes published by WGU point to a consistent set of topic areas. Expect questions drawn from:

• Scale and the natural world — reasoning about the relative size and magnitude of objects and systems, from the atomic to the astronomical.
• Measurement and unit conversion — working with the metric system, significant figures, and converting between units accurately.
• Matter and energy — the basic nature, states, and behavior of matter, and how energy is stored and transferred.
• Atomic structure — protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes, and how the periodic table is organized.
• Chemical bonding — identifying and naming basic bond types (such as ionic and covalent) and understanding how compounds form.
• Analyzing and interpreting scientific data — reading graphs and tables, spotting trends, and drawing sound conclusions from evidence.

Notice how cross-cutting these are. The course wants you to see that measurement, data analysis, and the matter-and-energy framework apply whether you are teaching earth science or biology. Keep that "themes across disciplines" lens in mind as you study, it is exactly the perspective the assessment rewards.

How Hard Is It, and How Long Should You Give It?

Difficulty is genuinely individual here. Many students report that C371 is manageable, especially if they have a science background or teach in a related field, and that the broad-but-shallow scope is more about coverage than complexity. Others find the sheer range intimidating, particularly the quantitative pieces like unit conversion and reading atomic structure, if math and physical science are not their comfort zones.

A realistic plan is to treat this as a course you can complete in a few focused weeks rather than a single cram session. If you already have a science background, you may move faster; if the physical sciences are rusty, give yourself extra runway and do not be discouraged by the pre-assessment on the first pass, its whole purpose is to show you where to spend time. For broader test-taking tactics that transfer to any WGU objective assessment, the guide to D389 Learning Strategies in Higher Education is a useful companion.

A Study Plan That Fits This Course

Because C371 spans several sciences, an organized, active approach beats passive reading every time. Here is a sequence that works well for foundational, wide-coverage courses:

1. Diagnose first. Take the pre-assessment early, before you feel "ready." Record which topic areas flagged weak. That report is your personalized syllabus for the week.
2. Study in topic blocks. Tackle one theme at a time, measurement, then matter and energy, then atomic structure, then bonding, then data analysis. Finishing a block gives you momentum and prevents the material from blurring together.
3. Use active recall. After reading a section, close the material and write down what you remember, then check. Flashcards (physical or app-based) are ideal for vocabulary-heavy pieces like bond types and atomic terminology.
4. Space your review. Revisit earlier blocks briefly every few days instead of studying each once. Spaced repetition is what moves facts from short-term cramming into durable memory, essential when you must hold several sciences in your head at once.
5. Practice the quantitative skills by doing. Do not just read about unit conversion, work problems until the setup is automatic. The same goes for interpreting graphs: pull up sample data displays and practice stating the trend in one sentence.
6. Retake the pre-assessment. When your recall feels solid, take it again. Consistent, comfortable performance across all topic areas, not just your strong ones, is your green light to schedule the OA.

Free, reputable resources like Khan Academy and well-known educational science channels can fill gaps for specific concepts (atomic structure and bonding, for instance). Lean on WGU's own course materials as your primary source, though, since they are aligned to what the assessment measures.

Common Mistakes Students Make in C371

• Going too deep, too narrow. Some students over-study one comfortable science and neglect the others. The assessment samples across all the themes, so balanced coverage matters more than mastery of a favorite topic.
• Skipping the quantitative practice. Reading about significant figures or conversions is not the same as executing them under time pressure. Work problems.
• Treating the pre-assessment as a formality. It is the single best predictor of readiness WGU gives you. Ignoring its topic breakdown wastes your most useful feedback.
• Memorizing without understanding the "why." Bond types and the periodic table make far more sense, and stick better, when you understand the underlying logic rather than rote-listing facts.
• Scheduling the OA out of impatience. Booking the exam before your pre-assessment scores are consistent is the most common avoidable setback.

C371 Readiness Checklist

Before you schedule the objective assessment, ask yourself honestly:

• Can you convert confidently between metric units and apply significant figures without hesitation?
• Can you describe the basic structure of an atom and locate key information on the periodic table?
• Can you distinguish ionic from covalent bonds and name simple compounds?
• Can you explain, in plain language, how matter and energy behave and change form?
• Can you read a graph or data table and state the trend or conclusion in one clear sentence?
• Can you reason about scale, comparing the relative size of very small and very large things?
• Are your pre-assessment results strong and consistent across every topic area, not just a few?
• Can you recall key terms from memory rather than only recognizing them when you see them?

If you can answer yes across the board, you are in good shape. If a couple of items feel shaky, spend one more focused study block there before booking.

FAQ

Is C371 an objective assessment or a performance assessment?

C371 is assessed by a proctored objective assessment, a multiple-choice style exam. There is also a pre-assessment inside the course that you can retake to gauge readiness, but it is a study tool, not the graded exam.

How long does it take to pass C371?

It varies with your background. Many students report completing it in a few focused weeks, and those with a science background often move faster. If the physical sciences are rusty for you, plan for a bit more time rather than rushing the schedule.

How hard is C371?

Most students describe it as moderate. The difficulty comes from breadth, chemistry, physics, biology, and earth science themes all appear, rather than from deep, specialized content. Balanced, active studying keeps it manageable.

What topics should I focus on most?

Prioritize measurement and unit conversion, the nature of matter and energy, atomic structure, chemical bonding, and interpreting scientific data. These cross-cutting themes recur throughout the course and the assessment.

Do I need a science background to pass?

No. The course is meant as a foundation and assumes little prior coursework. A science background helps you move faster, but a disciplined study plan and honest use of the pre-assessment can carry you through without one.

What should I take after C371?

Because it is foundational, C371 is designed to come before more specialized science content courses. Depending on your program, follow-ons might include a chemistry course such as C374 General Chemistry II with Lab or a discipline course like C895 Astronomy. You can browse every guide on our all-guides index or the School of Education hub. For the official program details, check the WGU science education program page.