The article presents a historical study about the initial teaching training courses of science teachers in Brazil, especially some proposals implemented during the 1960-70, known as "Licenciaturas Curtas". The article discusses the conflicts that happened during the time of the proposals, relating them not only to historical schooling demands, but also to relationships between the courses and the school subject science. The discourses produced within the academic community showing conflicts among epistemological and curricular perspectives are also examined in the article. The historical analysis suggest that the study of the initial teacher training courses - their concepts and educational models - demands to take into consideration not only macro social perspectives but also specific relationships with the school subjects.
Science education; curriculum history; initial training of science teachers.