The M.Ed. Science Education program will be deactivated in Fall 2013. Current students should contact their advisors for more information.
The M.Ed. major in Secondary Science Education seeks to advance early and mid-career science teachers’ ability to effectively implement standards-based instructional practices. The program’s chief goal—to strengthen secondary students’ science understandings—is achieved, in part, by providing science teachers with opportunities to deepen their understandings of learners from diverse backgrounds and to explore issues of equity in science classrooms within urban environments.
The program prepares teachers to continue to develop teaching strategies and self-analysis in the context of their own classrooms in order to inform instruction, and to share the knowledge gained in a professional community of teachers. Through engaging teachers in advanced science coursework, the program strengthens teachers’ science content knowledge. In general, the Program of Study is framed by the principles and standards of the National Science Education Association and the National Science Education Standards.
Program of Study
A. Professional Studies (9)
Select one (3):
EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)
EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)
Select one (3):
EPSF 7100 Critical Pedagogy (3)
EPSF 7110 Multicultural Education (3)
EPSF 7120 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education (3)
Required (3):
EPY 7080 The Psychology of Learning and Learners (3)
B. Teaching Field/Major (27)
Required (12):
EDSC 7550 Theory and Pedagogy in Science Instruction (3)
EDSC 8400 Strategies of Instruction in Science (3)
EDSC 8600 Science in the School Curriculum (3)
IT 7360 Integrating Technology in School-Based Learning Environments (3)
Required 15 hours with science prefixes such as ASTR, BIOL, GEOL, GEOG, PHIL, PHYS, NSCI, or EDSC 8430 Nature of Science. With the consent of their adviser, students select from among 6000 – 8000 level courses related to science in terms of its history, philosophy, conceptual underpinnings, applications and relationships to the secondary curriculum. Courses selected must have academic advisor permission/approval.
Students must complete a portfolio as an exit requirement.
Program total: minimum of 36 semester hours