Science Education, M.S.

Program Mission

The degree of Master of Science in Science Education aims to fill the need to provide advanced preparation for certified science teachers. Changes in societal demands brought about by advances in science and technology, as well as socio-cultural changes in the high school clientele make the continual retooling of science teachers an absolute necessity. Through a curriculum which combines rigorous science content knowledge with advanced research-based pedagogy, the program seeks to produce a highly competent cadre of science teachers, who have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to realize a high level of achievement in science in high school students. This program will produce teachers who have a sound knowledge of the discipline, are skilled in facilitating learning and have the competence to assess students’ needs in science and to modify their own instructional practices to meet those needs.

Objectives

Upon completion of these programs certified teachers will have acquired the competence and attitudes to:

• Draw on insights from cognitive psychology, the nature and philosophy of science and on a sound level of subject matter competence, in order to design learning experiences that would result in meaningful acquisition of science concepts by high school students.
• Use technology to enhance student learning in science.
• Create classroom learning environments that are stimulating and intellectually and emotionally safe for diverse student populations of both genders.
• Model an enthusiastic engagement with science and motivate students to excellence in these subjects.
• Be reflective about their own practice and seek to be responsive to changing student needs in a demanding society.

Special Admission Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the program, applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or other science discipline.

Applicants must be certified in the teaching of science at the middle or high school level.