MASTER OF EDUCATION IN SECONDARY EDUCATION
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Science Education Specialty
The School of Education offers the Master of Education in Secondary Education degree with a specialty area in science education in conjunction with the School of Arts and Science. Candidates must complete a 12 hour professional education core, a 9 hour earth science specialization core, a 12 hour life science or physical science concentration, and a 3 hour (minimum) educational foundation elective. A written comprehensive examination in the specialization and the professional education core and/or foundation is required. This program has Track 1 and Track 2 programs of studies to accommodate different levels of candidates. Track 1 is for candidates with undergraduate degrees in their specialties; Track 2 is for candidates with undergraduate non-teaching degrees or at least a concentration of hours in their specialties. Graduate programs are coordinated through the Office of School of Education Graduate Programs.
Track 1
Candidates with an Initial/Standard License in Science Education
The Master of Education in Secondary Education with a specialty in science education is an advanced degree with a program of study (36 graduate semester credit hours) designed for those who hold initial or standard licenses in science education. Candidates must complete a minimum of hours in the professional education core, a minimum of a 3 hour foundation/specialty elective, 18 hours in the science education specialty that includes 6 hours of graduate earth science (with 6 hours of undergraduate earth science prerequisites), and 12 hours of either life science or physical science courses. A written comprehensive examination in the specialty and professional core is required. A thesis option can be selected (instead of the examination) under the direction of the advisor before the completion of 12 hours. Starred items are required for the thesis option. Advisors will select the other courses for the completion of the degree.
Track 1
Candidates with an Initial/Standard License in Life/Earth Science (Biology) or Physical/Earth Science (Chemistry) Education
Professional Education Core________ ____________________________________12 hours
GEDU 5315 Instructional Technology
GEDU 5322 Psychological Foundations of Teaching and Learning
GEDU 5364 Teaching Diverse Learners
GEDU 5320 Applications of Statistics and Research in Education
Educational Foundation Elective (Confer with advisor before selecting a course.)____3 hours
GEDU 5330 Behavior Management
GRDG 5340 Reading in the Content Areas
GEDU 5600 Thesis*
Required Earth Science Core _____________________________________________6 hours
GPHY 5301 Advanced Earth Science (Prerequisite: Earth Science 2300 & 2310)
GPHY 5365 Advanced Environmental Science
Choose ONE concentration: Life Science or Physical Science
Life Science Concentration_____________________________________________ 12 hours
GBIO 5310 Advanced Biology
GBIO 5330 Advanced Cell Biology
GBIO 5320 Laboratory Experiences/High School Teachers
GCHM 5340 Advanced Biochemistry OR
GAGR 5400 Molecular Biology
Physical Science Concentration __________________________________________12 hours
GCHM 5325 Advanced Chemistry
GCHM 5330 Methods in High School Chemistry Teaching
GPHY 5355 Advanced Physics
GCHM 5340 Advanced Biochemistry OR
GBIO 5310 Advanced Biology
SCIENCE ELECTIVES 3 hours
GCHM 5331 Higher Order Thinking in Science
GAQF 5300 Research Methods and Scientific Writing*
GSPS 5346 Bioinformatics
GCHM 5335 Nuclear Chemistry
GCHM 5350 Chemical Separations
Track 2
Candidates without Licensure in Science Education
An important component of the School of Education Graduate Programs is the ability for those with a non-teaching baccalaureate degree to be able to fulfill the requirements for teacher licensure while pursuing a graduate degree. Graduate students must have demonstrated pre-professional competencies in basic skills, that is, have passed Praxis I, prior to being formally admitted to degree candidacy for any of the master’s degree programs. Candidates are able to take up to twelve hours while they are completing the required Praxis Series of tests needed for licensure. Passing Praxis I scores are required for admission to degree candidacy (by the time 12 graduate hours have been completed).
Candidates seeking initial licensure must complete a program of study designed to give them the competencies needed for graduate level work and for passing the Praxis series of tests required for licensure. Those without a license in life/earth or physical/earth science education must have a bachelor’s degree in science or a minimum of 30 hours in science. Track 2 science education candidates complete a minimum of 36 graduate hours for a master’s degree which includes: a minimum of 18 hours of professional education courses and a minimum of 18 hours of science specialty courses, and the capstone event, the School of Education Graduate Comprehensive Examination. Additionally, these candidates complete the School of Education Portfolio (Live Text) and Student Teaching.
Candidates seeking initial licensure must also pass the following tests:
Life/Earth Science Licensure
Praxis II: 20235 Biology: Content Knowledge, 20571 Earth Science: Content Knowledge, and 30234: Life Science: Pedagogy
Physical/Earth Science Licensure
Praxis II: 20571 Earth Science: Content Knowledge, 20481 Physical
Science: Content Knowledge, and 30483 Physical Science: Pedagogy
Prerequisite Courses________________Undergraduate Science Degree or 30 Hours in Science
A bachelor’s degree in biology for life/earth science education majors OR chemistry for physical/earth science education majors, or 30 hours in the specialty.
Additional Course Requirements _____ _____ 12 hours
EDUC 4600 Student Teaching Clinical Seminar (Taken after all course work completed)
EDUC 4603 Student Teaching Practicum (Taken after all course work completed)
Professional Education Requirements _______________________________________18 hours
GEDU 5301 History and Philosophy of Education
GEDU 5315 Instructional Technology
GEDU 5320 Application of Statistics and Research in Education
GEDU 5322 Psychological Foundations of Teaching and Learning
GEDU 5364 Teaching Diverse Learners
GEDU 5330 Behavior Management
Required Earth Science Core _____________________________________________ 6 hours
GPHY 5301 Advanced Earth Science (Prerequisite: Earth Science 2300 & 2310)
GPHY 5365 Advanced Environmental Science
Choose ONE concentration: Life Science OR Physical Science
Life Science Concentration_____________________________________________ 12 hours
GBIO 5310 Advanced Biology
GBIO 5330 Advanced Cell Biology
GBIO 5320 Laboratory Experiences/High School Teachers
GCHM 5340 Advanced Biochemistry OR
GAGR 5400 Molecular Biology
Physical Science Concentration ___________________________________________12 hours
GCHM 5325 Advanced Chemistry
GCHM 5330 Methods in High School Chemistry Teaching
GPHY 5355 Advanced Physics
GCHM 5340 Advanced Biochemistry OR
GBIO 5310 Advanced Biology