AN ADVANCED DEGREE PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS AT

Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.)

A Content-Rich, Research-Based Master’s Program for Secondary Science and Mathematics Teachers

Offered in conjunction with The University of Maine
Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research

For additional information, please contact Professor Susan McKay, Director of the Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research, The University of Maine, Orono, Maine (Susan_McKay@umit.maine.edu ; (207) 581-1016).

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Fields of Interest:
     Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Generalist

This program is designed to benefit:

• Teachers who would like to strengthen their knowledge of the subjects that they teach while earning a Master’s Degree;
• Recent graduates who have majored in mathematics, science or engineering and are interested in pursuing a career in teaching;
• Established scientists, engineers, or mathematicians who are interested in making a career change into secondary teaching.

Participants in this program will:

• Strengthen their backgrounds in the subjects that they teach;
• Study topics included in the Learning Results but often not covered in traditional introductory math and science courses;
• Learn science and math in courses taught using research-guided pedagogy and curricula, including hands-on, inquiry based methods;
• Participate in courses that combine content and methods learning, rather than taking separate content and methods courses;
• Learn how to design, conduct, and interpret science and math education research;
• Obtain training in the effective use of technology in the secondary classroom;
• Have supervised teaching experience in classrooms implementing best practices indicated from research; and
• Work toward certification to teach at the secondary level in their field (if desired).

The MST is a 31-credit Master’s program requiring a research thesis and guided teaching experiences in introductory courses on campus, as well as coursework. Students working toward certification will also complete a practicum teaching experience in a secondary classroom. These students must complete a documented experience that provides the opportunity to work with students from under-represented groups. Often this experience occurs during the student's practicum, with placement in a school with a substantial minority population. Some alternative ways of meeting this requirement include working with Upward Bound, McNair Scholars, or the Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program. Through the required courses in the program, students will strengthen their knowledge of the discipline(s) that they teach, particularly concepts and skills normally covered in secondary school courses. They will also participate in and understand the results of education research in their discipline(s) and its application to teaching and learning. Students working toward certification are eligible to be supported by an assistantship while they take courses required for certification, even if these courses are at the undergraduate level.

Some advantages of the M.S.T. degree:

• This program will attract additional students to science and mathematics teaching, both from existing major programs in-state and from out-of-state; thus it offers a step toward tackling the problem of severe teacher shortages in the state and nationwide in the sciences and mathematics.
• A Master’s Degree offers a way for in-service teachers to improve their credentials and raise their salaries. Only approximately 1/3 of Maine’s current teachers hold Master’s Degrees. There are ~10,000 teachers in the state currently teaching who do not have Master’s Degrees.
• Major portions of this program are planned to be offered through distance learning, evening and weekend classes, and during the summer, to accommodate the scheduling needs of in-service teachers.
• The coordination among disciplines in this program can strengthen creative interdisciplinary teaching at the secondary and University levels.
• This program offers a generalist Master’s Degree, which can prepare science and mathematics teachers well for positions in small, rural schools, where they will need to teach more than one subject at the secondary level.
• Courses developed for this program will also be available to undergraduates and will attract undergraduates to teacher training.
• Teaching assistants in this program will provide talented, motivated educators to assist in improving introductory courses offered at the University in science and mathematics.
• The program, with its faculty and graduate students, will help The University of Maine become a leader in conducting research in science and mathematics education. These areas are nationally very important and extremely fundable fields of scholarship.
• Expertise in science and mathematics education research on campus will lead to better teaching in mathematics and science courses at all levels at the University.

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