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A NEW ADVANCED DEGREE PROGRAM
FOR TEACHERS AT
Master of Science in Teaching
(M.S.T.)
A Content-Rich, Research-Based Master’s Degree
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) or Jeff Owen, Assistant Director of the
Center (Jeff Owen@umit.maine.edu ; (207) 581-2028)
Initial fields of concentration (Fall, 2003):
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. 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.
Some advantages of the M.S.T.:
- 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 and disseminating the results of 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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PROGRAM
PREREQUISITES
An undergraduate degree in science, mathematics, engineering,
secondary science or mathematics education, or a closely related
field. Students must also have passed at least one semester
of undergraduate psychology. Students working toward certification
must pass all required Praxis exams. (Students may be admitted
conditional upon passing this exam during their first year
in the program, if other program prerequisites are satisfied.)
For the Physics and Astronomy concentration, two semesters
of college-level physics (PHY111/112 or PHY121/122 or equivalent),
one semester of college-level chemistry (CHY121/123 or equivalent),
and two semesters of college-level calculus (MAT126/127 or
equivalent), all with a grade of B or better, are required.
For the Earth Sciences concentration, two semesters of college-level
geology (GES101, GES102 or GES105 or equivalent) and one semester
of college-level chemistry (CHY121/123 or equivalent) are
required, all with a grade of B or better. For the mathematics
concentration, two semesters of college-level calculus (MAT126/127
or equivalent), both with a grade of B or better, are required.
For the generalist concentration, requirements for two of
the concentrations above must be met.
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PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS
CORE REQUIREMENTS – 19 credits
- Two graduate level courses integrating content, research
findings, and pedagogy. These courses are being developed
during 2001-2 with support from the U.S. Department of Education
in Physics and Astronomy, Earth Sciences, and Mathematics…………………
6 credits
- One graduate seminar in discipline-specific education
research…… 1 credit
- One graduate educational psychology course targeted for
mathematics and science teachers, developed during 2002-3
with support from the U.S. Department of Education…………………... 3
credits
- EDS521 Education Statistical Methods……………………….…... 3
credits
- Supervised practice as a teaching assistant for two semester-long
courses.
- A Master’s thesis on a topic in science or mathematics
education research……………………………………………...……………... 6
credits
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS – 12 credits
Beyond the core requirements, each student is required to
take:
- (1) Two additional 400-600 level courses to strengthen
content or pedagogy (For students working toward certification,
EDC533 and SED400)……………………………………………………………………….. 6
credits
- (2) A practicum that consists of supervised student teachingat
the high school level, jointly supervised by the College
of Education and Human Development and a faculty liaison
from the department of the student’s concentration
or
- Six additional credits of content-rich courses………………………. 6
credits
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APPLICATION
GUIDELINES
To apply:
- Download the application from the University of Maine
Graduate School website: www.umaine.edu/graduate.
- In your application essay, please indicate whether or
not you are planning to work toward certification and let
us know the area in which you are most interested in concentrating.
Please include a description of any related teaching experiences,
as well as any other information that will help us get to
know your qualifications and interests better.
- To expedite handling of your application and avoid paying
the application fee, send all application materials to Leisa
Preble, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 5709 Bennett
Hall, The University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469-5709.
Please instruct your references to send their letters to
this address as well, and have your transcripts sent there.
Application fees will be paid by the Center for Science
and Mathematics Education Research for all students accepted
to the program.
- Please make sure to indicate on your application whether
or not you are interested in studying full time, and if
you would like to be considered for an assistantship or
a tuition scholarship. Assistantships range from $10,000
- $21,500 per year and include a tuition waiver.
- If courses offered in a location other than the Orono
campus would be helpful for you, please indicate this preference
on your application.
- Both full-time and part-time students are encouraged to
apply.
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