Master of Science in Science Education
451 Reid Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717
406-994-7485
Home Page: www.montana.edu/msse
Program Director
Dr. John Graves
Program Features
- Designed for science educators by experienced science, science education, and mathematics faculty with the collaboration of outstanding classroom teachers
- Online courses offered during the academic year allowing the flexibility to participate when it is most convenient for you
- Summer field and lab courses based out of campus that vary in length from one day to two weeks
- Accredited 30-credit graduate program
- Graduate in 2 to 3 years with up to 6 years to complete all coursework
- Courses are structured to support both formal classroom teachers and informal science educators
- Emphasizes Next Generation Science Standards
- Personalized science education capstone project for each student
- Interdisciplinary program with the opportunity to expand knowledge in all science disciplines
- Affordable online graduate program tuition and fees
Online graduate courses are offered during the fall, spring, and summer sessions. Montana-based field and lab graduate courses are offered during the summer session.
Instructors
The MSSE degree program was developed by Montana State University faculty members who are active in science, science education, and mathematics. The program is a unique, cooperative effort of several colleges and departments. Faculty members of the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth Science, Education, Engineering, Health and Human Development, Land Resources and Environmental Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Plant Science and Environmental Science, Physics, and other related areas will teach most courses. Faculty members of other departments and units will play a major role in some courses. When appropriate, courses may be taught by faculty members of other institutions.
Admission
Entrance requirements include: A bachelor's degree in science, science education, elementary/middle school/secondary education, or a related area; be a practicing educator with a strong science background; and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. (Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 have the opportunity to begin the program as a non-degree student to earn admission.)
Applications are accepted throughout the fall, spring, and summer sessions. Application documents include all official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, an essay, and a resume. For more information about the application process, visit the MSSE website.
The MSSE degree program of study may begin with online courses in any semester, or summer field/lab courses based from the MSU-Bozeman campus. Study continues with online courses taken asynchronously, and ends with a campus visit for presentation of the results of a personalized science education capstone project. Thirty (30) semester credits are required for the degree. Students typically will complete the degree in two or three years.
All students seeking the MSSE degree complete core courses (14 credits) in education. For the remaining credits, students complete sixteen (16) credits of elective courses, including at least two credits from a campus-based summer field or lab course. No more than four (4) elective credits may come from education elective courses.
Interdisciplinary efforts and incorporation of both science content and pedagogy have been encouraged during the development of courses. Each student seeking the degree is advised by a three-person faculty committee, and programs are designed taking into account the student's background, interests, and career goals.
In addition to the MSSE degree, twelve (12) credit graduate certificates in science education are available in chemistry, climate, earth science, elementary school science, life science, physics, and STEM. Credits earned toward the graduate certificates can be applied toward a Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) degree.
For a full list of courses offered visit the MSSE Course Catalog.
MSSE Program Courses
| Complete these 14 credits of MSSE core education courses: | ||
| MSSE 501 | Inquiry Sci Eng Prac | 2 |
| MSSE 504 | Formative Assess in Sci Ed | 3 |
| MSSE 505 | Foundations of AR in Sci Ed | 3 |
| MSSE 509 | Implementing Action Research in Science Education | 3 |
| MSSE 575 | Capstone Paper and Symposium in Science Education | 1-3 |
| Take a total of 16 credits from elective courses (at least 2 credits must come from campus-based field or lab courses. No more than 4 credits can be from education elective courses): | ||
| Terrestrial Ecology of Plains and Prairies (1 cr) | ||
| Riparian Zones/Wetlands (2 cr) | ||
| Animal Biodiversity in GYE for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Birds of Prey (2 cr) | ||
| Wildlife Ecology (2 cr) | ||
| Symbiosis for Teachers: Eat, Prey, Love (3 cr) | ||
| Teaching Evolution (3 cr) | ||
| A Study of Local Ecosystems for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Exploring Biology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Alpine Ecology for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Ecology and Conservation of the World's Marine Ecosystems for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Land Use Issues in GYE for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Ecology of Trout Steams for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Advanced Ecology for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Human Dissection for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| AP Biology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Anatomy & Physiology for Tchrs (3 cr) | ||
| Exploring Chemistry for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Kinetics, Equilibrium & Thermodynamics for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Seminar (1 cr) | ||
| Chemistry of the Environment for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Exploring Organic Chemistry for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Exploring Biochemistry I for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Exploring Biochemistry: Metabolism for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| An Atoms-First Primer for AP/IB Chemistry Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Computational Thinking Tchrs (2 cr) | ||
| Joy Beauty Data for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Integrating Computer Science in Science Classrooms (3 cr) | ||
| North Rocky Mtn Geology (2 cr) | ||
| Watershed Hydrology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Fundamentals of Oceanography for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Geology of the Moon for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Weather for Elementary and Middle School Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| K-14 Earth System Science (3 cr) | ||
| Landforms for Elementary Teachers (1 cr) | ||
| Weather & Climate for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Climate Change for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Invertebrate Paleontology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Seminar (1 cr) | ||
| Historical Geology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Geology of Glacier National Park for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Vertebrate Paleontology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Dinosaur Paleontology (2 cr) | ||
| Dino Paleontology II (2 cr) | ||
| Mineralogy for Science Teachers (1 cr) | ||
| Emerging Technology and the Science Classroom (2 cr) | ||
| Integrating Literature into the Biology/Life Science Classroom (3 cr) | ||
| Crime Scene Investigators: Forensic Science for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Statistics Bootcamp for MSSE Capstone Projects (1 cr) | ||
| STEM Methods for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Master Teaching Strategies for Science Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Construction Curriculum in Science Education (2 cr) | ||
| The 3 D's of NGSS (2 cr) | ||
| Solar Cell Basics for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Engineering Methods for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Nutrition for Fitness/Performance (3 cr) | ||
| Thermal Biology in YNP (2 cr) | ||
| Ecol of Invasive Plants in GYE (2 cr) | ||
| Streamside Science for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Soil Science for Middle and High School Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Water Quality in the Classroom for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Advanced Mathematical Modeling for Teaching (3 cr) | ||
| Statistics for Teaching (3 cr) | ||
| Access and Equity in Mathematics Teaching (3 cr) | ||
| Mathematics Learning Theory for Teaching (3 cr) | ||
| Analysis for Teaching (3 cr) | ||
| Research in Mathematics Education (3 cr) | ||
| Current Topics in Microbiology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Exploring Microbiology (3 cr) | ||
| Environmental Microbiology (3 cr) | ||
| Microbial Genetics (3 cr) | ||
| Astronomy for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| General Relativity Online for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Quantum Mechanics Online (3 cr) | ||
| Comparative Planetology Online (3 cr) | ||
| Electric Circuits and Magnetism for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Space Science for Elementary Teachers (1 cr) | ||
| The Science of Sound for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| World of Motion & Force for Elem/MS Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Special Relativity for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Conceptual Physics for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Astrobiology for Teachers Online (3 cr) | ||
| Physics by Inquiry: Light & Color for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Physics by Inquiry: Heat & Temperature for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Physics by Inquiry: Geometric Optics for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Physics of Renewable Energy for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Plant Science for Teachers: It Grows on You (1 cr) | ||
| Insect-ology for Teachers (3 cr) | ||
| Biomimicry for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| Flowering Plants of the Northern Rocky Mountains (2 cr) | ||
| Botany of Spices & Medicinal Plants for Teachers (2 cr) | ||