M.S. in Science Education
https://www.montana.edu/academics/science-education-graduate/
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.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Conduct research and/or scholarship that explores a relevant topic in science education
- Demonstrate effective communication of science/science education content using multiple modes
- Demonstrate instructional use of inquiry strategies embedded in the Next Generation Science Standards
- Demonstrate mastery of content from at least two science disciplines
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) | ||
| Winter Ecology in Yellowstone National Park (2 cr) | ||
| Human Dissection for Teachers (2 cr) | ||
| AP Biology Principles 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 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) | ||
| Geology of the Northern Rocky Mountains (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 l (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) | ||
| Principles of Soil Science for 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 Genomics (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) | ||
| 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 Sustainable 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) | ||