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[Fields of Study]

Science Education

Rustin Reeves, Ph.D., Graduate Advisor
Research and Education Building 202-D
817-735-2050
E-mail: rustyr@hsc.unt.edu

The Master of Science in Science Education degree program is designed to provide advanced skills to individuals who have chosen careers in middle and high school science teaching. The program will enhance the candidate s appreciation of science and ability to present science in the classroom by providing the tools and experience needed to capture the interest of today s youth. Students will take biomedical molecules to whole organisms, a specialized course in which students design scientific demonstrations/experiences for middle/secondary school classes, and an internship practicum planned for each student. Those students who do not have a professional secondary teaching certificate upon matriculation will be able to apply and register for the requisite on-line education courses in order to sit for the Texas Examination of Educational Standards through an agreement with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and the UNT Health Science Center (HSC). The master s degree that they receive will enable graduates to be more competitive and achieve better salaries upon entering the job market and thus, encourage life-long choice of science education careers.

Program Requirements

Each student is responsible for the completion of the requirements for the Master of Science in Science Education program according to the procedures that follow. Each item must be completed in the sequence and time period indicated. Graduate school forms are subject to revision at any time and can be obtained from the health science center web site www.hsc.unt.edu/education/gsbs/forms.cfm. The average time to complete a degree is one full academic year plus one summer semester (14months).

  1. Acceptance into the graduate school. Requirements for acceptance into the graduate school may be access on the health science center web site. A teaching certificate is not a requirement for acceptance into the masters program. All applicants to the Master of Science Education program will be notified of acceptance by May 15. Prior to enrolling in the education courses offered at UTA (first year, spring semester) students must apply to UTA College of Education s graduate program. Graduate school applications are available online at www.uta.edu.

  2. By the end of the first fall semester, the student must select a faculty mentor from a designated group f faculty and an advisory committee consisting of the mentor and two other graduate faculty members. In addition, the student must have a university member as part of his/her advisory committee. The names of these four individuals must be filed with the graduate school. In addition, a degree plan must be filed with the graduate school at this time.

  3. At the beginning of the fall term of the second year, the student will enroll in Internship Practicum (BMSC 5920). During this term, the student will be required to submit a research proposal to the committee outlining the proposed research activities for the practicum report. The internship will continue in the spring semester so that upon completion, the student will have spent a total of 9 months on his/her project. The fall and spring semester practicum experiences will serve as the basis of the practicum report.
    Toward the end of the spring semester of the second year, the student must submit a practicum report to the mentor for approval. The advisory committee will meet with the student at this time to approve the work of the internship and the report. The student will present his work as both an oral and written report. The oral presentation will be open to the public and will then be followed by a private meeting (defense) with the advisory committee. The written report should be given to the committee one to two weeks before the formal meeting. After the defense, the committee will either approve or not approve the work of the internship, the report, and oral presentation. If disapproved, the student may have a chance to revise the report and/or retake the defense at the discretion of the committee. The mentor, together with the other members of the committee, will assign a letter grade to the practicum experience (6 SCH). Copies of the report must be submitted within the appropriate deadlines to the graduate school in accordance with the guidelines for completing the requirements for graduation. It is strongly suggested that the student and mentor meet at least weekly to review the student s progress during all phases of the practicum.

Professional Certification

  1. Those students who do not have a teaching certificate a the time of matriculation may choose to apply to UTA, and once accepted, enroll in the professional education courses required for certification while they are pursuing the master s degree. Under an agreement between UTA and the HSC, students may apply to UTA s college of Education (COED) graduate program, demonstrating they meet UTA s admissions requirements. They are then elible to enroll in fifteen hours of on-line courses (5 three credit hours courses) through UTA. One of these courses, Practicum Residency (EDUC 5315), requires 12 weeks of in-class teaching as well as on-line coursework and mentoring. These courses will be included in the student s degree program. Depending on the student s degree plan, this course may or may not be required.

  2. Successful completion of the course described in #1 above and achieving an 80% pass rate in each of two practice examinations (one on content and the other covering pedagogy) administered by UTA will allow the student to sit for the Texas Examination of Educational Standards (TExES). This examination consists of two parts: a content exam on one of three areas chosen by the student in consultation with the UTA and UNTHSC faculty and a pedagogy exam. The tow exams may be taken at different times. A passing grade on both parts of the state examination will enable the individual to receive professional certification.

  3. As part of the Internship Practicum (BMSC 5920), the student will have opportunities to be in the secondary school classroom. This in-class experience may be applied to the in-class teaching requirement of EDUC 5315 described in #1 above. Each student s schedule will be determined on an individual basis after consultation with both UTA and UNTHSC faculty.

  4. For students not completing EDUC 5315 before completing the master s degree, alternative teaching certification is offered through the State of Texas. Students who fall into this category should consult the appropriate UTA faculty member in the School of Education.

Typical Curriculum

Year 1: Fall

BMSC 5600

Integrative Biomedical Sciences I: Principles of Biochemistry

4 SCH

BMSC 5610

Integrative Biomedical Sciences II: Molecular Cell Biology

4 SCH

BMSC 5960

Biomedical Ethics

1 SCH

BMSC 5940

Introduction to Faculty Research & Studies

1 SCH



Year 1: Spring

BMSC 5700

Integrative Biomedical Sciences III: Physiology and Pharmacology

5 SCH

BMSC 5710

Integrative Biomedical Sciences IV: Immunology and Microbiology

3 SCH

BMSC 5940

Introduction to Faculty Research & Studies

1 SCH

At the beginning of the spring semester, register for the UTA practice Content Examination (Student must designate one content area at the beginning of the spring semester. Most students in biomedical sciences will select Life Sciences and be tested on that area in both the practice exam and the state exam).

If the student passes the practice Content Examination with a score of 80% or better, they will then contact UTA s Certification Office to receive a barcode to take the TExES content examination in the chosen content area at the next scheduled exam time.


Year 1: Summer

BMSC 5300

Tools for Teaching Science

2 SCH

CGEN 6030

Methods in Molecular Biology

4 SCH

EDUC 5310

Diverse Populations in Today s Schools (UTA On-line course)

3 SCH



Year 2: Fall

BMSC 5920

Internship Practicum

6 SCH

EDUC 5329

Classroom Management (UTA On-line Course

3 SCH

EDUC 5345

Content Reading & Writing (UTA On-line Course)

3 SCH



Year 2: Spring

BMSC 5920

Internship Practicum

6 SCH

EDUC 5315 (UTA)

Secondary Methods (On-line Course)

3 SCH

EDUC 5315 (UTA)

Practicum Residency (12 wks in-class teaching; on-line course/mentoring; may be waived depending on degree plan)


Example Elective Courses:

CGEN6020

Functional Genomics and Proteomics

3 SCH

PHRM 6080

Receptors & Drug Addiction

4 SCH

BIOC 5510

Signal Transduction

2 SCH

PSIO 6020

Advances in Cardiovascular Physiology I

3 SCH

After the fall semester or during the spring semester, register for and take the UTA practice Pedagogy Examination.

Passing the practice pedagogy examination with a score of 80% or better will result in the student receiving a barcode to take the TExEs pedagogy examination at the next scheduled examination time.

Note: Application and registration at UTA/COED are required for on-line access. Candidates for teaching certification must register and successfully pass a pedagogy/content practice exam administered by UTA prior to being bar-coded to take the state exam. Depending on the student s score, additional pedagogy/content courses may be required.

Total


52-53 SCH





This page last updated Oct 30, 2006

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