Science Emphasis

Master of Science in Education in Secondary Education (Post Certification)

For information on initial certification, visit the program description for Secondary Education.

College of Education and Professional Studies
College of Arts and Sciences

Who Should Enroll

• Certified teachers of secondary-level sciences

Key Features

• Courses are offered only in the summers to accommodate working professionals
• Course offerings are varied in topics, format and timing in order to suit the needs and schedules of middle and secondary school teachers.
• The courses are challenging, taught by faculty who have expertise in their fields and who are committed to teaching.
• The courses are practical, recognizing the challenges that today's teachers face in their classrooms and intellectually stimulating, providing fresh insights and creative approaches.
• The courses are designed to meet the most current standards and requirements of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, allowing science teachers to expand their areas of certification.
• The program recognizes the interdisciplinary nature of middle and secondary classrooms and offers flexibility in selection of courses from a range of science disciplines.
• Teachers who are interested in the program may take courses without committing to the degree.

Program Curriculum

Select biology, chemistry, geology/earth science or physics as an area of specialization. The program consists of 30 semester hours as follows:

12 credit hours in key concepts core courses
9 credit hours in science electives (1-2 credit hours courses)
3 credit hours independent paper/project/research
6 credit hours in education

Key Concept Core Courses, 12 credits:
BIOL 701 Neuroscience, 4 credits
BIOL 702 Emerging Infectious Diseases, 4 credits
BIOL 703 Field Botany for Teachers, 4 credits
CHEM 705 Chemical Instrumentation and Analysis, 4 credits
CHEM 706 Giant Molecules-The Chemistry of Polymers, 4 credits
CHEM 707 Bioorganic Chemistry Concepts and Activities for Lecture and Laboratory, 4 credits
GEOL 700 Earth Surface Processes, 4 credits
GEOL 703 Minerals Rock, 4 credits
GEOL 704 Atmospheres and Surface Phenomena on Earth and Other Planets, 4 credits
GEOL 705 Field Geology for Teachers, 4 credits
PHYS 700 Mechanics for Secondary School Teachers, 4 credits
PHYS 701 Electricity and Magnetism for Secondary School Teachers, 4 credits
PHYS 704 Modern Physics for Secondary School Teachers, 4 credits

Science Electives (from any discipline), 9 credits:
Students choose from the two-credit science electives in the various disciplines or take additional core courses. Examples of two-credit courses are:

Biology:
Environmental Assessment by Insect Inventory; Evolution for Teachers, Inquiry-based Labs Using C-Fern as a Model System, Biological Image Analysis for Teachers
Chemistry:
Life in Extreme Environments, Organic Chemistry of Compounds from Natural Sources, Chemical Demonstrations
Geology:
Dinosaurs for Teachers, Catastrophes in Earth History, Oceanography for Teachers, Plate Tectonics for Teachers
Physics:
Science in the Ice, Laser Physics for Secondary School Teachers, Astronomy for Secondary School Teachers, Optics for Secondary School Teachers, Acoustics for Secondary School Teachers

Paper/Project/Research, 3 credits:
This component is designed in cooperation with a faculty advisor. There will be opportunities to access research data from UW-Madison as well as UW-River Falls and utilize these data with selected students in special projects in the secondary school setting.

Education: 6 credit hours
TED 760 Methods of Research, 3 credits
And one of the following courses:
TED 740 Historical/Philosophical/Multicultural Foundations of American Education, 4 credits
TED 750 Advanced Educational Psychology, 3 credits
TED 755 Social Issues in Education, 3 credits

Admission Requirements

• Completed application for graduate study at UW-RF with $45 processing fee .
• An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended as an undergraduate student, sent directly to Graduate Studies from the institution.
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 (2.25-2.75 probationary).
• Teacher certification .
• At least one year of experience teaching science classes.

For More Information

For specific questions about the MSE - Science program, visit the various department web sites listed:

Biology

Chemistry

Geology

Geography and Mapping Sciences

Mathematics

Physics

For additional information contact msescience@uwrf.edu.