2014-2015 Graduate Course Catalog 
    
    Dec 11, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Science/Earth Science Education: Preparation (7-12), MS


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Contact:

John W. Tillotson, 101 Heroy Geology Lab, 315-443-2586, jwtillot@syr.edu

A master’s degree program in science education (biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics) is available for those with no education background seeking New York State teacher certification for grades 7-12 (preparation program). Faculty members are dual professors in the Teaching and Leadership Program in the School of Education and in the Department of Science Teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The multidisciplinary nature of the department gives students numerous opportunities to interact with researchers in education in the natural sciences through collaborative projects and programs in the School of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. For decades, the department has been a national leader in promoting science literacy by advancing the knowledge base for effective science teaching and learning at all levels of education. We are well known for our commitment to both components of a seamless tradition: inquiry-based, student-centered science teaching and cutting edge research in pursuit of effective educational practices. We subscribe to these guiding National Science Education Standards:

  1. Science is for all students.
  2. Learning science is an active process.
  3. Science education reflects the intellectual and cultural traditions that characterize contemporary science practice.
  4. Improving science education is a significant task in any effort at systemic educational reform. The M.S. in Science Education meets the academic requirements for New York State teacher certification in the primary science area, grades 7-12. Our certification programs combine multiple diverse field experiences with campus-based coursework, emphasizing theoretical and practical knowledge in research-based science teaching and learning.

Master’s degree course requirements


(courses with * include field experience)

Standard Student Teaching Semester


Intensive Examination


A master’s degree intensive examination is also required.

Liberal Arts Course requirements


The requirements of this program include several undergraduate science and distribution courses. It is not unusual that an applicant will have one or more of these courses left to take. These do not need to be completed before applying and may be taken at an institution other than Syracuse University. However, some of the courses need to be done before starting the graduate program, and all must be finished before a degree can be granted. We help prospective students identify appropriate courses.

Interested students should contact the Science Teaching Department as early as possible (including before applying) to have unofficial transcripts reviewed against the liberal arts requirements. This allows more time to enroll in needed courses.

Science Content


This program requires: A major in biology or chemistry or earth sciences or physics; OR by the end of the MS program, a minimum of 30 semester hour credits in the science area in which certification is sought, with at least 18 credits beyond the introductory level, including at least two laboratory courses, with one laboratory beyond the introductory level. Courses from departments other than these science areas (e.g., engineering science) will be evaluated on an individual basis for appropriate science content to be used toward the 30 credits. A sufficient amount of science must be completed before beginning the program. Appropriate science content courses taken during the program may count toward the minimum requirement. Specific courses that must be included for those without a science major are the following:

Students without a biology major seeking biology certification must have completed coursework with some attention to three areas: organismic biology, genetics/molecular/cell biology; population biology/ecology.

Students without a chemistry major seeking chemistry certification must have completed courses with some attention to inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry - including engineering.

Students without a geology or earth sciences major seeking earth science certification must have completed courses with some attention to earth history, paleontology, mineralogy, structural geology, hydrology, and glacial geology. Earth science courses may include courses in geology, meteorology, and astronomy including applied courses in subjects such as soils or limnology.

Students without a physics major seeking physics certification must have completed courses with some attention to mechanics, electricity, thermodynamics, and modern physics such as relativity, kinetic theory, quantum theory, etc. Other courses might include such topics as optics, circuits, or particle physics.

Liberal Arts Distribution courses


(one each, with no grade less than a C)

  • Writing (course or equivalent)
  • Mathematics
  • History
  • Social Science (other than history or psychology)
  • Artistic Expression (course or equivalent)
  • Humanities other than history or artistic expression
  • Language other than English including American Sign Language (Completion of a high school Foreign Language Level 3 or higher may be substituted.)

Additional Information


This program is awaiting approval of proposed revisions which are currently under review at the time of publication of this catalog. If approved, the revisions will begin Summer 2015, and will reduce time to completion and credit hours, as well as change some of the current coursework. If and when changes are approved, they will be posted on our website: soe.syr.edu.

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