What Is A Master’s in Education in Science Education?

A Master’s in Education in Science Education is a program designed for students interested in teaching science. Though many schools only require an undergraduate degree of its teachers, the number of positions available in the country cannot keep up with the number of students graduating from these programs every year. Completing your Master’s in Education lets you get a leg up on the competition. Your degree can help you earn more and obtain a job over someone with just an undergraduate degree, but you need to know what this type of degree entails.

Required Courses

As a graduate student entering an education program, you need to decide which age group you want to work with later. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, your future earnings vary based on the age of your students. High school teachers earn a median salary of around $55,000 a year. Many schools differentiate between teaching elementary students, secondary school students and special needs students. Special needs students often include those with autism, learning disabilities and other conditions that make it difficult for them to learn in a traditional classroom setting. Elementary school teachers work with students through grades six or seven, while secondary teachers work with junior high, high school and even college students. The courses that you might take include classes on international education, education policy and management, school leadership and teaching science to students.

Fieldwork and Experience

You probably came across a few student teachers during your own days in school. Student teaching allows education students the chance to work in the classroom. At the undergraduate level, these teachers often work under the close guidance of a teacher in the school. When earning your Master’s in Education in Science Education, you have the chance to actually run the classroom. Schools let you teach students in the age range you study. You develop your own curriculum and lesson plan, give lectures in front of the class, assign papers and projects, grade assignments and do all the other tasks that their regular teacher would do. Your program might require that you spend a year or longer teaching science to students before graduating.

Thesis

Not all science education graduate programs require the completion of a thesis, but a thesis lets you showcase your interests and experiences. When writing a thesis, you choose a specific area of science education that appeals to you and conduct research into that subject. Some schools ask that you create a hypothesis and restrict your paper to proving your hypothesis. Other schools let you create a research project in lieu of a thesis. This project might include introducing a science club to a local school or creating an in-depth field trip for science students.

Other Features of the Program

Several schools across the country now offer a dual degree program that awards you a Master of Science and a Master of Education at the end of your studies. You’ll spend one year taking science courses and an additional year taking education courses. Programs of this type also require a fieldwork component and a thesis. The advantage to earning two degrees is that you can use your credits to gain admission to an education or science Ph.D program later.

Related Resource: Master’s in Education in Math Education

In today’s world, having an undergraduate teaching degree isn’t enough to guarantee you future employment. You now need more experience working with children, and earning your Master’s in Education in Science Education lets you gain experience in the classroom and with students.