Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education)
About This Program
The Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Science Education is a non-thesis degree designed for teachers who wish to specialize in advanced coursework in science education.
This fully online degree provides opportunities to develop advanced teaching, research, and leadership skills that align with the latest research and theories in science instruction. Graduates are prepared to analyze their own teaching and make adjustments where needed. They also gain an understanding of the overall state of education and the link between the theory and practice of teaching.
The graduate program emphasizes teaching science to K-12 students, using problem and inquiry-based teaching strategies consistent with science disciplines and centered on how people learn. Science content is emphasized in the context of how to teach that content to students.
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education) is a master's degree program only and does not lead to initial teacher certification in Texas.
Competencies
- Professional Dispositions: graduates will be able to display positive professional dispositions during courses and practicum settings.
- Understanding and Engaging in Research: The candidate is able to identify problems and employ one or more research methodologies to develop solutions or understandings.
- Planning, Instruction, and Assessment: The candidate is able to design clear, well-organized, sequential, engaging, and flexible learning experiences that reflect best practices, align with standards and related content, are appropriate for diverse learners, and address all required accommodations and modifications.
Admissions Criteria
Unconditional Admission
Requires:
- Proof of two or more years of relevant experience.
- Undergraduate transcripts with at least a 3.0 GPA during the last 60 hours or at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The higher of these GPAs will be used for admission purposes. A 3.0 GPA on the last 9 hours of graduate coursework may be considered in place of the undergraduate GPA.
- Two professional letters of reference. Letters from supervisors are strongly encouraged. Applicants for the M.Ed. in Special Education submit a personal statement of interest. Applicants for M.Ed. in Special Education who are not certification seeking submit only a personal statement of interest rather than letters of reference.
Program areas have additional requirements including documents for TEA reporting, including: 1) a written response to the given prompt (fulfills “other screening instrument” as required by The Texas Education Agency), and 2) completion of Attestation and FERPA forms. In addition, some programs require access to an approved Pre K-12 setting. The overall grade point average (GPA) of each incoming class admitted between September 1 and August 31 of each year by an educator preparation program (EPP) may not be less than 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent. Certification programs have additional TAC requirements for GPA (used by the program in addition to, not in lieu of, the requirements stated above).
Probationary Admission
- Applicants who have less than 2 years of relevant experience and have a GPA of at least 3.0 and two letters of reference, may be granted probationary admission. The faculty admissions committee may require additional documents (e.g., GRE scores) for consideration. MEd in Special Education program applicants may also be admitted on a probationary status with less than 2 years of relevant work experience, and a personal statement of interest.
- Students granted probationary admission must maintain a 3.0 (B or better) GPA in the first 9 credit hours of graduate coursework in the College of Education program to be converted from probationary to unconditional admission.
Program areas have additional requirements including documents for TEA reporting, including: 1) a written response to the given prompt (fulfills “other screening instrument” as required by The Texas Education Agency), and 2) completion of Attestation and FERPA forms. In addition, some programs require access to an approved Pre K-12 setting. The overall grade point average (GPA) of each incoming class admitted between September 1 and August 31 of each year by an educator preparation program (EPP) may not be less than 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent. Certification programs have additional TAC requirements for GPA (used by the program in addition to, not in lieu of, the requirements stated above).
Deferred Admission
An applicant’s admission may be deferred when a file is not complete or when denying admission is not appropriate.
Denied Admission
An applicant may be denied admission if the conditions for unconditional or probationary admission are not met. In addition, if a student was suspended or expelled from the University of Texas at Arlington or any other university or program for reasons other than academic, that student may be denied admission or readmission to an educator preparation program in the UTA College of Education.
Criminal History Acknowledgement
As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.
- In order to receive educator certification in Texas, you must pass a criminal history background check.If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for an educator, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
- You have a right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency prior to admission into this program. The Texas Education Agency currently charges a non-refundable $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.
Curriculum
| MEd Foundations | ||
| EDUC 5305 | EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR 21ST CENTURY EC-12 STUDENTS | 3 |
| EDUC 5309 | ADVANCED TEACHING MODELS FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS | 3 |
| EDUC 5394 | UNDERSTANDING AND DESIGNING EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH | 3 |
| EDUC 5397 | IMPLEMENTING AND DISSEMINATING CLASSROOM RESEARCH | 3 |
| Science Education Specialization | ||
| SCED 5351 | PHYSICAL SCIENCE - PROPERTIES AND CHANGES IN MATTER | 3 |
| SCED 5352 | PHYSICAL SCIENCE - FORCE & ENERGY | 3 |
| SCED 5353 | EARTH SCIENCE - STRUCTURES, MOVEMENT, & CHANGES IN EARTH & SPACE | 3 |
| SCED 5354 | EARTH SCIENCE - WATER PROPERTIES, DISTRIBUTION, THE WATER CYCLE, & WEATHER | 3 |
| SCED 5355 | LIFE SCIENCE - UNITY & DIVERSITY OF LIFE & LIFE PROCESSES | 3 |
| SCED 5356 | LIFE SCIENCE - CYCLES IN NATURE, ADAPTATIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Program Completion
Time to Degree
The degree must be completed within six years (time in military service excluded) from initial registration in the Office of Graduate Studies. Coursework that is more than six years old at the time of program completion cannot be used toward meeting degree the requirements. Coursework that is more than five years old cannot be used toward state certification requirements for licensure (further restrictions may apply, depending on program).
Professional Dispositions
Each student/candidate in the College of Education will be evaluated on professional dispositions by the faculty and staff. These dispositions are identified as essential for a highly-qualified professional. Instructors and program directors will work with students/candidates rated as “unacceptable” in one or more stated criteria. The student/candidate will have an opportunity to develop a plan to remediate any digressions. If digression(s) are not, or cannot be successfully remediated as in the case of an egregious digression, a determination will be made by committee on continuation or dismissal from the College of Education.
Changes
Program requirements may change as state/TEA certification requirements change.