Science Education
Deepen your understanding of science, develop your research skills, become a better instructor, and lead in your field with a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in science education.
Science Education Program Overview
Do you want to learn and do more as a science teacher? Can you picture yourself becoming a leader among your fellow science teachers?
At East Carolina University, we offer a practitioner-oriented Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in science education to help you reach your academic and professional goals. Our MAEd provides training in research similar to a Master of Science in science education with many more benefits and the flexibility you need to be successful.
The MAEd degree program consists of 36 semester hours of coursework and a thesis or teacher research project (3 semester hours). The program takes candidates two-and-a-half years to complete. The MAEd degree is appropriate for science teachers licensed at the A level and interested in pursuing advanced licensure (i.e., M-level licensure). The entire program is delivered online. Past graduates of the program have gone on to receive National Board Certification, assume teacher-leadership roles in their schools and districts, pursue doctoral study in science education at prestigious universities, and/or become professional development leaders in NSF-funded science education reform projects.
There is a clear progression of courses in the program, and although entry to the program may occur during any term (spring, summer or fall), the science education course sequence begins each fall semester, with education core classes being available for those starting other than the fall. Each science education course is offered over the course of a year, meaning that courses are readily available.
ECU Advantage
The MAEd in science education offers several attractive features for the busy professional. It is designed to be completed part time while you teach full time. Specific science education courses are offered during the academic year while MAEd students are teaching their K–12 students. This allows the program to use the classroom as a laboratory for testing ideas, as a site for determining how students perform on national and international assessment items, and as a setting for performing action research.
The totally online nature of the program allows it to be taken by students almost anywhere. Program students are nearly always part-time graduate students who are fully employed. A final benefit of the online program: Transportation costs and on-campus student fees are eliminated, providing the student a much more economical degree program.
Students will also benefit from peer support and networking with the option to participate in the cohort model as you pursue your degree. Every year, our ECU faculty travel with our master's in science education students to another country to explore topics of a scientific nature. Recent trips have included destinations such as Costa Rica and Mallorca.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Tammy Lee (252-737-1705; leeta@ecu.edu)
The Science Education, MAEd is a program designed to develop advanced competencies in K-12 science education in the following areas: foundational content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, assessment and evaluation, diversity and equity. This practitioner-oriented program is intended to sharpen instructional expertise, develop research skills, explore current issues and promote leadership in science education. The desired outcome is preparation of specialized science educators, both formal and informal, who are able to support K-12 students' science learning.
The degree is administratively located in the Department of Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Education in the College of Education. For admissions requirements, check the ECU Graduate School website at https://gradschool.ecu.edu/.
The degree requires a minimum of 30 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
Required core courses - 6 s.h.
- SCIE 6500 - Understanding and Engaging in Educational Research
- EDUC 6001 - Introduction to Differences in Human Learning in Schools
Science education courses - 24 s.h.
- SCIE 6003 - Advanced Studies in Biological Science for Teachers
- SCIE 6004 - Advanced Studies in Physical Science for Teachers
- SCIE 6005 - Advanced Studies in Earth Systems Science for Teachers
- SCIE 6020 - Perspectives on Science Education
- SCIE 6030 - Technology in Science Teaching, Learning and Professional Development
- SCIE 6310 - Advanced Methods in Science Teaching and Learning
- SCIE 6320 - Advanced Assessment Methods in Science Education
- SCIE 6600 - Teacher Research in Science Education
Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for this program is an action research project.
Licensure for the Science Education, MAEd
The Science Education, MAEd leads to a NC Advanced, M Level license in Comprehensive Science Grades 9-12. Candidates must hold a valid NC initial, A level license in Comprehensive Science Grades 9-12 in order to be eligible to upgrade the license to the advanced, M level upon program completion. Candidates may be admitted to the Science Education, MAEd if they do not hold the valid NC initial, A level license in Comprehensive Science Grades 9-12, including anyone with a license in another area, with an out-of-state license, or with no license at all. These candidates will be required to sign the LNNC Waiver and by doing so are duly informed that they will not receive the NC recommendation for the Comprehensive Science Grades 9-12 advanced, M level licensure until the NC initial, A level licensure requirements are met, which will include additional NC licensure tests. The LNNC Waiver can be located here. The waiver should accompany the application for admission to the MAEd. ECU degree programs satisfy the professional licensure and/or certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for these exams. Requirements in other states may be different. Upon successful completion of ECU educator preparation program degree requirements and licensure requirements for the State of North Carolina candidates will be eligible for an ECU recommendation for a NC license. However, final licensure granting decisions are the sole responsibility of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction not ECU. Candidates who seek out of state employment or out of state licensure will have to meet the receiving state's requirements. There is no automatic licensure reciprocity between states. ECU will verify the completion of an approved, accredited program for candidates who seek this verification, but those candidates will be responsible for working with the receiving state to complete any additional requirements to obtain the license and/or employment in the receiving state.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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