Science Education - Informal Science Education, M.S.

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Major Code: 8117	Degree Awarded: Master of Science
Delivery Mode(s): Classroom, Field	Age Restriction: No
Admission Status: Graduate	Location(s): Main Campus - Melbourne
Admission Materials: résumé, objectives

The informal science education program is offered for students interested in science education that occurs outside of the formal school setting.

This master’s program is for students holding bachelor’s degrees in science education or science and includes graduate science courses in a selected science concentration in addition to advanced graduate courses in science education. The science courses are designed to develop and upgrade subject matter knowledge in specific, selected areas of science. The science education courses will complement previous educational experience.

Admission Requirements

The master’s program is designed for individuals holding bachelor’s degrees either in areas of science or in secondary school science education.

General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section.

Degree Requirements

The master’s degree in science education/informal science education is conferred on students who have successfully completed 30 credit hours including six credit hours of thesis (thesis option), or six credit hours of restricted electives that may include three credit hours of research chosen with the approval of the student’s advisor and department head (nonthesis option). The thesis option concludes with an oral thesis presentation/defense. The nonthesis option concludes with an oral final program examination. Up to 12 credit hours of appropriate transfer credit may be applied.

It is the responsibility of the student to follow all master’s degree policies governed by the graduate programs office. This includes arranging for the final program examination committee and scheduling the examination within the required time frame.

Curriculum

The following courses are required, and must be taken at Florida Tech. Exceptions may be considered only through a written petition, reviewed by the department’s graduate faculty:

EDS 5070 Educational Statistics
EDS 5095 Essentials of Educational Research
EDS 5203 Theories and Trends in Education
A minimum of three science courses (9 credit hours) is required. These courses are to be in the selected concentration area: biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, psychology, oceanography/earth science, general science (for middle- and junior-high school teachers) or another science or technical area approved by the department. Science courses offered through the science education department specifically for teachers, may also be used to partially fulfill the science course requirement. The general science concentration involves several areas and will be constructed based on the student’s needs.

The thesis track includes nine credit hours in the selected science concentration, Informal Science Education EDS 5270 ) and either Informal Science Education Internship (EDS 5272 ) or Informal Science Education Project (EDS 5274 ), plus six credit hours of thesis (EDS 5999 ).

The nonthesis track includes six credit hours chosen from Informal Science Education (EDS 5270 ), Informal Science Education Internship (EDS 5272 ) or Informal Science Education Project (EDS 5274 ), and six semester credit hours of restricted electives that may include three credit hours of Research (EDS 5081 ).

With departmental approval, up to six credit hours of upper-level undergraduate courses can be applied toward the master of science program.

Any schedule that would meet these requirements within a seven year period is acceptable. Any combination of part-time and/or full-time semesters can be used, as well as any combination of evening and summer courses.