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Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education Option, M.Ed.

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Learn More About UMass Lowell's Online Graduate Education Programs

The online Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education Option, offered by UMass Lowell's College of Education, is designed to help K-12 teachers enhance their school's science curriculum and learn about new pedagogical techniques that can be used to improve science learning in their classrooms. Available entirely online, this program offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares teachers to facilitate inquiry-based, hands-on science learning. Participants will have the opportunity to select from courses featuring science topics such as evolution, energy, meteorology and cell biology.

Students may take up to two graduate-level courses on a non-matriculated basis after consultation with the program advisor. Please email edoffice@uml.edu for more information.

Note: This program does not lead to teacher licensure, but may lead to professional licensure for some Massachusetts teachers. Please contact Anita_Greenwood@uml.edu for more information.

Questions About the Master's Degree

For questions about the Online M.Ed. Program in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education Option, email edoffice@uml.edu or call 978-934-4601.

Best Online Education Program in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report Ranked as One of the Best Online Graduate Education Programs in the Nation by U.S. News & World Report

Curriculum Outline

- Total Number of Courses Required for the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Science Education Option, M.Ed.: 10 (30 credits)
- Note: Candidates pursuing the Science Education option must include 6 courses (18 credits) of science education and/or science content course work in their program.

Core Courses (4 Courses / 12cr)

Specialization - Choose (5 Courses / 15cr)

  • EDUC.6750 Leadership in Science Education
  • EDUC.6760 Exploring the Nature of Science
  • BIOL.5080 Cell Biology for Teachers
  • BIOL.5470 Evolution in Context for Teachers
  • ENVI.5850 Climate Change in the Classroom
  • PHYS.5010 Energy, Force and Motion
  • ----.---- One other instruction-related course with permission of program advisor.

Capstone (1 Course / 3cr)

*Capstone project on science education must be taken as the last course or in conjunction with one other course in the final semester. This course is taken as the culminating course in the program and is offered only in Fall and Spring semesters.

Program Requirements

To be recommended for a University of Massachusetts Lowell master's degree, candidates must satisfy all of the general requirements below, plus any additional requirements that may be required by the department through which the program is offered. Any additional requirements for this program are either listed below or may be found in the University's Graduate Program Catalog.

General Requirements:

  • Students must complete the program of study designed by the department in which he or she is enrolled and approved by the University.
  • Satisfactory grades in all subjects offered for the degree must be earned (See Academic Standing).
  • All financial obligations, including tuition, fees, and expenses, must be satisfied as evidenced by completion.
  • Upon completion of all their courses, graduate degree candidates must submit a signed Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form to the Registrar's Office.

Graduate Program Policies

In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.

The Benefits of Learning Online with UMass Lowell

UMass Lowell has built a solid reputation by offering one of the largest selections of online programs available through a traditional university. Courses are taught by full-time faculty who are experts in their fields, and by adjunct faculty who, as practicing professionals, bring real-world experience to online class discussions.

We are committed to providing you with high-quality, affordable online programs that make earning your degree or certificate more convenient than ever before. Our students have access to online course technical support 24x7, and our academic advisors are here to help every step of the way.

Course Descriptions

This online course will examine the structure and function of cells and the regulation of cellular processes characteristics of living organisms. Students will explore the complexity of the eukaryotic cell and gain an understanding of the mechanisms of cellular control and regulation. Course activities will make connections to state frameworks and national standards, and lead to the development of grade-appropriate curriculum materials for use in the elementary and middle school classroom. Class activities will include discussions, quizzes, lesson plans, web reviews, current events, and a final project. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

This course empowers life science teachers of all levels with the skills and knowledge to more effectively foster student understanding of evolution by natural selection. By exploring evolution in multiple contexts, the Darwinian framework for how life evolved (and continues to evolve) are presented in an interactive and engaging manner. Teachers learn to use virtual resources to enhance their students learning while digging deep into some of the most profound and interesting science conducted in the last 100 years. Evolution in context makes the science of evolution come alive in a real and relevant manner. From the historical and scientific to the environmental and political, Teachers will learn about evolution in ways they never imagined. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

As the world becomes increasingly diverse, educators must be prepared to examine, confront, and manage the factors that affect the education of all children. This course addresses several central issues focusing on how teachers address the problems that confront students who differ from the majority population in language, ethnicity, culture, gender, and sexual orientation. Ensuring that their families and communities are actively involved in the educational process is also an important component of the course. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

This course considers alternative perspectives of curriculum and explores issues and strategies involved in the process of changing the curricular visions and practices of schools. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

This course focuses on developing a knowledge base of historical and contemporary perspectives on curriculum and schooling as they evolved in American society. The first part of the course addresses three concepts as they relate to curriculum. They are: 1.) School, literacy and society. 2.) Movements in schooling and 3.) Dimensions of diversity. The second part of the course addresses an examination of conflicting views on selected issues, identifying related underlying problems, and then developing feasible resolutions. The assignments consist of textbook and library readings as well as the writing of 5 reflection papers during the 10 week course. Students' final work will be submitted in a portfolio at the end of the semester for faculty evaluation and grading. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

A review of state mandates which, by law, shape the curriculum of the school. Examination of "new" curricula and their sources, as well as the development of a rationale for curriculum design and an evaluation of the personnel and techniques by which these curricula can be developed. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

Students will have the opportunity to develop a teacher work sample consisting of work in six major areas: (1) contextual factors, (2) learning goals, (3) assessment plan, (4) design for instruction, (5) analysis of student learning, and (6) reflection. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

M.Ed. matriculated only

There are many issues in science education that can be clarified as a result of reading current literature and engaging in discussion with other teachers. In this course, we will examine some of the most pressing issues that face us as science teachers e.g. What is science literacy? What role should inquiry play in a science curriculum? What is the role of technology in science education? Is ability grouping appropriate for learning in science? Each week we will examine a different issue and share our expertise, as we explore what it means to be a leader in science education. You will share your own science teaching expertise by developing an article to be submitted to an NSTA publication via a peer review process. Additionally, you will put your program learning into practice and will be assessed through written evidence captured in a professional portfolio. 3 credits.

If you were asked to describe the characteristics of science what would you say and would you know whether professional scientists agree with you? National professional societies such as the NSTA and the AAAS, believe that if middle and high school students understand how science has been and is practiced, they will be more likely to question their own thinking, recognize the power of scientific theories and understand that there are no absolute truths. This course will take you on an exploration of some fascinating discoveries in the history of science, engage you in debate about controversial issues in science, and involve you in raising your own scientific questions. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

The course is designed to help teachers from all levels improve their ability to foster student learning about the earth's changing climate. The course addresses the scientific, sociological, and pedagogical dimensions associated with climate change science. How to incorporate climate change into existing curriculum across disciplines is considered. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

An introduction to the most fundamental area of physics: the nature of motion, what affects it, and how it is measured. We examine Newton's laws, including the law of gravity, and how forces produce acceleration The course also examines the nature of energy - potential and kinetic - and how it relates to motion and forces. We will concentrate on how to analyze physical situations and solve the basic equations of motion. This course is intended to help teachers develop their understanding of the physics of motion. 3 credits.
Prerequisites:

CSCE Graduate Restrictions

Tuition & Fees

At UMass Lowell, we believe that students should have as much information as possible up front so they can make informed decisions before enrolling in a degree program or signing up for a course.

Tuition for all undergraduate courses offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition for all online graduate courses is also the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition is priced per credit. To calculate the tuition for a course, simply multiply the per-credit tuition by the total number of credits per course. Exception: If the total number of course contact hours is greater than the total number of credits, the per-credit tuition is instead multiplied by the total number of contact hours.

Fall 2020 Tuition

 Per Credit / Contact Hour
Graduate Online and Audit (except Manning School of Business* Online, MBA in Haverhill, Graduate Online IT, Engineering and Education Courses) $575.00
Manning School of Business* Graduate Online Courses $655.00
MBA Graduate Courses in Haverhill $655.00
Graduate Online IT and Engineering Courses** $590.00
Graduate Education Online Courses $470.00
Registration includes access to parking after 3 pm and access to Blackboard.

*Applies to courses with the following prefixes: ACCT, BUSI, ENTR, FINA, MGMT, MKTG, MIST, POMS offered through the Manning School of Business
**Applies to courses with the following prefixes: CHEN, CIVE, EECE, ENGN, MECH, PLAS offered through the Francis College of Engineering. Applies also to MSIT courses in the Master's in Information Technology, Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and the Graduate Certificate in Systems Models and Management.

Additional Fees
Registration Fee per Term $30.00
Late Fee for Nonpayment $50.00
Fee for Graduate Degree and Certificate Applications $50.00

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UMass Lowell offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship options.
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Registration

Current students can register using SiS Self-Service. New students who have not already applied and been accepted to a program must use the Non-Degree Registration Form.

You can take courses without being officially enrolled in a certificate or degree program, but you must meet course prerequisites. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Class size is limited. We recommend that you register early to reserve your place in class.

For more information, please visit our Registration Page.

New Students

If you have not already applied and been accepted to a program.
Register with Non-Degree Reg. Form

Current Students

If you have applied, been accepted to and are currently enrolled in a program.
Register with SIS Self-Service

Questions?

Program Support:
Email: edoffice@uml.edu
Phone: (978) 934-4601
Email our Advising Center for assistance, or call 800-480-3190 to speak with an advisor.

Please Note: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented within this website, the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies reserves the right to implement new rules and regulations and to make changes of any nature in its program, calendar, locations, tuition and fees. Whenever possible, appropriate notice of such changes will be given before they become effective. In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.

Admission into the Master's Degree

Applicants will be required to submit:

  • Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages in length)
  • All official transcripts
  • No GRE required
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Application fee
  • Proof of valid teaching license or if in a private setting where licensure is not required, individuals with a minimum of three years teaching experience, should submit a letter from their school's chief academic administrator providing proof of teaching in the school.

Please Note: Test requirements for graduate applications have been temporarily waived. Learn more.
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Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?

Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723.

For General Assistance:

For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!

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