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Department of Biology

Master of Science in Biology with Emphasis in Science Education

Degree Requirements

A student's Master of Science program must be initiated under the direction of a major professor and approved by the head of the Department of Biology and the Dean of the Graduate School. This programs is designed for students seeking a career as a 2 or 4 year college or university educator. Students will broaden their basic knowledge of the biological sciences, gain experience in investigative research methodology (particularly as it relates to the study of how science is taught), and develop their understanding of science pedagogy, curriculum development, and assessment as it relates to learning in institutions of higher education. The thesis option is offered for those students preparing to teach and conduct research at the 2-4 year college level as a terminal degree or for those preparing for further graduate work in science education at the doctoral level. For thesis admission, a student must select a research topic and be approved by the biology graduate faculty member who represents this discipline. The non-thesis option is offered for those student desiring to improve their positions and skills as a secondary school or junior college teachers as a terminal degree.

NOTE: This program does NOT lead to teacher certification; however, secondary biology teacher seeking to expand their background knowledge in the biological sciences and/or enhance their science education research skills would be eligible to apply. Leveling work is determined case-by-case.

Thesis Option
Typically the thesis option is followed by students who plan to pursue a doctoral degree or who plan to continue to conduct research in science education. Thesis students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate work, including 4 semester credit hours of core pedagogical courses (BIO 6304 and BIO 6171), 3-6 semester credit hours of graduate Education courses (choose from ED 6331, 6310, 6322, 6351, or 6391), and 20-23 semester credit hours in biology graduate courses.

Six additional semester credit hours in biology are awarded upon successful completion of a thesis in science education. Admission into the biology graduate program as a thesis student requires acceptance into a research program of one of the biology graduate faculty. Students interested in admission as a thesis student to the biology with emphasis in science education graduate program should first contact a biology graduate faculty member conducting research in an area of interest to the student.

Non-Thesis Option
The non-thesis biology graduate student is required to complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours including 4 semester credit hours of core pedagogical courses (BIO 6304 and BIO 6171), 3-6 semester credit hours of graduate Education courses (choose from ED 6331, 6310, 6322, 6351, or 6391), and 23 semester credit hours in biology graduate courses. A non-thesis graduate student (i.e. a student who either has chosen the non-thesis option or has not been accepted into a graduate faculty member's research program) is required to take three hours of literature-based research to fulfill degree requirements. This research is to be based on a thorough review of science education literature on a topic acceptable to both the student and the supervising graduate faculty member. The grade will be based on a 20-30 typewritten page summary paper. Results of the research report must be presented orally to the biology depratment faculty during the last semester prior to graduation. If a non-thesis student is interested in conducting additional research, he or she may seek approval from a member of the biology graduate faculty and the Head of the Department of Biology for additional laboratory or field based study after the three hour research requirement has been successfully completed.

Graduate Faculty