Overview

Offered online through the University of Georgia College of Education's Department of Mathematics and Science Education, the Master of Education in Science Education focuses on teaching and learning in the natural sciences at the secondary level (Grades 6-12). The program is designed for teachers professionally certified in a secondary science field (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth/Space Sciences, “Broad Field” Secondary Science) or in Middle Grades Education with a specialization in Science. Graduates qualify for a certification upgrade in Georgia and should also do so in most other states. All required coursework is available online to accommodate working professionals, and is taught by the internationally recognized faculty of UGA's award-winning College of Education. Nearly all M.Ed. students in Science Education pursue the degree on a part-time basis while maintaining a full-time teaching position, although those able to devote themselves to full-time study or to attend some face-to-face courses at UGA’s Athens or Gwinnett campuses may choose to do so.

Students and instructors address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by secondary science teachers today and emphasize an understanding of research-based practices that build on their applied professional expertise developed from classroom experience. Required Science Education courses develop the knowledge and skills necessary for critical consideration of the research literature, and special attention is paid to incorporating the integration of Crosscutting Concepts and of Scientific Practices with Disciplinary Core Ideas, as advocated in the Next Generation Science Standards. Other highly recommended Science Education courses at the master’s level focus on integration of science content with technology, engineering, and mathematics, and with socio-scientific issues. Other areas of required coursework include graduate-level science content, Educational Psychology, and electives that allow the exploration of other fields with the College of Education such as Middle Grades Education, Gifted and Creative Education, Mathematics Education, Language and Literacy Education, and Social Foundations of Education.

Students seeking initial certification are directed to the department’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Secondary Science Certification program.

University of Georgia online graduate education programs are ranked #5 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2019.

Accreditations

The University of Georgia is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of Georgia.

Technology Requirements

  • Computer with current operating system (Windows or Mac). Additional peripherals such as webcam, headphones and printer may be required.
  • High Speed Internet Access.

Cost

Tuition & Fees

In-State Tuition $363 per credit hour 36 credit hours $13,068 USD
Out-of-State Tuition $1,029 per credit hour 36 credit hours $37,044 USD
Student Fees $597 per semester 5 semesters $2,985 USD
Total Program Cost  In-State   $16,053 USD
Total Program Cost  Out-of-State   $40,029 USD
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Current tuition and fees are available on the Bursar's Office website. If you register for less than 5 credit hours, student fees are reduced to $372 in that semester.

Online students pay the following fees: Connect UGA, Green, Special Institutional, and Technology. See UGA Tuition and Fees for the complete schedule of fees.

Other Costs

Additional costs may include:

  • Textbooks
  • Exam proctoring fees
  • Technology upgrades 

Financial Aid

Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid for information about financial assistance.

Corporate Assistance

Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.

Military Assistance

Active duty military, veterans, and military families should visit Veterans Educational Benefits to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits.

University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of eligible employees. For more information, see Tuition Assistance (refer to the Distance Learning section). 

Admissions

Credit and Transfer

Total Hours Required to Earn Degree:  36 (credit hours)

Maximum Hours Transferable into Program: 6

Only transfer credits from an accredited institution will be considered. If transfer credit is awarded, it will still be necessary to complete the required number of hours to graduate, which will more than likely necessitate additional coursework above and beyond the degree program requirements.

Admission Requirements

Prospective candidates must:

  • Hold Baccalaureate degree from accredited college or university
  • Have cumulative grade point average for all previous undergraduate courses as being 2.6 or above on 4-point scale
  • Provide valid Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores
  • Provide three letters of recommendation from people who know you professionally or as scholar
  • Develop statement of purposes and goals that can reasonably be met by the degree program
  • Hold a T4 certification

Application Checklist

  1. Application – Submit the Graduate School application online.  Application fee: $75 Domestic/$100 International (waived for US veterans).
  2. Entrance Exam Scores – Have official entrance exam scores sent to the UGA Graduate School by the testing service. Specify UGA as recipient of the scores, institutional code for ETS reporting: 5813 
    1. GRE or MAT
    2. International applicants must also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
  3. Résumé or curriculum vita – Upload to the Graduate School application.
  4. Transcripts – Upload unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended to the Graduate School application. Send official transcripts after you are offered admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Summer: April 1
  • Fall: July 1
  • Spring: November 1

International Applicants

  • Fall: April 15

Registration deadlines vary per semester. The UGA Office of the Registrar web site provides up-to-date information on registration dates.

Curriculum

Students may begin the program in any semester, although the most typical pattern, starting in Summer, is illustrated here. For starting in Fall or Spring, transpose the Summer 1 and/or Fall 1 below to the bottom of the list.

It is expected that most students will choose to take 3 courses per Summer Semester and 2 courses per academic year semester, requiring 5 semesters to complete all requirements, two of which must be consecutive Summers. A more intensive schedule, requiring as few as 4 semesters (Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer) to complete requirements, is permissible but is not advised. A less intensive schedule is permissible, but the greater number of semesters required will result in a greater total amount of miscellaneous fees paid, and UGA Graduate School rules require registration in at least 2 of the 3 semesters of every year (Fall-Spring-Summer) until graduation.

Courses

  Summer Term Fall Term Spring Term
Year 1
  • ESCI 7040E or ESCI 7080E
  • ESCI 6200E 
  • Science or Elective 
  • ESCI 6990E 
  • Science or Elective
  • ESCI 6230E, EPSY 6010E, EPSY 6060E or EPSY 6800E (select two)
  • Science or Elective
Year 2
  • ESCI 7040E or ESCI 7080E
  • ESCI 6200E
  • Science or Elective
  • Science or Elective (select two)
  
Required Core Courses in Science Education (3 Courses):

ESCI 7040E Teaching Strategies for Secondary Science (even-numbered Summers; required)

ESCI 7080E Curriculum Planning in Science Education (odd-numbered Summers; required)

ESCI 6990E Introduction to Research in Science Education (Fall; required)

Other Graduate-only Courses in Science Education (Choose 2):

ESCI 6200E Science, Technology, and Society (repeatable)

  • Special Focus: Socio-scientific Issues in Science Teaching (odd-numbered Summers)
  • Special Focus: STEM Integration in Science Teaching (even-numbered Summers)

ESCI 6230 Environmental Science Education (Spring; E course number pending)

Science Content courses available online (Choose 3):

BIOS 7010E Introduction to Biostatistics I (Summer)

HORT/CRSS 6430E Plant Physiology (Fall, Spring)

ENTO 7730E Entomology for Teachers (Spring)

EPID 7010E Introduction to Epidemiology (Fall, Spring)

GEOG 6730E Introduction to Geographic Information Science (Summer)

MARS 7020E Marine Science for Teachers (Summer)

General Educational Psychology courses (Choose 1):

EPSY 6010E Foundations of Human Development for Education (Fall, Summer)

EPSY 6060E Foundations of Motivation for Education (Fall, Spring)

EPSY 6800E Foundations of Cognition for Education (Fall, Spring)

Other courses in the College of Education expected to be of most interest to Science Education students

(Choose 3 additional Electives either from those above or from the list below):

Educational Research course highly recommended:

ERSH 6600E Applied Educational Assessment (Summer)

Educational Psychology courses leading to Gifted In-Field Endorsement:

EPSY 7110E Characteristics of Gifted Children and Youth (Summer) 

EPSY 7230E Strategies and Materials for the Gifted (Fall; 7110 is prerequisite)

EPSY 7250E Program and Curriculum Development for the Gifted (Fall; 7110E is prerequisite)

EPSY 7060E Assessment of Gifted Children and Youth (Summer)

Educational Theory and Practice courses of possible interest to science teachers:

ETAP 7060E Theory and Practice of Service-Learning in P-12 Settings (Fall)

ETAP 7610E Classroom Management in Culturally Responsive Classrooms (Spring)

ETAP 7500E Action Research (Spring)

Instructional Technology courses of possible interest to science teachers:

EDIT 6400E Emerging Approaches to Teaching, Learning, and Technology (Fall)

EDIT 6170E Instructional Design (Spring)

EDIT 6190E Design and Development Tools (Spring, Summer)

EDIT 6500E Educational Video Production (Summer)

EDIT 6600E Diversity, Technology, and Learning (Summer)

EDIT 7350E eLearning Evaluation and Assessment (Spring; 6170E is prerequisite)

EDIT 7520E Designing and Teaching Online Courses (Summer)

Language and Literacy Education courses of possible interest to science teachers:

LLED 6060E Content Area Literacies (Spring, Summer)

LLED 7040E Language and Culture in the Classroom (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Middle Grades Education courses of possible interest to middle school science teachers:

EDMG 7030E  The Middle Grades (Summer)

EDMG 7080E  Curriculum Planning for the Middle Grades (Summer)

EDMG 7050E  Educating Young Adolescents in Various Sociocultural Contexts (Fall)

EDMG 7100E  Assessment in the Middle Grades (Fall)

EDMG 7090E  Instructional Strategies for the Middle Grades (Spring)

Note: The information above regarding semesters in which these other courses are offered is based on the published Schedule of Classes for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2018. Their scheduling by other departments is subject to change.

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Contact Information

Email us using the request for information form or call (706) 542-4194‬