Degree and Admission Requirements

The objectives of the Master of Arts in Teaching/Natural Science is to provide educational and professional development growth for teaching professionals at all levels. The program is designed for professionals who have at least a baccalaureate teaching degree and wish to update and increase their science and/or mathematics competency to better meet the educational needs of students.

The graduate of this program is expected to have demonstrated the following:

An awareness, understanding and ability to implement the latest reforms in mathematics and/or science education.
An increased knowledge in mathematics and/or science content.
An ability to apply this heightened content knowledge to the K-12 classroom.
Proficiency in written and oral communication.

Admission Status

Full admission may be granted to applicants who have satisfied all the admission requirements.

Provisional admission may be granted:

to applicants whose files are incomplete (i.e., missing transcript, missing recommendations, etc.) and who otherwise are qualified.� The files must be complete before enrollment for a second semester;
to applicants who are currently enrolled in the SVSU Mathematics and Science Certificate Program; and
to applicants with special circumstances (i.e. lack of teaching experience, low GPA), who may be admitted by the Dean of Science, Engineering & Technology and Dean of Education with the recommendation of the admissions committee on a provisional status (secondary mathematics teachers must pass the proficiency test).� The student's admission status will be changed to full admission when a student has completed nine or more hours of SVSU graduate credit toward the degree in science and mathematics content classes with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better.

Admissions Procedure

Inquiries, an application form and other required items should be directed to:� Executive Director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education or Office of the Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology or the Dean of the College of Education, Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan 48710-0001.

A completed application form, official graduate institutions attended, copies of an earned teaching certificate, letters of recommendations from at least three people in a position to evaluate an applicant's potential for this program are required.� At least one letter should come from a building or district administrator of the teacher applicant.

Counseling

This program is designed to complement the student's past education experiences.� Therefore, the student must work closely with the Program Advisor in course selection and total program design.

Each student's degree program will address their individual and educational needs.� No student will receive graduate credit for courses previously taken at the undergraduate level.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Teaching/Natural Science program consists of 33 credit hours (three to six credits hours of foundation classes: a three-credit science or mathematics or education research course for K-12 teachers; a three-credit capstone seminar titled Mathematics, Science and Technology in Society; and 21 to 24 credit hours in mathematics and/or science courses individually selected to meet the professional needs of each enrolled teacher).� Submission of a portfolio of copies of satisfactory teaching units, research projects, or papers developed by each teacher in their content classes is required for graduation.� These materials will serve as a resource for area teachers.

Classes taken at Saginaw Valley State University for the Certificate Program in Mathematics and Science Education will apply to this program.� A maximum of nine graduate credits may be accepted by transfer from another accredited institution at first admission.� A minimum of 24 credits must be taken at SVSU.

Foundation Courses - (Required)

TE 530�� New Directions in Science Education (3)
�� and/or
TE 508�� New Directions in Mathematics Education (3)

Research Course - (one three-hour course required from the following)

TE 506�� Introduction to Educational Research (3)
TE 680�� Science Research for K-12 teachers (3)
TE 685�� Research in Mathematics teaching for K-12 teachers (3)

Capstone Seminar Course - (three credit hours required)

NS 690�� Graduate Seminar:� Mathematics, Science and Technology in Society (3)
�� (BIOL 590, CHEM 590, PHYS 590, MATH 590 with appropriate content may be substituted until NS 690�class is�developed)

Content Classes - (21 to 24 credit hours selected from the following)� Students will enroll in undergraduate courses selected under theses numbers with an independent study contract.� The contract will specify the additional work required to receive graduate credit.� The transcript will reflect the specific content of the undergraduate course, e.g., NS 610 Chemical Science - Inorganic Chemistry.

NS 600�� Life Science (specify content, e.g., Botany, Zoology, Developmental)
NS 610�� Chemical Science (specify content, e.g., General Chemistry, Inorganic, Organic)
NS 620�� Physical Science (specify content, e.g., Physics, Optics)
NS 630�� Earth Science (specify content, e.g., Astronomy, Meteorology, Geology)
NS 640�� Mathematical Science (specify content, e.g., Algebra, Trigonometry, Discrete ��Mathematics)
NS 650�� Computer Science (specify content, e.g., Basic, Programming, Microcomputers)
NS 660�� Engineering Science (specify content, e.g., Electrical, Mechanical)
NS 670�� Special Topics (specify content)

Cognate Educational Electives (Up to two of the following electives may be substituted for the content classes when appropriate to meet the needs of the teacher; EDL 622 is the only course appropriate for secondary mathematics teachers)

EDL 622�� Microcomputers in the classroom (3)
EDL 630�� Demonstrations in Science (3)
TE�� 531�� Elementary Math Curriculum (3)
TE�� 593�� Mathematical Science Experience for the Young Child (3)

Content Class - Options

Students sign up for a graduate-level independent study with an approved faculty member.� The student takes a normally-scheduled undergraduate course and satisfies all the requirements for that class.� In addition, the student in this program is required to develop three thematic teaching units based on the content of the class which could be utilized at the appropriate grade level (K-12) and/or do a research project or paper as determined by the instructor or department.� In the thematic teaching unit option, the mathematics and/or scientific content of the teaching units will be evaluated by a qualified educational professional.� With satisfactory completion of the class and teaching units or other agreed-upon requirements., the student would receive the appropriate graduate credit in the content area of the course, e.g., an undergraduate astronomy course satisfactorily completed by the student would receive graduate credit under the NS 630 number with the content specified as Astronomy, when thematic teaching units and/or other requirements are added.
Students may select graduate-level mathematics and science courses specifically designed to meet their educational needs, i.e., new graduate courses developed by the University faculty.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to this graduate programs must have:

A completed application.
Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
An earned undergraduate teaching degree at an accredited college or university.� For secondary mathematics teachers, an undergraduate degree in mathematics is required, or at least the full calculus sequence plus differential equations, and one upper level course.

For secondary mathematics degree, a proficiency test would be required.

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale).
A valid teaching certificate or a commitment to earning certification.
At least one year of teaching experience in a K-12 classroom.
Three letters of professional reference.
Personal interview.