Dec 03, 2024

2011-2012 Graduate Academic Catalog

2011-2012 Graduate Academic Catalog THIS CATALOG IS ARCHIVED. BE SURE YOU ARE ACCESSING THE MOST ACCURATE CATALOG FOR YOU.

Natural Science Teaching, Elementary, Middle Grades or Secondary - Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

Objectives

The objective of the M.A.T., Natural Science — Elementary, Middle Grades or Secondary is to provide educational and professional development growth for teaching professionals. The program is designed for professionals possessing at least a baccalaureate teaching degree who wish to update and increase their science and/or mathematics competency to better meet the educational needs of all 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 Requirements

Applicants to this graduate program 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 a 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.

Admission Status

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

Provisional admission may be granted to:

Applicants whose files are incomplete (i.e., missing transcript, missing a recommendation, etc.) and who otherwise are qualified. The files must be complete before enrollment for a second semester.
Applicants who are currently enrolled in the SVSU Mathematics and Science Certificate Program.
Applicants with special circumstances (i.e., lack of teaching experience, low GPA) may be admitted by the Dean of Science, Engineering & Technology and the 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 he/she has completed nine or more SVSU graduate credits toward the degree in science or mathematics content classes with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better.

Admission Procedure

Inquiries, an application form and other required items should be directed to the Executive Director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education, or the Office of the Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, or the Dean of the College of Education, Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, Michigan 48710-0001. A completed application includes an application form, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, copies of an earned teaching certificate, and letters of recommendation from at least three people in a position to evaluate an applicant’s potential for this program. At least one letter should come from a building or district administrator of the teacher applicant.

Advising

This program is designed to complement the student’s past educational 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 individual educational needs. No student will receive graduate credit for courses previously taken at the undergraduate level.

Degree Requirements

The M.A.T., Natural Science Teaching program consists of 33 credits (three to six credits 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 credits 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 SVSU 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 (3 or 6 credits required)

Required Research Course (3 credits)

Capstone Course (3 credits required)

[BIOL 590, CHEM 590, PHYS 590, MATH 590 with appropriate content may be substituted.]

NS 690 - Graduate Seminar: Mathematics, Science, & Technology in Society 3 cr

Content Courses (21 to 24 credits required)

Students will enroll in undergraduate courses selected under these 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.

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)

Content Course Options

Students sign up for a graduate level independent study with an approved faculty member. The student takes the 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 in the appropriate grade level (K-12) classroom 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 the content undergraduate faculty involved in the course. The appropriateness of the teaching units will be evaluated by a qualified education 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., 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, e.g., new graduate courses developed by the University faculty.

Degrees Granted

M.A.T./Natural Science Teaching — Elementary

This degree is for those K-5 teachers who want to increase their knowledge and skills in mathematics and/or science. The New Directions in Science Education course (TE 530) and/or the New Directions in Mathematics Education course (TE 529), one of the research courses (NS 680, NS 685, TE 506), and the Capstone Seminar (NS 690) are required for the degree (nine to 12 credits). The remaining 21 credits are selected from the undergraduate or graduate mathematics and/or science content courses that would meet their individualized graduate degree program plan for professional growth.

Teachers may select a mathematics emphasis by completing the TE 529 New Directions in Mathematics Education course, the NS 685 Mathematics Research Course/or TEMS 506, and 24 credits of mathematics content courses.
or
Teachers may select a science emphasis by completing the TE 530 New Directions in Science Education course, the NS 680 Science Research course/or TEMS 506, and 24 credits of science content courses.

M.A.T./Natural Science Teaching — Middle Grades

This degree is for those grade 5-8 teachers who want to increase their knowledge and skills in mathematics and/or science. The New Directions in Science Education course (TE 530) and/or the New Directions in Mathematics Education course (TE 529), one of the research courses (NS 680, NS 685, TEMS 506), and the Capstone Seminar (NS 690) are required for the degree (nine to 12 credits). The remaining 21 credits are selected from the undergraduate or graduate mathematics and/or science content courses that would meet their individualized graduate degree program plan for professional growth. The Transescent course (TEMS 576) is recommended for those who have not had a similar course as part of their professional training.

Teachers may select a mathematics emphasis by completing the TE 529 New Directions in Mathematics Education course, the NS 685 Mathematics Research Course/or TEMS 506, and 24 credits of mathematics content courses.
or
Teachers may select a science emphasis by completing the TE 530 New Directions in Science Education course, the NS 680 Science Research course/or TEMS 506, and 24 credits of science content courses.

M.A.T./Natural Science Teaching — Secondary

This degree is for those grade 9-12 teachers who want to increase their knowledge and skills in mathematics and/or science. The New Directions in Science Education course (TE 530) and/or the New Directions in Mathematics Education course (TE 529), one of the research courses (NS 680, NS 685, TEMS 506), and the Capstone Seminar (NS 690) are required for the degree (nine to 12 credits). The remaining 21 credits are selected from the undergraduate or graduate mathematics and/or science content courses that would meet their individualized graduate degree program plan for professional growth.

Teachers may select a mathematics emphasis by completing the TE 529 New Directions in Mathematics Education course, the NS 685 Mathematics Research Course or TEMS 506, and 24 credits selected from the mathematics content courses at the upper division and/or graduate level not already taken as an undergraduate.
or
Teachers may select a science emphasis by completing the TE 530 New Directions in Science Education course, the NS 680 Science Research course or TEMS 506, and 24 credits selected from the science content courses in areas other than the student’s major/minor, or upper division and/or graduate courses in their science content specialty not already taken as an undergraduate.