The Master of Arts program includes 36 semester hours of coursework and one semester hour of field experience.
Required Science Education Courses
NSM5100 Curriculum Development and Assessment in
Mathematics and Science (3)
NSM6100 Educational
Research in Mathematics and Science I (3)
NSM6200 Educational Research in Mathematics and
Science II (3)
Required Physical
Sciences Courses
NSM5420 Physical
Science I: Matter and Energy (3)
NSM5430 Physical
Science II: Forces, Energy, and Motion
(3)
Required Life
Sciences Courses
NSM5440 Hierarchical Organization
of Life – From Cells to Organisms (3)
NSM5450 Hierarchical Organization
of Life – From Organisms to Ecosystems (3)
Required Earth and Space Sciences Course
NSM5460 The
Universe (3)
Required Crosscutting Concept Courses
NSM6410 Exploring Planet Earth (3)
NSM6420 Technology and
Instrumentation (3)
NSM6430 Biochemical
Applications in Technology (3)
Required Engineering, Technology, and
Applications of Science Courses
NSM5410 Scientific
and Engineering Practices (3)
NSM5900 Field Experience in STEM (1)
Course Descriptions
NSM5100
Curriculum Development and Assessment in Mathematics and Science
The course will focus on assessment
goals and implementation, a mix of theoretical research-based foundations and
classroom reform-based perspectives on assessment and evaluation in schools. Recent
developments in math and science curriculum, core standards, learning research,
and alternate modes of presentation will be discussed.
NSM6100 Educational Research in Mathematics
and Science I
This
course has the dual purpose of providing an educational research background in
the STEM field as well as the quantitative knowledge necessary to conduct such
research. The course investigates recent developments and relevant research in
STEM education and initiates a professional conversation about the major issues
in teaching mathematics and science. Emphasis will be placed on methods of
critically reading and analyzing research reports and the development of a STEM
research proposal. Topics include reading and evaluation of original research,
issues of validity and reliability in research, assembling research writing
components, and an introduction to statistical inference.
NSM6200
Educational Research in Mathematics and Science
II
This
course is a continuation of NSM6100. The teacher will analyze data collected
from the implementation of a previously identified STEM research project. Participants
will complete their projects, submit a written report of their research, and
present their findings to other program participants and at local and/or
national conferences.
NSM5420
Physical Science I: Matter and Energy
This
course introduces the fundamentals of matter and its interactions. Examples
from chemistry and biology will highlight how atoms in a system can change
their arrangement, allowing the
observation and characterization of useful chemical reactions. Different
types of atoms and their interactions will also be used to predict how a system
can respond to a given stimulus. The
conservation of energy and the concept of thermal energy will be studied
throughout by examining systems from burning fuel to photosynthesis. The two fundamental forces, weak nuclear and
strong nuclear, that describe how the nucleus of an atom exists will also be
presented during the investigation of nuclear processes. Includes at-home laboratory activities that
reinforce introduced concepts.
NSM5430
Physical Science II: Forces, Energy, and
Motion
Physical
Science II explores the principles that help describe our macroscopic world, in
particular, how forces influence the motion of a macroscopic object. A basic understanding of the four fundamental
forces that govern our understanding of the universe (gravity,
electromagnetism, strong nuclear and weak nuclear forces) will serve as
fundamental knowledge when considering the stability of multi-scaled
systems. Motion of macroscopic objects
will be explained using Newton’s laws. This course will also emphasize how
frame of reference and units are important in describing information about the
system being studied. A continuation of
the conservation of energy principles introduced in Physical Sciences I will
show how the interchangeability of energy, using mainly long-range and contact
forces, can affect the motion of an object or group of objects. Includes at-home laboratory activities that
reinforce introduced concepts.
Prerequisite: NSM5420
NSM5440
Hierarchical Organization of Life – From Cells to Organisms
Students will explore the levels of the biological hierarchy below the level of
the individual, including cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems, and the
biological processes that are important at each level. They will connect
content and pedagogy to improve biology teaching in the classroom. Through
lecture, discussion, simulation, and laboratory exercises, this course
integrates and applies concepts from the biological, chemical, and physical
sciences. Topics include the types of cells and cell structure, processes that
occur within cells, cell division and types of reproduction, inheritance and
sources of genetic variation, major organ systems of animals and plants, and
signal processing within cells and whole organisms. The course will emphasize
the STEM practices and disciplinary core ideas outlined by national science
standards.
Prerequisite:
NSM5410
NSM5450
Hierarchical Organization of Life – From Organisms to Ecosystems
Students will explore the levels of the biological hierarchy above the level of
the individual, including populations, biological communities, ecosystems, and
social systems, and the processes that have shaped the diversity of life. Through
lecture, discussion, simulation, and laboratory exercises, the course
integrates and applies concepts from the biological, chemical, and earth
sciences and reinforces pedagogical methods that will improve content teaching.
Topics include the concepts and processes of microevolution and macroevolution,
the fossil record and geologic time scale, large-scale factors that have shaped
the diversity of life, mass extinctions, the diversity of living organisms, and
ecological principles that encompass populations, communities, and ecosystems.
The course will emphasize the STEM practices and disciplinary core ideas
outlined by national science standards.
NSM6410
Exploring Planet Earth
This course is intended to bridge
the STEM disciplines of life science and earth and space science, and will
accomplish this from a broad environmental science perspective. Students will
explore concepts of earth science tied to those of ecosystems learned in
previous courses. Through lecture, discussion, simulation, and laboratory
activities, the course explores how the physical compartments of the earth
(atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere) affect and are affected by the
biological components of the earth (biosphere). Topics include the physical and
chemical properties of the atmosphere, oceans and other water systems, and the
lithosphere, natural hazards, natural resources, and the interaction of those
earth components with humans in shaping weather, climate, and the earth’s
surface. The course will emphasize the STEM practices and disciplinary core
ideas outlined by the national science standards.
Prerequisites: NSM5450, NSM5460
NSM5460
The Universe
This course is designed to enable the educator to
develop national science standards based lessons exploring the scale of the
cosmos, cycles of the sky, and the use of technology in the field of astronomy
throughout history. Content and
integrated pedagogy will be used to understand black holes, galaxies, the solar
system, and the formation, life, and death of stars. Modalities of lecture, discussion,
simulations and laboratory exercises will be utilized. This
course emphasizes adaptation of theory and techniques to the science
classroom.
Prerequisites:
NSM5410
NSM5510 Scientific and Engineering Practices
This course focuses on scientific exploration through inquiry and on
engineering methods through the iterative design process. Students will integrate concepts of
scientific methodology and engineering design through discussion and activities
pertaining to science and technology. The
impact of science, technology and engineering on the world and on humankind
will be discussed. Assignments and laboratory
investigations will focus on experimental design and statistical analysis of
quantitative data, helping to develop problem solving and optimization skills
by practicing design with constraints. Includes at-home
laboratory activities that reinforce introduced concepts.
NSM6420
Technology and Instrumentation
This course will showcase technological applications
in medicine, information systems, and information transfer involving light and
waves. Crosscutting concepts involving
patterns, cause and effect mechanisms, and energy flow and conservation will
merge fundamentals learned in Physical Science I, Physical Science II, and The
Universe by examining how modern technologies have improved the human
experience. The course will start with
by exploring the fundamental properties of all waves using multi-disciplinary
examples from the human eye to earthquakes.
By studying from start to finish how information is transferred when
using technology, students will be able to thoroughly experience and understand
the basic laws of electricity, magnetism, light and waves. A range of waves from seismic to the
electromagnetic will consider material composition to also examine how the
properties of waves can change. A brief
introduction to the methods used to code and decode wave signals sent as
information packets will also be covered.
Prerequisites:
NSM5420, NSM5430, NSM5460
NSM5900 Field Experience in STEM
Each candidate is expected to take
part in a flexible field experience with a math and or science professional
organization. The goal is to give each participant an opportunity to work with
a scientist, engineer or mathematician on a project during this
experience. The participants will be
given the flexibility to choose an experience that is most beneficial to them
as long as it is approved by the program director. It is expected that connections will be
developed with professionals in the field of mathematics and science that can
be utilized in the classroom.
NSM6430
Biochemical Applications in Technology
In this course
the student will learn basic concepts of biochemistry and contemporary
biotechnological methods and techniques.
Students will study the chemistry of biological molecules at the
molecular and cellular level. Through
lecture, discussion, and activities, this course integrates and applies
concepts from physical sciences and life sciences. Students will integrate mathematical and
engineering principles related to biochemistry and biotechnology. Students will study biochemical reactions of
life processes and applications to microbiology, medicine, and forensics. This course emphasizes adaptation of theory
and techniques to the science classroom.
Prerequisites: NSM5420,
NSM5440
