University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Program Information

Degree Offered

Master of Applied Science Specialization in Science for Educators

Format: Online

Program Description:

The program is designed to improve your science content knowledge, demonstrate pedagogy that drives learning experiences, and create applicable, standards-based curriculum. The primary instructors in the program are research scientists with a passion for how their disciplines are presented in K-12 classrooms and public forums.

The Master of Applied Science specialization in Science for Educators degree program emphasizes:

Science Content Inquiry
•Acquire new and enhance science content knowledge
•Examine science in the context of the world around us

Integration
•Integrate science content to age-appropriate pedagogy
•Establish connections between the natural and designed world, linking science and technology

Application
•Apply science content to real-world situations in local community
•Develop relevant, standards-based curriculum materials
•Inspire your students with science in action

Who Should Consider this Degree?
•Elementary teachers
•Middle and high school science teachers
•Community college educators
•Extension educators
•Home school instructors

"Classes provided excellent background information in a concise manner. They gave us great ideas for lesson plans that are hands-on and inquiry-based. The lab earth classes gave me enough information to totally rework how I teach earth science."
-- Catherine Schumacher, Nebraska 7-8 grade science teacher

Why UNL?
•Accredited: Nationally accredited by NCACS.
•Quality education: Online courses are taught by research scientists who are the same expert professors who teach on campus, so subject matter is always challenging, current and relevant.
•Applicable: Immediately apply what you learn and gain a competitive advantage in the workforce.
•Accessible faculty: Faculty and staff are responsive to your needs, creating an interactive community of learners.
•Experienced: Chartered in 1869, UNL has offered distance learning since 1929 and online courses since 1995.
•Convenient: Flexible, 100% online format allows you to continue to teach as you advance your career and earning potential.

The Master of Applied Science is a 36 credit hour, non-thesis graduate degree program. Eighteen (18) credit hours apply to the Science for Educators specialization.

•Courses are offered 100% online.
•Every course has a uniform approach that shows how, why and where science fits into the real world and applications for curriculum.
•Courses integrate science content from previous courses demonstrating how in science, everything’s connected to everything else.
•Courses and content are designed around the National Science Education Standards.

“The courses tremendously increased my knowledge of Earth systems and resources, and how they interact together. Organized into themes of interconnectedness, the courses demonstrated how all systems are intertwined. I use many of the course activities to help my students understand the concepts they are designed to demonstrate.”
-- Carl Scheffler, New York, Secondary Science Teacher

Required Courses
•NRES 809 Laboratory Earth: Earth and Its Systems (3 cr. hr.) Consider the Earth as a system and the “real world” applications of fundamental physical science processes in this system.
•ENTO 810 Insects as Educational Tools for the Classroom (3 cr. hr.) Study insect diversity, structure and function, ecology and behavior, and the roles of insects. Integrate the study of insects into the classroom to enhance science education.
•FDST 801 Teaching Applications of Food Science (3 cr. hr.) Explore science concepts in biology, chemistry and physics by delving into the science of food.

Elective Courses
•AGRO896/HORT 896 Teaching Biotechnology (3 cr. hr.) Investigate biotechnology and its application in solving problems. Connects biotechnology to basic science concepts in biology and chemistry.
•ENTO 806 Insect Ecology (3 cr. hr.) Explore interrelationships of the biotic and abiotic factors as they influence insect development, behavior, distribution and abundance.
•NRES 814 Laboratory Earth: Earth’s Natural Resource Systems (3 cr. hr.) Apply fundamental concepts in the Earth and physical sciences to understanding Earth’s natural resource system.
•NRES 822 Laboratory Earth: Earth’s Changing Systems (3 cr. hr.) Learn how to read the record of change in rocks, examine changes in earth’s carbon cycles and geochemical cycles, and explore current issues in environmental change.
•NRES 898 Laboratory Earth: Earth & Geospatial Technology Applications (3 cr. hr.) Gain a practical understanding of the concepts and applications of the Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Remote Sensing Technologies. Collect, analyze and explain geospatial data.
•TEAC 924 Seminar in Curriculum and Teaching of Science (3 cr. hr.) Exploration of current literature, yearbooks, research and experiments in the curriculum and teaching of science.

Accreditation:

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Chartered in 1869, UNL is an educational institution of international stature. Nebraska is listed by the Carnegie Foundation within the "Research Universities (very high research activity)" category. UNL is a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). UNL celebrated the 140th anniversary of its founding on Feb. 15, 2009.

Eligibility Requirements:

To participate in this program the student must have:

•Undergraduate degree in the life sciences or an undergraduate degree (or higher) in a related area, such as biological or physical science, and experience in applied science or teaching
•Undergraduate coursework in basic sciences (biology and chemistry)
•Sufficient evidence of academic ability, typically a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
•Approval of the Master of Applied Science Graduate Committee and the Graduate College

International Student Requirements:

?If your native language is not English, demonstrate your English proficiency by providing at least one of the following: Paper-based TOEFL score of at least 550 Internet-based TOEFL score of at least 79

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: {Item not available}

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Midsize City

Size & Settings: Not applicable