Graduate Programs

Master of Science Degree Program in Biological Science for Secondary Biological Science Teachers

How does this program meet my needs as a full-time teacher?

  Courses are completed during the summer and on weekends.

  1.  Weekend seminars, the Frontiers in Science Workshops (Friday evening, Saturday morning)

Six credits required (one credit requies attendance to three Frontiers)

Discussions with MSU research faculty in the College of Natural Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engineering and the medical schools.

  2.  Intensive, laboratory based summer courses, taught by faculty in the College of Natural

       Science.

SME 871: Biochemistry and Cell Biology for Teachers; seven credits; five week

                  experience on campus.

SME 874: Field Ecology for Teachers; seven credits; five week experience at Kellogg

                  Biological Station.

  3.  Thesis research on campus in the summer.

  Work with MSU faculty to develop appropriate activities for implementation into the

   classroom.

  Write and present thesis afater testing activities in the classroom.

  Maximum of five credits for summer work; maximum of five credits when write and

   successfully defend thesis.

  Degree program is focused on expanding knowledge and practice of science, leading to a MS

  degree.

   Contacts with Frontiers presenters and other MSU faculty.

   Networking among committed teachers of the biological sciences.

What eligibility requirements are there for this degree program?

Teachers must have a valid teaching certificate in biology and have a minimum of two years teaching experience.

How much time will it take to complete the program?

Full-time teachers should expect to complete their program in a minimum of three years. Many may require four or five years for completion. MSU allows six years for completion of Master degree programs.

In a nutshell, what are the requirements for this degree program?

The candidate must complete a minimum of 30 semester hour credits and submit an approved thesis to the Graduate School. Up to nine credits may be transferred from other universities/colleges with the approval of the candidate’s advisory committee. Each degree candidate will have a thesis advisory committee composed of three MSU faculty members. These will be appointed by your thesis advisor.

The following is a brief description of the required courses for Master’s Degree in Biological Science.

SME 871 ~ Biochemistry and Cell Biology for Teachers ~ 7 credits
This course is an overview of basic cellular and molecular biology including protein, structure and function, cell physiology, the generation and storage of metabolic energy and the transmission of genetic information. Participants will complete laboratory procedures using modern techniques in cellular and molecular biology and develop laboratory exercises suitable for classroom use.  Participants will also conduct library/web-based research to develop a unit based on a current application of basic biology and its history.

SME 874 ~ Field Ecology for Teachers ~ 7 credits
Participants observe, question and test hypotheses concerning the primary interactions that occur within a variety of ecosystems. They learn how to design field experiments and apply field techniques to answer these questions, as well as gain some analytical skills for interpreting field data. Participants will also learn field techniques, make physical/chemical measurement, analyze data, and apply modern techniques to environmental problems.

SME 901 ~ Biological Science Workshops: Frontiers in Biological Science ~ 6 credits (18 workshops)
These five-hour weekend workshops are presented by disciplinary research faculty of MSU. The first two hours provide the basic information regarding their area of expertise. The last three hours are devoted to a discussion of the latest findings and insights in this area. Six or seven presentations are offered on weekends during the academic year. Teachers not currently in a degree-granting program are also encouraged to attend these presentations.

SME 899 ~ Research ~ 5 credits
Teachers adapt existing laboratories to their own classroom situations or craft learned techniques in molecular/cellular biology or ecology/environmental science into new laboratory exercises. This research usually is conducted during summer in a five-week block of time after completion of both the molecular/cellular biology and the environmental/behavioral biology course work. This research bears directly on work to be incorporated into the thesis. A research faculty member usually serves as a mentor for this work.

SME 899 ~ Thesis – 5 credits
The thesis describes a new unit, which the candidate develops and teaches. The teacher also develops, as part of their research, laboratory exercises for demonstrating the concepts of the unit. Teaching the new unit makes it possible for the teachers to collect data on student performance, to identify strengths and weaknesses of the unit, and to evaluate its effectiveness. The thesis also includes a description and analysis of the effectiveness of the implemented activities based on this data.

Required courses for the Master's Degree in Biological Science.

For more information, please contact:
Merle Heidemann, Director
Michigan State University
Division of Science and Mathematics Education
118 North Kedzie Lab
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 432-2152, Ext. 107
E-mail: heidema2@msu.edu