Online Master of Arts in Education With a Concentration in STEM Education
Program Highlights
30 credit hours | In-state tuition: $490/credit hour | Out-of-state tuition: $575/credit hour
- Available in an easily accessible 100% online format from UTEP’s College of Education
- Designed to meet the diverse needs of professional educators in Pre-K, elementary, middle-level, secondary and informal education
- Prepares students to become STEM leaders in their school or district and provides the tools they need to grow their teaching abilities in STEM disciplines
Become a STEM Leader
There has been a significant increase in the number of children enrolled in STEM education programs in the United States. The Federal STEM strategy states, “The pace of innovation is accelerating globally, and with it the competition for scientific and technical talent. Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States – and its prosperity and security – depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education ecosystem.” Thus, developing STEM educators who will be trained to use innovative approaches to teaching and learning in STEM disciplines is of utmost importance.
The M.A. in STEM Education provides a holistic overview of current issues impacting the field of STEM education, while cultivating research-based strategies to improve student learning in formal and informal PK-12 educational settings. The program prepares advanced teachers, leaders, educators to more effectively teach, engage and inspire students in the STEM fields, with an emphasis on applying innovative teaching approaches that help diverse student populations become critical thinkers and build the educational foundation for lifelong STEM-related academic/career success.
Graduates of this program may decide to work in community-based organizations, research, non-profits, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), public and private schools. This program will also prepare them for advanced study (e.g., Ph.D. or Ed.D.).
Experienced Faculty
STEM education envision contributing to a bi-national region and a global community that supports all students—particularly those who encounter geographical and cultural borders on a daily basis—to engage in rich and rewarding learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. All the professors are outstanding researchers and educators and students are always welcome to connect with faculty and ask questions.
Course Overview
Coursework in this program centers on the ways and means of increasing STEM literacy through formal and informal learning, deepening discipline content knowledge as well as integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to STEM education, and authentic and culturally sustaining STEM pedagogies utilizing problem-based/project-based learning and real-world applications.
To earn an M.A. in STEM Education you must: 1) successfully complete of 30 hours of required coursework with a grade of “C” or better (five required courses, and five elective courses); 2) complete a thesis project and obtain a grade of “pass” in the Thesis II course; and 3) possess a final GPA of 3.0 or higher. A graduate certificate in STEM Education is available for students who complete the 15 credit hours of required courses.
Required courses include one of three Mathematics Education courses, one of two Science Education courses, one of two Educational Technology courses and two Thesis courses.
Thesis Requirement: The intent of the thesis study is to provide students the opportunity to synthesize and apply core content knowledge gained in the program and to demonstrate their academic and professional understanding through the production of a piece of original scholarship. To graduate from this program, all students must conduct and defend a thesis study and register and pass the Thesis II Course. During the final semester of coursework, students will meet virtually with the Teacher Education Department Graduate Studies Coordinator for an audit and verification of coursework and final GPA, and for verification of completion of the application for graduation with UTEP’s Graduate School office.
REQUIRED COURSES (15 hours)
MTED 5322, SIED 5323 OR SIED 5325, EDT 5374 OR EDT 5375, AND THESIS I AND THESIS II
| MTED 5322 | Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Teaching Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning OR Algebraic Reasoning OR Geometric Reasoning) |
Study the following main content domains of school mathematics and their effective teaching and learning: Development of Quantitative Reasoning; Fostering Algebraic Thinking; Conceptual Foundations of Calculus; Development of Geometric Thinking. |
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| SIED 5323 | Societal Context of Science Education | Develop and apply understanding of field, community, and cultural resources and develop family and community partnerships in a relevant science context. Develop a learning unit based on instructional models such as the learning cycle lesson design and the 5-E model. Explore historical perspectives of science and the role of science in societal decisions. Study research-based principles in science learning and technology integration. |
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| SIED 5325 | Inquiry Science Education in Bilingual Settings | Review basic content in physical science, biology, and chemistry. The content will be imbedded in activities that model the inquiry approach to teaching and learning with strategies to ensure content and language development in bilingual communities. Learn to develop curriculum using instructional models such as sheltered instruction, the learning cycle, the 5-E model, and constructivism. Content directly relates to the essential elements in the elementary, middle, and high school science curricula in Texas. |
| EDT 5374 | Pedagogy in the Technology-Rich Classroom | Develop teacher knowledge and skill in using multimedia authoring programs; use of video editing, sound editing, and image editing; use of online discussion boards. Selection and use of appropriate technology-enhanced assessments, continued portfolio development, and peer mentoring experiences. |
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| EDT 5375 | Technology, Assistive Tools and Issues of Access | Distance Learning for EC-12 students, both in and out of the traditional school setting. Assistive technology tools and techniques for the classroom teacher. Legal issues regarding technology access and equity. |
| TED 5398 | Thesis I | Thesis. Prerequisite: Department approval. |
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| TED 5399 | Thesis II | Thesis. Prerequisite: TED 5398 and department approval. |
ELECTIVE COURSES (Choose any 5 with advisor approval)
| TED 5313 | Diversity in Educational Settings | Explore the social context of education and teaching in a pluralistic society. Examine schools and society in relation to historical and contemporary issues of diversity. |
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| TED 5301 | Learning Contexts and Curriculum | Examine the theoretical frameworks and broad definitions of curricula, processes of curriculum alignment, pedagogy and assessment, State standards, curricular resources, curriculum integration, learning theory and lesson planning. |
| SPED 5369 | Teaching Reading, Writing, and Mathematics to Learners With High Incidence Disabilities | Acquire information on assessment of learners with mild disabilities who have reading, math, and/or writing difficulties; includes information on strategies for all three academic areas. Prerequisite: SPED 5320 with a grade of "B" or better. Restricted to majors of SPED and DIAG. |
| MTED 5324 | Authentic Assessment in Mathematics Classroom | Study authentic and performance-based assessment practices in the mathematics classroom; use of instruments such as rubrics, portfolios, and individual and group projects as sources of assessment. |
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| MTED 5318 | Current Topics in Mathematics Education (Learning Theories) | Develop competencies necessary to deal effectively with mathematics instruction; includes curriculum, concepts, teaching strategies, and skills necessary to integrate content and teaching strategies. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. |
| MTED 5320 | Research-Based Practices in Mathematics Classroom | Focus on what you as a teacher can learn from mathematics education research and how to bridge research and everyday mathematics classroom. Develop a conceptual discourse on research related to teaching, learning, curriculum, and assessment in school mathematics. |
| TED 5319 | Graduate Workshop In Education (Math Education Topic) | Conduct studies in a designated area. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. |
| SIED 5321 | Science Tools, Standards, Technology, Safety and Ethics | Integrated, science-technology thematic learning. Develop an understanding of important science teacher resources, basic science education and lab tools, state and national standards for science teaching, curriculum alignment, laboratory and classroom safety, and professional ethics for science educators. |
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| SIED 5312 | Environmental Education | Critically examine pedagogical techniques, curricula and standards associated with environmental education. Special emphasis is placed on human- induced environmental change, curriculum development and teaching in environmental education settings. All components of the course are focused on increasing the student's ability to be a highly effective environmental educator. This course includes guest speakers and single day field trips in local environments. |
| TED 5319 | Graduate Workshop In Education (Science Education Topic) | Conduct studies in a designated area. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. |
| EDT 5372 | Web Tools for the Constructivist Classroom | Focus on web communication tools and production of web-based content in support of constructivist EC-12 classroom learning. Create and implement web content as an instructional tool, a publishing venue for student work, and information source for parents. Portfolio development and peer mentoring strategies are addressed. |
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| EDT 5373 | Advanced Productivity Technologies for the Classroom | Focus on curriculum strategies that utilize word processing, presentation programs, and spreadsheets for the EC-12 classroom; development and use of databases; extended web page creation integrating graphics, web-page scripts, and file transfer. Creation and implementation of online collaborative projects. Continued portfolio development and peer mentoring experiences. |
| EDT 5376 | Assessing, Planning, and Implementing Technology Programs in EC-12 | Focus on real educational settings: assessing and evaluating an educational institution's technology status; developing a technology plan; and building a budget with timelines for implementation. |
| TED 5319 | Graduate Workshop In Education (Education Technology Topic) | Conduct studies in a designated area. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. |
