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
- Does not lead to teaching certification, but leads to have job opportunities in a wide variety of fields including community-based organizations, research, non-profits, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations (NGO's), public and private schools
NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE TO APPLY.
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 CAPSTONE I OR THESIS I AND CAPSTONE II OR THESIS II
Math Education Section
MTED 5322: Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Teaching Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning OR Algebraic Reasoning OR Geometric Reasoning)
Science Education Section
SIED 5323: Societal Context of Science Education
SIED 5325: Inquiry Science Education in Bilingual Settings
Technology Education Section
EDT 5374: Pedagogy in the Technology-Rich Classroom
EDT 5375: Technology, Assistive Tools and Issues of Access
Culminating Experience (6 hours or more if needed until capstone/thesis is completed)
- TED 5319 Capstone I - Research of Toys & Gamification OR TED 5398 Thesis I
- STEM 5390 Capstone II OR TED 5399 Thesis II
TED 5319: Capstone I - Research of Toys and Gamification
Elective Courses (15 hours)
TED 5313: Diversity in Educational Settings
TED 5301: Learning Contexts and Curriculum
SPED 5369: Teaching Reading, Writing, and Mathematics to Learners With High Incidence Disabilities
MTED 5324: Authentic Assessment in Mathematics Classroom
MTED 5318: Current Topics in Mathematics Education (Learning Theories)
MTED 5320: Research-Based Practices in Mathematics Classroom
TED 5319: Graduate Workshop In Education
SIED 5321: Science Tools, Standards, Technology, Safety and Ethics
SIED 5312: Environmental Education
EDT 5370: Integration of Curriculum and Educational Technology
EDT 5372: Web Tools for the Constructivist Classroom
EDT 5373: Advanced Productivity Technologies for the Classroom
EDT 5376: Assessing, Planning, and Implementing Technology Programs in EC-12