Department of Science and Mathematics
Education
http://www.utdallas.edu/scimathed/
The department of
Science and Mathematics Education offers two graduate degree programs: Science
Education and Mathematics Education.
Master of Arts in Teaching/Science Education (37 hours)
Master of Arts in Teaching/Mathematics Education (37 hours)
Faculty
Professors: Thomas R. Butts (emeritus),
Frederick L. Fifer, Jr.(emeritus), Cynthia Ledbetter (emerita), Lynn Melton
Associate Professors: Titu Andreescu,
Homer Montgomery, Mary L. Urquhart (
Head)
Assistant Professors: Nikki Hanegan, Phillip Kisunzu
Science Education Specialist and Senior Lecturer: Barbara A. Curry
Clinical Professors: Katherine Donaldson, Floyd Dorsey, Bill Gammons, Amin Lalani,
Jim McConnell, Bill Neal,
Affiliate Faculty: John Burr, Matthew Goeckner, Pamela Gossin, John
Hoffman, Scherry Johnson, Robert Stern
Objectives and Structure
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Science Education Program and
the M.A.T. in Mathematics Program are designed to enhance the content knowledge
and pedagogical content knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) teachers. Both programs share a set of core courses that
allow students to explore knowledge common to both disciplines. Students in
Science Education or Mathematics Education can then collaborate to integrate
science and mathematics education and to provide a better education for their
students. Because many graduates of these M.A.T. programs will rise to
leadership positions such as department head or science/mathematics
coordinator, the core courses provide fundamental skills in cognition,
education research, and assessment so that M.A.T. graduates can evaluate
educational strategies and thoughtfully advise their colleagues about them. The
STEM Content courses provide additional depth in specific science and
mathematics content areas. Students
may elect to write and defend a research-based thesis.
Both programs are designed for individuals with significant ability in a science/mathematics
discipline and a serious commitment to teaching. They provide forward-looking
opportunities for professional development for both new and experienced
teachers.
The M.A.T. in Science Education seeks to
address the professional development of science teachers at all levels, while
the M.A.T. Mathematics Education more specifically addresses the professional
development of mathematics and computer science teachers in grades 8 – 12.
(Mathematics teachers in grades 4 – 8 may wish to consider the option,
"The Teaching of Mathematics in Grades 4-8" in the Master of Arts in
Interdisciplinary Studies program.)
Departmental
Activities and Facilities
The Science/Mathematics Education (SME)
Department is a hub for many important activities. In addition to the graduate
M.A.T. in Science Education and M.A.T. in Mathematics Education degree
programs, faculty in the Science/Mathematics Education Department direct and
carry out the UT Dallas implementation of UTeach, the nationally-acclaimed program for
recruitment, preparation, and support of STEM teachers. The Science and
Engineering Education Center, directed by Nobel Laureate Russell Hulse,
is housed in facilities adjoining the SME area, and collaborations with SEEC
continue to grow. Joint meetings with faculty from the School of Brain and
Behavioral Sciences and the Center for BrainHealth
lead to discussions of ways in which neuroscience and STEM education can grow
symbiotically. The Center for Science Education and Research and the UT Dallas
T-STEM Center provide partnership and professional development support for
T-STEM Academies in Texas.
In Fall 2010,
UT Dallas opened its new Science Learning Center. It contains not only
undergraduate teaching areas for the science students, but also a specially
designed class room area for SME that can be configured for interactive
classes. SME instructors can model the best of educational practices and
develop research projects to evaluate such strategies.
Scientific equipment supporting the various
programs at the university can be available to students in the M.A.T. program.
Facilities in biology, chemistry, computer science, geosciences, mathematics
and physics are briefly described in the respective sections of the catalog.
Admission Requirements
The University´s general admission
requirements are discussed here.
Science Education
Admission to the Graduate Program in Science
Education requires, in addition to general University requirements, a
significant background in science. A background of 24 semester hours in science
at the undergraduate level or higher is preferred.
Mathematics Education
Admission to the Graduate Program in
Mathematics Education requires, in addition to the general University
requirements, at least one year of calculus, a course in linear algebra, and a
junior-level course involving mathematical proof.
Background
Checks
For both Science Education and Mathematics
Education programs, opportunities may arise for students to work directly in
local schools. Public schools and many private schools in the state of
Texas require criminal background checks of all volunteers or individuals
working within the schools regardless of the potential for direct contact with
students.
Degree Requirements
The University´s general degree requirements
are discussed here.
The M.A.T. in Science Education and the M.A.T.
in Mathematics Education have a common set of four core courses. Both degrees
require satisfactory completion of a minimum of 37 semester credit hours, and
both degrees allow a student to select a Practitioner Option (coursework only)
or a Research Option (coursework plus thesis).
A grade of B or better must be obtained in the
Introductory Graduate Seminar and the four core courses, and an overall grade
point average of B (3.00) or better is required for graduation
Requirements
common to the M.A.T. in Science Education and to the M.A.T. in Mathematics
Education
1. SMED 5100 Introductory Graduate
Seminar
2. Four (4) Core courses:
SMED 5301 Science, Mathematics, and Society
SMED 5302 Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics
SMED 5303 Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Science and
Mathematics Education
SMED 5304 Reflections on Science and Mathematics Education
3. Six (6) STEM Content Courses
(Practitioner Option) or four (4) STEM content courses plus at least six
semesters hours of SMED 6V98 (Research Option). In both cases, four STEM
content courses must be taken within a single STEM content area subject to the
specific requirements for each program given below.
4. Elective Courses sufficient to bring the total hours to a
minimum of 37 SCH. Electives must be approved by the SME
Graduate Studies Committee. Research Option students must use one of their
electives to take SCI 5340 Statistics for Science/Mathematics Education, which
must be taken prior to enrolling in thesis hours.
Students may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for waiver
of requirements or substitution of alternate means of meeting requirements.
Students who have particularly strong STEM content backgrounds are encouraged
to meet with the Graduate Advisor and develop an appropriate degree plan.
Thesis
Option
Students who wish to pursue the thesis option
must consult with potential faculty advisors and present to the Graduate
Studies Committee the name of the proposed thesis advisor, the proposed thesis
topic, and potential committee members. The Graduate Studies Committee, after consultation
with the student and appropriate faculty members, may approve the project and
committee or require changes. In order to fulfill the thesis requirement, the
student must pass a minimum of six semester hours in thesis research, SME 6V98,
and submit an acceptable thesis. The thesis is directed by a Supervising
Professor and must be approved by the student´s thesis supervisory committee.
In addition, the student must comply with the rules set by the Graduate Dean
and successfully defend the thesis.
Requirements
Specific to the M.A.T. in Science Education
Students in the M.A.T. in Science Education
must pass four courses in one of the following Science Content areas: (1) Earth
and Space Sciences, (2) Life Sciences, or (3) Physical Sciences. For
Practitioner Option students, the other two courses must be taken in a
different STEM content area, which may include both Mathematics content areas
described below.
Requirements
Specific to the M.A.T. in Mathematics Education
Students in the M.A.T. in Mathematics
Education must pass four courses in the Mathematics A content area and at least two courses in the
Mathematics B content area. It is recommended that those in the Practitioner
Option use their elective courses to take two additional courses in the
Mathematics B content area.
Requirements
Associated with Community College Teaching
Many community colleges require that
instructors have 18 SCH of graduate course work in the discipline to be taught.
Students with an interest in teaching in community colleges should consult with
the Graduate Studies Committee as soon as possible to identify the courses
taken as part of the M.A.T. in Science Education or the M.A.T. in Mathematics
Education that meet the expected requirements.
STEM
Content Area Courses
Earth and Space
Sciences
SCI 5322 Basis of Evolution
SCI 5337 Rockin´ Around Texas
SCI 5326 Astronomy: Our Place in Space
SCI 5327 Comparative Planetology
Life Sciences
SCI 5322 Basis of Evolution
SCI 5324 Ecology
SCI 5329 Bioethics
SCI 5330 Emerging Topics in Biology
Physical Sciences
SCI 5323 Laboratories and Demonstrations for Middle School Science Teachers
SCI 5331 Conceptual Physics I: Force and
Motion
SCI 5332 Conceptual Physics II: Particles and Systems
SCI 5333 Conceptual Physics III: Atoms,
Charges, and Interactions
Mathematics A
MATH 5301 Elementary Analysis I
MATH 5302 Elementary Analysis II
MATH 5305 Higher Geometry for Teachers
MATH 5306 Non-Euclidean Geometry for Teachers
MATH 6311 Abstract Algebra I
STAT 5351 Probability and Statistics I
STAT 5353 Probability and Statistics II
CS 5333 Discrete Structures
Mathematics B
MTHE 5321 Problems Using Algebra
MTHE 5322 Problems Using Geometry
MTHE 5323 Problems Using Pre-calculus
MTHE 5324 Problems Using Discrete Mathematics
MTHE 5325 Problems Using Mathematical Modeling
MTHE 5326 Problems Using Statistics and
Probability
The courses available to students to
meet the STEM Content requirements include, but are not limited to, the courses
listed in the STEM Content areas above. Use of courses outside these sets must
be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Online Course Work and
Degree Options
Courses applicable to the M.A.T. in Science Education and M.A.T.
in Mathematics Education may be offered online. However, the
Science/Mathematics Education Department cannot guarantee that a student can
carry out the entire degree program online. Students interested in online work
should consult course schedules and contact the Graduate Studies Committee for
current advice.
Access to MAT courses
by undergraduate students
Undergraduate students at UTD who anticipate entering one of the
Master of Arts in Teaching programs after obtaining a
bachelors degree are encouraged to begin taking MAT courses under UTD’s reserved
for graduate credit option. The most
appropriate course for such students to take are SME
5100, SME 5301, SME 5302, or SME 5303.
UTeach students are encouraged to explore with their advisors the
possibility that some graduate courses, such as SME 5302 and SCI 5342 may
satisfy a portion of the UTeach requirements.