CURRICULUM

master of science program overview

Choose a pathway of one or two years: The program’s cohort-based model spans four terms, beginning in summer. Select between the full-time, one-year cohort or the part-time, two-year cohort. The two-year cohort features the program’s core courses in year one and the specialized courses and internships in year two. The MS program consists of 53 graduate-level credits including 18 credits of core courses in education, 20 credits of practicum/internship in schools, and 17 credits from a content specialty option.

Graduate Subject Matter Courses: As part of the required coursework for the MS in Science or Mathematics Education, all candidates are required to take at least 9 credits of graduate subject matter courses. Although it is possible to take these courses during the licensure program, students may take some or all of these courses before entering the MS program. Read more below.

Accelerated Master's Platform: Apply for the AMP in order for classes to count towards an undergraduate and graduate degree. Read more below.


 

One Year Timeline:

  • ED 520, Classroom Management (3) Build knowledge and learn techniques for cultivating a positive learning environment and for managing classrooms. Learn through examining the literature and observing relevant learning environments and classrooms. Explore factors that influence student behavior, including those associated with social and/or multicultural student populations.
  • SED 509, Practicum– September Experience (3) (student teaching hours=at least 60)

Graduate Subject Matter Course*

  • Recommended for Science Education: SOIL 560 (3)

  • Math Education graduate course TBD (3)

  • ED 572, Foundations of ESOL/Bilingual Education (3) Examines characteristics of English language learners (ELLs), key theories in language acquisition, the role of culture in language development, and instructional program models for ELLs, while considering implications for classroom instruction. Students who have already taken ED 472 do not need to take ED 572.

  • SED 516, Inquiry in Science and Mathematics Education (3) Investigation of inquiry and the nature of inquiry in mathematics and science as it relates to education. Students will examine issues relating to integrating mathematical and scientific understandings and practices into K-12 education. Students who have already taken SED 414 or SED 413 do not need to take SED 516.

  • SED 510, Student Teaching Internship, Seminar 1 (3) (student teaching hours=at least 125)
  • SED 511, Analysis of Classroom I (3) Observation and analysis of the complex science/ mathematics classroom and school culture and their impact on student learning.

  • SED 574, Math Pedagogy and Technology I (4)  Development of pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12 mathematics instruction: learning theory, nature of mathematics, technology integration, and reform recommendations. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • Or SED 573, Science Pedagogy and Technology I (4)  Development of pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12 science instruction: learning theory, nature of science, technology integration, and reform recommendations. Lec/lab/rec. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face  during the term.

  • Graduate subject matter course*

  • SED 510, Student Teaching Internship Seminar II (3) (student teaching hours=at least 175)
  • ED 521, Funds of Knowledge (3) An introduction to multicultural education and developing cultural competence by using a funds of knowledge approach. This approach helps educators combine fieldwork and ethnographic research methods to gain cultural competence about the students they serve. Educators explore their own funds of knowledge as well as the children’s through exploring their community and developing activities centered on children’s own connections and resources.

  • SED 576, Math Pedagogy and Technology I (4)  Development of additional pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12; stress on dominant themes of the school mathematics curriculum including problem-solving, reasoning, communication, and connections as well as the integration of technology into the mathematics classroom. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • Or SED 577, Science Pedagogy and Technology II (4)  Development of pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12 science instruction: learning theory, nature of science, technology integration, and reform recommendations. Lec/lab/rec.  Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • Graduate Subject Matter Course*

  • SED 510, Professional Student Teaching Internship (9) (student teaching hours=all day, fulltime placement, not less than 400 hours)
  • SED 506, Professional Development and Practicum (3)

Two Year Timeline:

  • ED 520, Classroom Management (3) Build knowledge and learn techniques for cultivating a positive learning environment and for managing classrooms. Learn through examining the literature and observing relevant learning environments and classrooms. Explore factors that influence student behavior, including those associated with social and/or multicultural student populations.

  • Graduate Subject Matter Course* (or take fall term)

    • Recommended for Science Education: SOIL 560 (3)

    • Math Education graduate course TBD (3)

  • SED 516, Inquiry in Science and Mathematics Education (3) Investigation of inquiry and the nature of inquiry in mathematics and science as it relates to education. Students will examine issues relating to integrating mathematical and scientific understandings and practices into K-12 education. Students who have already taken SED 414 or SED 413 do not need to take SED 516.

  •  

  • SED 511, Analysis of Classroom I (3) Observation and analysis of the complex science/ mathematics classroom and school culture and their impact on student learning.
  • Students need to be able to work in a classroom if they choose to take this class during Year 1. If they don’t have a classroom, they can take the class year 2 with their student teaching placement.

  • ED 572, Foundations of ESOL/Bilingual Education (3) Examines characteristics of English language learners (ELLs), key theories in language acquisition, the role of culture in language development, and instructional program models for ELLs, while considering implications for classroom instruction. Students who have already taken ED 472 do not need to take ED 572.

Winter Term 1

  • ED 521, Funds of Knowledge (3) An introduction to multicultural education and developing cultural competence by using a funds of knowledge approach. This approach helps educators combine fieldwork and ethnographic research methods to gain cultural competence about the students they serve. Educators explore their own funds of knowledge as well as the children’s through exploring their community and developing activities centered on children’s own connections and resources.

  • Graduate Subject Matter Course*

  • Graduate Subject Matter Course*
  • Students are required to maintain continuous enrollment, fall, winter, and spring.

  • SED 509, Practicum– September Experience (3) (student teaching hours=at least 60)

  • SED 510, Student Teaching Internship, Seminar 1 (3) (student teaching hours=125)
  • (SED511 if not taken during Year 1)

  • SED 574, Math Pedagogy and Technology I (4)  Development of pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12 mathematics instruction: learning theory, nature of mathematics, technology integration, and reform recommendations. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • Or SED 573, Science Pedagogy and Technology I (4)  Development of pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12 science instruction: learning theory, nature of science, technology integration, and reform recommendations. Lec/lab/rec. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • SED 510, Student Teaching Internship Seminar II (3) (student teaching hours=at least 175)
  • SED 576, Math Pedagogy and Technology I (4)  Development of additional pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12; stress on dominant themes of the school mathematics curriculum including problem-solving, reasoning, communication, and connections as well as the integration of technology into the mathematics classroom. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • Or SED 577, Science Pedagogy and Technology II (4)  Development of pedagogical content knowledge in grades 6-12 science instruction: learning theory, nature of science, technology integration, and reform recommendations. Lec/lab/rec. Hybrid – meets two Saturdays face to face during the term.

  • SED 510, Professional Student Teaching Internship (9) (student teaching hours=required all day, fulltime placement, not less that 400 hours)
  • SED 506, Professional Development and Practicum (3)

Graduate Subject Matter Courses:

As part of the required coursework for the MS in Science or Mathematics Education, all candidates are required to take at least 9 credits of graduate subject matter courses. Although it is possible to take these courses during the licensure program, students may take some or all of these courses before entering the MS program. Please note that university regulations stipulate that courses may not be used for multiple degrees. A graduate course used to fulfill requirements for another program cannot be added to your program of study for the MS program. An exception to this university regulation are graduate courses taken as part of the Accelerated Master’s Platform (AMP). 

NOTE: Students who have taken an undergraduate slash course may not use the course for the MS. For example, students who took BB 450 as an undergrad cannot take BB 550, or students who took MTH 491 cannot take MTH 591 during the MS.

Below is a list of graduate subject courses approved by the faculty. 

 

Courses used in the past to fulfill the graduate subject matter course requirement in science include (but are not limited to) the following:

Course Number and Title:

  • BB 550  General Biochemistry

  • BI 560  Cell Biology

  • FES 530 Forest as Classroom

  • GEO 581  Glacial Geology

  • GEOG 524  Hydrology for water resource management

  • GEOG 530  Resilience-based natural resource management

  • GEOG 540  Water Resources Management in the US

  • GEOG 541  International Water Resources Management

  • GEOG 550  Land Use in the American West

  • GEOG 551  Planning principles and practices for resilient communities

  • GEOG 552  Sustainable Site Planning

  • HSTS 513  History of Science

  • HSTS 599  Special Topics: Cultures of History of Science

  • HSTS 599  Special Topics: Env Science in Contexts

  • OC 523  Ocean ecological dynamics

  • OC 534   Estuarine ecology

  • PHL 543  World Views and Environmental Values

  • PHL 570  Philosophy of Science

  • SED 535  Communicating Ocean Sciences to Informal Audiences

  • TRAL 593  Environmental Interpretation 

Please check the current OSU course catalog for other options.

 

Courses used in the past to fulfill the graduate subject matter course requirement in mathematics include (but are not limited to) the following:

Example Mathematics Graduate Subject Matter Courses

Course Number and Title:

  • MTH 591  Algebra and Geometric Transformations  (unless MTH 491 taken for Bachelor’s)

  • MTH 592  Algebra and Geometric Transformations  (unless MTH 492 taken for Bachelor’s)

  • MTH 593  Algebra and Geometric Transformations  (unless MTH 493 taken for Bachelor’s)

  • MTH 599 Topics in Math Education

  • MTH 689  Topics in Math Education

  • MTH 689  Topics in Math Education: Understanding Calc Thru its History

  • MTH 505  Reading and Conference

Please check the current OSU course catalog for other options.

Master of Science in Education - Accelerated Master's Platform

Get a jump-start on your M.S. in Education while finishing your undergraduate math or science degree program. Earn graduate-level credits and apply those credits to both degrees as a part of Oregon State’s Accelerated Master’s Platform. Note: Undergraduate students enrolled in Ecampus graduate courses will pay the graduate tuition and fees rate. 

The MS in Education for teacher licensure requires 9 credits of graduate subject classes in math or science, depending on the subject you want to teach in middle or high school. The Accelerated Master's Platform (AMP) will allow you to take some or all of these graduate subject classes during your undergraduate math or science program and apply those credits to your undergraduate degree and also use them in the MS in Education. 

Here’s the Graduate School website for an explanation.

  • You can take graduate courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Math, and Physics.

  • You can apply for AMP after you completed 105 credits in your undergraduate program and have a GPA of 3.25 or above. You will take the graduate courses during your last year of your bachelor’s program.

  • AMP is the only way a class can be used for both an undergraduate and graduate degree.

Before taking any course to be used with AMP, you need to first submit a special, free application with the Graduate School. For information about the Accelerated Master’s Platform for the MS in Education, please contact Head Advisor, Niki Weight at [email protected].