The M.S. in Science Education is designed primarily for credentialed K-12 teachers and experienced informal educators.
Prospective graduate students in M.S. in Science Education, including CSULB graduates, must formally apply for admission to CSULB as described previously in this Catalog and must also apply directly to the Department of Science Education. All applicants must submit the following documents directly to the department office:
Prospective graduate students must also receive a positive recommendation following an interview with graduate faculty.
The Graduate Studies Committee will review all completed applications and recommend either accepting the applicant as a Classified or Conditionally Classified graduate student, or denying admission. All accepted students should contact the departmental graduate advisor before their first semester for advisement and orientation.
The Department of Science Education will recommend for admission as a Classified graduate student any applicant who has met all prerequisites and been accepted by the Graduate Studies Committee.
An applicant who fails to meet the criteria for Classified admission to the department may be considered by the Graduate Studies Committee for admission as a Conditionally Classified graduate student. The Graduate Studies Committee will determine what deficiencies each applicant has and specify what the individual must do to make up those deficiencies. The applicant must make up all such deficiencies before attaining Classified status.
In addition to the prerequisites for entrance into CSULB as a graduate student stated in this Catalog, the Science Education department requires:
* Those students participating in the informal science option may substitute one or more years experience working as an educator in an informal learning setting; a letter of support is required.
Students are expected to exhibit high standards of writing proficiency. Students missing any admission criteria may only be admitted after receiving the approval of a department graduate faculty committee.
This option is designed for teachers who are K-8 generalists. It may also be appropriate for Single Subject teachers interested in increasing the breadth of their scientific knowledge.
Program of Study
The Program of Study includes successful completion of:
This option is aimed at teachers with a Single Subject credential in Science. Graduate students complete 9 units of graduate work in a Science discipline.
Program of Study
The Program of Study includes successful completion of:
This option is aimed at educators currently working in non-classroom settings such as museums, zoos, and nature centers, as well as those charged with fostering the public understanding of science.
Program of Study
The Program of Study (33 units) includes the successful completion of:
Advancement to Candidacy
1. The regulations governing the master's degree are those in effect at the time of advancement to candidacy. A student must be designated as a Classified Student in good standing prior to advancing to candidacy.
2. A student must satisfy the general requirements of the University, including fulfilling the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirements (GWAR).
3. The student’s M.S. program must be approved by a faculty graduate advisor, the department graduate advisor and the department chair before submission to the Associate Dean in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
4. Advancement to candidacy may take place upon satisfactory completion of six units in the M.S. program. A student must have been advanced to candidacy before initiating formal thesis research necessary to complete the M.S. degree.
