The William C. Ritz Scholarship can provide you with funding to attend a conference, especially if you are presenting. This link will tell you about who is eligible and how to apply!

Our department's graduate student handbook

Thank you for your interest in our Master's degree program! The faculty and staff of the Science Education department are proud to offer this program. The M.S. program is designed for science educators interested in advancing their practice and scholarship. Graduates (of the Elementary or Secondary option) will generally go on to higher salary schedules in their districts as well as leadership positions, like department chairs, science content coaches, or curriculum coordinators. Graduates of the Informal Education option would also be expected to obtain positions of greater responsibility within a museum or other educational setting. The M.S. degree also serves as a stepping stone toward a Ph.D. or Ed.D., required of most college faculty.

Science Education is a unique discipline, with its own history, research methods, and areas of expertise. Science Ed. is also interdisciplinary, bridging the natural sciences and the social sciences (via study of science teaching and learning in schools and other educational settings). The Science Education M.S. reflects this diversity, featuring course work in Education, Science, and Science Education.

We designed this document to familiarize you with CSULB's general requirements for graduate students and provide you with a summary of the Science Education department's requirements for our M.S. degree. You will need to consult the University Catalog for all official requirements. (The catalog is available in print or online, beginning at http://www.csulb.edu and clicking on "Academics.")

The M. S. program includes three options: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Informal Education. The Elementary Option is aimed at credential holders working in K-8 classrooms. The Secondary Option is aimed at credential holders working in 6-12 classrooms. The option in Informal Science Education 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. (Click here to learn more about this option.)  

See the Frequently Asked Questions about our Master's program (always under construction).

If you have any further questions, please contact the Science Education department at (562) 985-4801. They'll forward your message to the graduate advisor.

University Requirements for Admission into CSULB

You can get a university application via the Office of Enrollment Services at (562) 985-5505, or you can apply online at http://www.csumentor.edu. If you apply to the university this way, remember that you are applying for an M.S. in Science Education--it's NOT the same degree here as an M.S. in Education.

Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be admitted to CSULB as a graduate student:

• a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.
• good standing at the last institution attended.
• at least a 2.5 grade point average in the last 60 upper division semester units attempted, independent of when and where the baccalaureate was granted. The entire semester or quarter in which the 60 units began will be used in this calculation. See official documentation for details about what units are excluded from these calculations.

The University also requires all students to demonstrate competency in writing skills. This is done by passing the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) or approved alternative examination. See the University Catalog for more information.

You must request official copies of transcripts from each college and university you previously attended. Transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Enrollment Services. The only exception to this rule is for transcripts for work completed at Cal State Long Beach.

Levels of Admission The university has different levels of admission. To be classified as a graduate student requires a separate application and approval by the Science Education department. There's two classifications of graduate students--conditionally classified and classified--and the department Graduate Studies Committee will determine your classification. The University Catalog further describes graduate student classifications.

Science Education Department Admission Requirements for M.S. Program

Prerequisites
In addition to the University requirements for admission as a graduate student, the department requires:

• A California Multiple Subject credential, Single Subject Science Teaching credential, or other instructional experience deemed equivalent by the Graduate Studies Committee. In the case of informal science educators, this must be evidenced by letters from employers provided on institutional letterhead.
• A GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 units of study completed.

Students missing any admission criteria may only be admitted after receiving the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Departmental Application
As a prospective graduate student you must formally apply for admission to CSULB (described previously). You have to do this even if you are a CSULB graduate. You must also apply directly to the Science Education department. Here is what you must submit to the department:

• a complete departmental application form, including personal statement. The application form is available in the Science Education department office and you can download an Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) version of the form on the internet here.
• two confidential recommendation letters, sent under separate cover. At least one of the letters must be from an administrator or supervisor at a school where you are (or were) employed.
• transcripts (in addition to those required by the university). Photocopies are acceptable.

You must also receive a positive recommendation following an interview with graduate faculty.

Review by the Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee will review all completed applications and recommend either accepting you as a Classified or Conditionally Classified graduate student, or denying admission. If you are accepted you should contact the Departmental Graduate Advisor before your first semester for advisement and orientation.

Departmental Admission as a Classified Graduate Student The Science Education department will recommend you for admission as a Classified graduate student if you have met all prerequisites and also been accepted by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Departmental Admission as a Conditionally Classified Graduate Student If you fail to meet the criteria for Classified admission to the department you 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 you must do to make up those deficiencies. You must make up all such deficiencies before attaining Classified status.

Program of Study, Thesis & Thesis Committee
The Program of Study includes successful completion of:

• 6 units from EDP 519, EDP 595, EDP 596, EDP 420, EDP 520, ETEC 523, ETEC 553, or ETEC 623 (chosen in consultation with advisor). Most students will take EDP 520, an introduction to educational research methods and statistics, followed by either EDP 519 (for quantitative research) or EDP 595 (for qualitative research).
• Science Education core courses: SCED 550, 551, 552, 553 (SCED 553 required for informal option only)
• Science courses: SCED 500, 501, 502, 697 (elementary option) or 9 units graduate science coursework in a discipline (chosen in consultation with advisor), SCED 697 (secondary option)
• Thesis/project: SCED 698

A Thesis Committee consisting of three members will oversee your progress toward completing a thesis or project. At least two of the committee members must be full time faculty from the Science Education Department. The third member must be approved by your advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee. Each member of your Thesis Committee must ultimately deem the work satisfactory before you can be awarded the M.S. degree.

The thesis or project process includes completing the written work, orally defending the thesis or project, and a public presentation of the work.

Advancement to Candidacy
In addition to the general University requirements stated under Post-Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees in the Catalog, you must be a Classified Graduate Student in the Science Education Department, have completed satisfactorily the Science Education core courses (SCED 550, 551, and 552), and established a Thesis Committee before receiving Candidate status. Upon evidence of satisfactory academic progress, including a minimum GPA of 3.00, the Thesis Committee will recommend you for advancement to candidacy by forwarding its recommendation to the Department Graduate Advisor. Upon approval by the Associate Dean, you will be advanced to candidacy.

Please note: This brochure is not an official document! Always follow the current CSULB University Catalog if you find any discrepancies.