The M.S.T. program is designed to offer a sound preparation to teachers who have little or uneven background in the sciences. Teachers will find that the program helps them acquire the preparation to move from one science discipline to another, or to move into science teaching from a non-science discipline. Schools may request the graduate program for specific cohorts.
Students who hold a teaching certificate at the time of matriculation must take a minimum of 36 credit hours to complete the M.S.T. degree. Individuals who lack certification will normally be required to become certified as part of the M.S.T. program. Certification requires additional coursework, some of which may be at the undergraduate level. See the list of licensure courses in the Secondary Education Program section of the Lyndon State College Undergraduate Catalog.
The M.S.T. program utilizes primarily science education (SED) courses. All SED courses are 5000 level. The number system for SED courses is as follows:
SED 5010-5271 reserved for Biology
SED 5280-5435 reserved for Chemistry
SED 5440-5540 reserved for Geology
SED 5550-5680 reserved for Physics
SED 5690-6040 reserved for Science
SED 6050-6070 reserved for Independent Study in Science Education
Each SED course consists of three components:
1. An undergraduate science course.
2. Additional analytical work of an appropriate nature and complexity. This includes more advanced work with relevant problems, assignments, labs, papers, and projects.
3. Development of a methodology to apply course content in the classroom. This may include collecting and organizing teaching materials, compiling and documenting age-appropriate laboratory procedures, and preparation of study units.
For each course, plans regarding all items 2 and 3 above are documented on an M.S.T. Study Contract. The contract form shall be completed and submitted to the Academic Dean in the early weeks of the semester. M.S.T. Study Contract forms are available online or from the Registrar’s Office. Registration for a SED course is not official until a completed contract is approved by the faculty member, adviser, Natural Science Department Chairperson, the Academic Dean, and then filed with the Registrar’s Office.
Teaching Practice – Students are expected to complete SCI 6070 Graduate Science Teaching Internship for 1-3 credits. This course typically involves a teaching component in the field, as well as sessions on campus with the instructor and other graduate students involved in SCI 6070.
In addition to required coursework, students may take up to six (6) approved graduate credits in non-science disciplines. Possible topic areas include English/language arts, special education, mathematics, and computer science.
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