MSE Degree Requirements
A candidate for the MSE degree must complete a minimum of 30 credits, of which 21 must be earned at Lebanon Valley College. Only 6 credits may be transferred into the core. A candidate must achieve at least a 3.00 cumulative average to be certified for graduation.
Required Courses:
MSE 800 Intro. to Science Education| This is an introduction to the content and methodology of science instruction as it relates to hands-on, minds-on science process skills appropriate for school classrooms. This course showcases constructivist strategies which will be used in subsequent courses. 3 credits. |
| Focusing on curriculum design using the PDE Standards Aligned System website and a "backward design" model, students will identify the desired results of a science curriculum based on national and state standards, as well as the PA assessment anchors. Students will explore research-based rationale for reform in science education and address the use of local, state, and national assessments. 3 credits. |
| This course will explore the communication and reading literacy skills that K-12 students need in understanding science education and scientific literature. The course will provide students with opportunities to choose, apply, and evaluate writing, reading, and communication skills with their students by selecting appropriate materials and exercises that reflect the needs of a diverse population of students. The components of a balanced literacy curriculum - phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension - will be addressed as well as strategies to improve these skills in students weak in one or more of the components. Literacy skills that are unique to science will be explored, including learning to communicate in the language of science (charts, tables, data, maps, etc.). 3 credits. |
| Designed to develop the understanding of the methods employed in planning and developing research in science, students will gain experience in generating ideas for research, critically evaluating literature, synthesizing and presenting results of research, and writing in a clear and organized way. Students will explore research-based rationale for reform in science education and address the use of statistics in analyzing science education research as well as local, state, and national assessments. Enduring understandings, content worthy of understanding and the development of essential questions for science courses will be addressed. 3 credits. |
Two courses from:
MSE 801 Principles of Biol. & Life Sci| This course addresses biology and life science concepts prevalent in virtually all science curricula, as well as those set forth in the National Science Education Standards. Students engage in the use of scientific methods to address topics typically taught in biology and life science courses. 3 credits. |
| This course utilizes concepts in chemistry to make connections to common substances. Establishing chemistry as an integral part of everyday life, as well as discoveries made by chance, will make this topic relevant to all students. Prerequisite: MSE 800. 3 credits. |
| This course utilizes hands-on experimental methods to gain confidence and experience with inquiry-based learning of physics. Topics include motion, heat, light, electricity and magnetism. 3 credits. |
| The interaction and effects of geology, meteorology, and space exploration will be explored in this course. Field study is combined with experimental inquiries from exemplary curricula to illustrate critical connections of physics, chemistry and biology with the earth sciences. 3 credits. |
3-credits from one of (MSE Capstone Experience Requirements):
MSE 830 Research in Sci. Ed.: Thesis| A topic relevant to the teaching of science in the classroom will be researched with the approval of the student's advisor. The topic of research should be well documented in professional journals and studies. Graded pass/fail. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: MSE 829. 1-3 credits. |
| A topic relevant to the teaching of science in the classroom will be researched with the approval of the student's advisor. The topic of research should be well documented in professional journals and studies. Graded pass/fail. May be repeated for credit. 1-3 credits. |
Plus THREE additional elective courses.