MEd Science Education Program

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Education

The UIC MEd Science Education - Strand A degree prepares graduates for the opportunities and challenges of teaching science in urban high schools. Strand A is intended for people who have yet to earn an Illinois professional educator license (PEL). The focus on community relevance and social justice is unique among science teacher preparation programs nationally. Students have the option to complete the MEd with PEL in an intense 12-month program or to work at a pace that allows for other commitments and/or additional endorsements (including middle grades science, bilingual, ELL).

Elements of the MEd Science Education program: teaching in urban settings, emphasis on content-rich and social justice-rich curriculum, reliance on teacher inquiry and learning from community partners.

The only masters degree in the Chicago-land area that can be completed in 12 months (three semesters: summer, fall, and spring) providing a high-school professional educator license (PEL) to those with a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences.

Since 2010, more than 120 graduates with many teaching science in Chicago Public Schools serving predominately students of color in low-income communities.

Teacher preparation that attends to standards-based, NGSS-recommended practices and equity and social-justice focused pedagogies.

nextgenscience.org

Learning from faculty and mentor teachers who are pushing the traditional boundaries of science education in order to be responsive to youth and communities.

Yearlong field placement in the same classroom, and student teaching with excellent, experienced science teachers in CPS high schools.

Extensive funding from the National Science Foundation’s NOYCE program that has provided numerous scholarships to teacher candidates.

nsf.gov

Employment of MEd Graduates