These are the science courses offered through the STEM Education program. For information on when a specific course might be offered, please contact the STEM Ed Department.
SCI 501 Science Methods for Elementary School Teachers
The use of current techniques and materials in teaching science in grades K-5 using an integrated approach of pedagogy and content. Special attention will be given to new information technologies, reform-based teaching practices and problem-solving and reasoning. General science concepts are aligned with the academic standards of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks. This course satisfies state initial license instructional methods requirements.
SCI 502 Technology for Elementary Educators
A content course designed to integrate instructional technology and scientific laboratory equipment into elementary instruction. Topics focus on emerging technologies that are recognized as tools to be applied in the science classroom, as well as available laboratory equipment intended to extend the science laboratory experience.
SCI 504 Special Topics in Science for Elementary Educators
A content course that exposes educators to life, physical, chemical and earth sciences that are involved in the development of scientific concepts and processes for elementary school science. A variety of natural phenomena will be used as models to develop an inquiry and standards approach to the learning and teaching of science.
SCI 506 Chemistry for Elementary School Educators
Participants will gain an understanding of chemistry topics organized around societal issues. Science concepts are aligning with the academic standards of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The lecture portion of the course will include a discussion of the chemical nature of living and nonliving things in our society. The laboratory exercises will provide educators with hands-on activities to use in their own science classrooms. Lesson plans and exhibitions will be developed via internet assignments. This course satisfies the DOE science content/chemistry requirement.
SCI 523 Environmental Education in Typical Communities
A content course designed to gain an understanding of the basic processes accounting for environmental changes. The fundamental question of why the natural world is the way it is will be addressed with topics that support how students can be facilitated in exploring the natural world and making educated decisions pertaining to natural resource and environmental issues.
SCI 541 Methods for Middle School General Science Teachers
The use of current techniques and materials in science in grades 5-9. Using an integrated approach of pedagogy and content special attention will be given to new information technologies, reform-based teaching practices and problem-solving and reasoning. General science concepts are aligned with the academic standards of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks. This course satisfies state initial license instructional methods requirements.
SCI 542 Technology for Middle School Educators
A content course designed to integrate instructional technology and scientific laboratory equipment into middle school instruction. Topics focus on emerging technologies that are recognized as tools to be applied in the science classroom, as well as available laboratory equipment intended to extend the science laboratory experience.
SCI 543 Environmental Aspects for Middle School Educators
A content course designed to gain an understanding of the basic processes accounting for environmental changes. The fundamental question of why the natural world is the way it is will be addressed with topics that support how students can be facilitated in exploring the natural world and making educated decisions pertaining to natural resource and environmental issues.
SCI 544 Special Topics for Middle School Educators of Science
An advanced treatment of special topics in general science with an emphasis on recent developments. The subject matter varies from year to year.
SCI 545 Marine Science for Middle School Educators
Marine science for teachers, in application to the local environment. This is a classroom/field-based science course for general science teachers that will link specific learning standards from the Massachusetts State Frameworks to the local environment. Sample MCAS questions from fifth, eighth and tenth grade science and technology examinations will be analyzed.
SCI 546 Chemistry for Middle School Educators
Participants will gain an understanding of chemistry topics organized around societal issues. Science concepts are aligning with the academic standards of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The lecture portion of the course will include a discussion of the chemical nature of living and nonliving things in our society. The laboratory exercises will provide educators with hands-on activities to use in their own science classroom. Lesson plans and exhibitions will be developed via internet assignments. This course satisfies the DOE science content/chemistry requirement.
SCI 547 Physical Science for Middle School Educators
Major science concepts for middle school. This course covers instructional methodology with content-rich material and will link physical science topics and key concepts to specific learning standards and sample MCAS questions.
SCI 548 Earth Science for Middle School Educators
A combination of lecture/laboratory approach to teaching 'hands-on" Earth Science. Course combines topic lectures with practical methods of illustrating important concepts to middle school students.
SCI 550 Biology for Secondary Educators
This highly interactive course presents portions of Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Frameworks and effective instructional models into practical and usable approaches that teachers can implement in today's diverse classroom and teaching strategies. Research based core instructional models such as cooperative learning, multiple intelligences and brain-based learning will be emphasized and applied to the teaching of biology.
SCI 551 Methods for High School Biology Teachers
The use of current techniques and materials in teaching biology in grades 9-12. Using an integrated approach of pedagogy and content special attention will be given to new information technologies, reform-based teaching practices and problem-solving and reasoning. General biology concepts are aligned with the academic standards of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks. This course satisfies state initial license instructional methods requirements.
SCI 552 Technology for Biology Educators
Relevant contemporary science investigated through new innovative technologies in an inquiry-based classroom. Topics focus on emerging technologies with an integrated scientific understanding and data analysis. Coursework applies knowledge of science concepts through the latest affordances of dynamic software and hardware to create new learning opportunities and examine how to implement these into mainstream secondary biology curriculum.
SCI 553 Environmental Aspects in Biology
A content course designed to gain an understanding of the basic processes accounting for environmental changes. The fundamental question of why the natural world is the way it is will be addressed with topics that support how students can be facilitated in exploring the natural world and making educated decisions pertaining to natural resource and environmental issues appropriate for the secondary biology classroom.
SCI 554 Special Topics for Secondary Educators of Biology
An advanced treatment of special topics in biology with an emphasis on recent developments. The subject matter varies from year to year.
SCI 556 Molecular Diagnostics for Educators
Participants will gain an understanding of molecular diagnostics concepts and techniques relating to the instruction of middle school and secondary science education. Fundamentals of molecular biology and current application will be explored using lecture and laboratory experiences as well as online discussion. Reflective discussion, inquiry based learning, and technology in practice will be integrated into unit development and lesson plans. This course can satisfy the DOE science content/biology content or technology requirement for MAT students of both the middle school and high school level.
SCI 557 Cell Biology/Heredity for Educators
This course addresses portions of Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Frameworks involving cellular biology and principles of heredity. Through didactic and laboratory experiences, practical teaching strategies and classroom applications are explored. Emphasis is placed on research based core instructional models demonstrated in the completion of a Constructive Action portfolio.
SCI 561 Methods for High School Chemistry Teachers
The use of current techniques and materials in teaching chemistry in grades 9-12. Using an integrated approach of pedagogy and content special attention will be given to new information technologies, reform-based teaching practices and problem solving and reasoning. General chemistry concepts are aligned with the academic standards of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
SCI 571 Methods and Materials for Secondary Teachers of Physics (cross-listed with PHY 530)
The use of current techniques and materials in teaching physics in grades 9-12. Using an integrated approach of pedagogy and content special attention will be given to new information technologies, reform-based teaching practices and problem-solving and reasoning. General physics concepts are aligned with the academic standards of the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.
SCI 585 Physical Oceanography for Educators
Physical and chemical oceanographic concepts, formation and evolution of Earth's ocean and coastal zone. Students will take an Earth system approach to study the ocean as a dynamic system linking the geosphere, atmosphere and biosphere over billions of years of Earth history with special attention paid to the formation and evolution of oceanic basins and biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus through open-ocean and coastal systems including connections between terrestrial and oceanic systems in estuaries and beach environments in an environment of climate change. This course is directed toward pre and in-service K-12 teachers, general education and science students.
SCI 587 Astronomy for Educators
An introduction to astronomy that surveys the content, structure, and scale of the cosmos as it is presently known. Properties of the solar system, the sun and stars, exotic objects such as pulsars and black holes, galaxies, quasars, and the universe as a whole are discussed. Each semester a different topic of current interest in astronomical research will also be covered. Coursework applies topics to middle school and secondary science curriculum.
SCI 588 Earth History for Educators
Deep time, physical and chemical evolution of Earth's surface since formation, development of the ocean, atmosphere and the diversification of life. Students will explore the techniques by which geologists and biologists work in tandem to unravel the evolution of life as stored in the rock record with particular effort directed toward principles of stratigraphy, relative and absolute dating and the conditions under which fossilization occurs. This course is intended for pre and in-service K-12 teachers as well as general education students and science majors with interests in geology, paleontology and evolution.
SCI 591 Topics in Science for Teachers
This graduate level course is highly interdisciplinary, since the content incorporates biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology and other subjects. There are two parts: first, general oceanography with a focus on the history of the ocean and of oceanography; seawater and sediments; ocean currents, waves and tides; shorelines and shoreline processes; and the marine environment. The second part of the course is marine biology, with the emphasis on plankton, nekton, and benthic fauna; marine fish and fisheries, seashore life and the intertidal zone and marine mammals.
SCI 595 Independent Study
Study under the supervision of a faculty member in an area not otherwise part of the discipline's course offerings. Conditions and hours to be arranged.
SCI 596 Directed Study
Study under the supervision of a faculty member in an area covered in a regular course not currently being offered. Conditions and hours to be arranged.
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