College of Education
Spark student success and your own
Spark student success and your own

The University of Iowa Online Master’s in STEM Education

“The importance of a diverse STEM-educated workforce to the nation's prosperity, security, and competitiveness grows every year.”1

We urgently need more highly qualified and effective STEM teachers to create that workforce. The online MS in STEM Education, focusing on integrated inquiry and innovation, will help you prepare K-12 students to thrive in the 21st-century economy. Earn this experience-rich degree no matter where you live in as little as two years on a part-time schedule.

Program Details
  • Complete in as few as 2 years
  • Start in Spring, Summer, or Fall
  • 8-week courses
  • No GRE

Fill the need for STEM educators

Drawing of battery

Energize your career

Put your MS to work in the classroom, as an administrator or beyond.

Drawing of thought bubble with light bulb

Ignite your students’ learning

Give them the power to see and explore STEM connections all around.

Drawing of instructor pointing at presentation

Teach while you learn

Our flexible program fits your life and offers immediate career impact.

Take your career and students further

Want to see how a master’s degree can help you teach better, lead more effectively and fuel your career? Complete the form to get a program brochure.

Get valuable insights into the online experience, learn more about the College of Education, and see where this degree can take you.

Discover Your Next Step

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Uniquely practical curriculum

Experience first-hand the educational power of our teaching model in the uniquely well-designed fieldwork opportunity that is the centerpiece of our flexible curriculum. Working with your advisor and community partners, you’ll devise 10 real-world STEM research questions, then select one to develop into a capstone project. Your project will include community engagement, research, and lesson plans for your classes.

Iowa stands for innovation

The University of Iowa has been moving education forward for more than 175 years. In the 1930s, we hosted the first educational television station in the country. Today we’re pioneering new and better ways to teach STEM subjects to students at all grade levels. That's one reason U.S. News and World Report ranks us as the #23 Best Online Master’s in Education and the #1 college in Iowa.2, 3

#1
Best College in Iowa3
#23
Best Online Master of Education2

Embrace the future as a STEM teacher

Kindle your career and your students’ passion for STEM with the holistic problem-solving skills you gain in the University of Iowa online MS in STEM Education. Learn strategies and techniques to successfully implement a STEM-integrated curriculum, empowering students to succeed in the innovation-centered roles dominating the 21st-century job market.

Depending on the electives you choose, you may also be able to complete many of the requirements for the State of Iowa K-12 STEM Education Specialist endorsement. Candidates seeking the endorsement may need to complete additional coursework before applying to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

The 36 semester-hour curriculum for the online MS in STEM Education encompasses:

  • 15 semester hours on STEM pedagogy, including
    • 6 semester hours of independent research
  • 3 semester hours on issues in U.S. schools
  • 6 elective semester hours on math and science subjects
  • 6 semester hours of additional electives
  • 6 semester hours of extracurricular experience and capstone

When you complete the program, you will have a sturdy theoretical foundation for your STEM teaching and extensive practical experience, plus several new connections with classmates, faculty, and your community research partners.

Review the Curriculum

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Student in sweatshirt and jeans using laptop on stairs

This program fits your schedule. Not the other way around.

You don’t have to give up your other commitments to complete this 24-month program, which is thoughtfully designed for working teachers. You can begin the program when the time is right for you and carry a part-time course load, taking one 8-week class at a time, without courses overlapping.

Female student in green sweater working on laptop

Lots of collaborating, no commuting.

Asynchronous course delivery and our robust online learning platform allow you to work on your schedule while sharing the journey with peers and professors.

Two education students speaking with two young girls in a classroom setting

Immediate impact.

Because you can keep teaching while you learn, you can immediately see the impact of your new skills and techniques as they help your students thrive.

“I enjoyed learning how to move beyond content and integrate subject matter in an interdisciplinary way. The program emphasized the journey, not the destination.”
Don M., MS in STEM ‘21
“I enjoyed learning how to move beyond content and integrate subject matter in an interdisciplinary way. The program emphasized the journey, not the destination.”
Don M., MS in STEM ‘21

Core Course Highlight

STEM Through Mathematical Modeling

Learn mathematical modeling as an integrated approach for teaching science, engineering and technology, as well as math. You’ll engage in a process that focuses on understanding new concepts based on existing knowledge and includes:

  • Developing conjectures
  • Critiquing arguments
  • Revising ideas to reach conclusions

This course will show you how to create a learning environment that helps your students understand the core concepts in STEM and apply them to real-world situations.

Instructor assisting student at desk with computer

Elective Course Highlight

Generation Innovation: Technology Integration in 21st-Century K-12 Schools

Explore the shifting paradigm of technology deployment in K-12 settings. Examine several topics related to technology in education, including

  • Diversity and equity
  • Theories of technology-enhanced teaching and learning
  • Digital citizenship and more

Get a big-picture perspective on how technology shapes curriculum, teacher professional development, and student learning and identity development.

Three students seated at table in front of window and studying

Craft a capstone project as unique as you are

A third of your course credits for the MS in STEM Education at Iowa derive directly from your independent work to synthesize the concepts you’ve learned and apply them in your local school environment.

Through partnerships with local organizations and STEM experts, you will develop research projects and lesson plans that address teaching standards in your subject and school system, and present it all to your classmates at the end of the course. Students typically take the 6-semester-hour capstone course (EDTL 6764) in the summer.

You decide, with support and advice from our expert faculty, which to pursue as your capstone experience. Students have done projects on endangered species, water quality monitoring and conservation, and the flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem, among others.

View the video

Kimberly Brisby lesson plan and screenshot of video
“I loved the feedback throughout the course. The individualized support and communication helped me to stay motivated and focused.”
Kaitlyn B., MS in STEM ‘21

Online Master’s in STEM Education Faculty

When you enroll in Iowa’s online MS in STEM Education, you can count on coaching and support from our faculty with recognized expertise and thought leadership in their fields. Our instructors are active researchers who have published extensively and contribute to the profession through their involvement with professional organizations.

Ted Neal, PhD

Ted Neal, PhD

Clinical Professor of Science Education, Program Coordinator

Dae Hong, EdD

Dae (Danny) S. Hong, EdD

Associate Professor of Math Education

Put your MS to work right away or go on for your PhD

Iowa’s MS in STEM Education provides immediate career impact for licensed STEM teachers and practitioners, and sound preparation for doctoral work.

Although a master’s degree is not required for most K-12 teaching positions, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that a master’s degree can boost your salary. Nationally and across professions, those with master’s degrees earn an average of 18% more than those whose highest degree is a bachelor’s.4

Your master’s degree also opens doors to educational leadership and administration opportunities.

Use your MS in STEM Education in any of these areas
  • K-12 classrooms
  • Community programs
  • Content creation and publishing
  • Education advocacy
  • Instructional leadership
  • Curriculum development
“[The program] allowed me to further my goals as a teacher and also gave me the stepping stone to move forward in becoming a secondary education principal.”
Kaitlyn B., MS in STEM ‘21
“[The program] allowed me to further my goals as a teacher and also gave me the stepping stone to move forward in becoming a secondary education principal.”
Kaitlyn B., MS in STEM ‘21
GET BIG TEN PRESTIGE AT
AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
Fuel your teaching success and enjoy the same affordable tuition wherever you live. Tuition is $595 per semester hour,* and qualified students may be eligible for financial aid.

Admissions Overview

Candidates for the MS in STEM Education should have a teaching license or certification and a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale from a bachelor’s degree program that included an educator preparation program.

Candidates with degrees or professional experience in the following areas are preferred.

  • A science or math subject area
  • Science or math education
  • Elementary education with a science or math emphasis

Candidates who do not fit this description may still be admitted. Explore your options with an admissions outreach advisor.

More Admissions Info Apply Now

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Frequently Asked Questions

What services and support do I have access to as an online student?

Students admitted and enrolled in program coursework are supported through program advisement and financial aid services and have access to the University of Iowa Library Services and IT Support Services.

  • Remote access to UI Libraries’ subscription databases and research collections
  • Research assistance by phone, email, or online meeting
  • Book delivery (within the U.S.)
  • Scanning and delivery of articles and book chapters
  • Resource guides and recommendations for research tools

What are the technology requirements?

Online students have access to free software and technical assistance to ensure they meet the minimum system and connection requirements. Please visit the University’s technical support site for more information.

Is the University of Iowa accredited?

Yes. The University of Iowa is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Can I apply if my GPA is lower than 3.0?

Yes, however, you will be asked for additional information to support your application to the program.

Will my degree indicate that I completed coursework online?

No, the expectations of graduates from this program are no different than any other graduate from the University of Iowa. The only difference is in the method of program delivery.

Does this program offer licensure in Iowa or any other state?

No, this program does not offer initial licensure in Iowa or any other state. Depending on which electives you choose, you may be able to complete a large number of requirements toward the State of Iowa K-12 STEM Education Specialist endorsement. Candidates seeking the endorsement may need to complete additional coursework before applying to the BOEE. The Iowa K-12 STEM Education Specialist endorsement is a State of Iowa endorsement only. This only applies to teachers in Iowa. Students residing in other states need to review the requirements in their state.

Is the GRE or any other examination required?

No, the GRE or other test scores are not required.

Can I take the courses out of sequence or start at a later date?

This program is designed to allow maximum flexibility. Students generally begin with the STEM Research and Leadership Seminar (EDTL 6761), but occasionally scheduling may require a different sequence. STEM Extracurricular Experience and Capstone (EDTL 6764) is typically the final course in the program.

Can transfer credits from another college/university apply toward program requirements?

Yes, up to 12 semester credit hours of graduate coursework can be transferred into the program if approved by the program director in conjunction with the faculty lead for the course being substituted. Candidates seeking transfer credits must provide a syllabus for the course completed to be used for the course review process. Official transcripts will also be required for any institution where transfer credits were earned. Official transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to the Office of Admissions, 108 Calvin Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242 or adm-transcript@uiowa.edu. Do not send unofficial copies to this account. Official mailed records must be received in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution.

How are the courses delivered?

All courses are delivered entirely online through Canvas. Courses are typically 8 weeks in length.

Do I qualify for financial aid?

Students who want to apply for financial aid should complete and submit the FAFSA as early as possible. The financial aid office at the University of Iowa will work with students to determine options for funding university coursework based on FAFSA results. Iowa’s FAFSA code is 001892. Learn more on our tuition and financial aid page.

Students with specific questions about financial aid may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid by email at financial-aid@uiowa.edu or by phone at 319-335-1450. For more information, visit the financial aid website.

Admissions Deadlines

Summer 2024 Term

Apr
26
PRIORITY DEADLINE
April 26
Summer 2024
May
24
FINAL DEADLINE
May 24
Summer 2024
Jun
10
START DATE
June 10
Summer 2024

Spark your career, galvanize your students with Iowa STEM Education

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

The University of Iowa has engaged Everspring, a leading provider of education and technology services, to support select aspects of program delivery.