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Online Master's in STEM Education

Curriculum

Online Master’s in STEM Education Curriculum

Through your coursework for the Online MS in STEM Education, you will develop the research and pedagogical competencies to teach the problem-solving and innovation skills your students need to succeed in today’s world. Our carefully designed course mix also provides an understanding of current cultural and educational topics, timely instruction on science and math subjects, and ample opportunities for independent research and experience. The 8-week courses and sequencing offer maximum flexibility to earn your degree without sacrificing other commitments.

Core Courses (3 semester hours unless otherwise indicated)

The core requirements for the STEM Education MS consist of:

15 semester hours on STEM pedagogy, including
- 6 semester hours of independent research
3 semester hours on issues in U.S. schools
6 semester hours of extracurricular experience and capstone

While most students take the 6-semester-hour capstone course in the summer, you can arrange an alternative with your advisor if needed.

EDTL 6761 STEM Research and Leadership Seminar

This seminar course provides participants with a broad overview of the research supporting new and innovative teaching practices in the STEM disciplines and in integrated STEM learning. The course will focus on introducing students to relevant journals related to STEM learning and teaching. Students will engage in summarizing, critiquing, and discussing a variety of research perspectives and articles, as well as describing how the information they are encountering is related to their current teaching situations. Students will also explore ways to improve their own pedagogical and instructional practices, as well as methods for assessing critical student outcomes in their courses. Students will ideally develop an awareness of the research that is providing a foundation for effective STEM teaching and learning as well as strategies for implementing research-supported practices in STEM learning contexts of all types.

EDTL 6563 STEM Through Mathematical Modeling

The intent of the course is to prepare potential STEM teachers or in-service teachers who would like to develop integrated STEM learning environments to learn mathematical modeling as an interdisciplinary instructional approach. Mathematical modeling is a practice to learn and teach mathematics as well as science, engineering, and technology that focuses on students’ understanding of new concepts from an individual knowledge basis. Students will engage in problem-based learning environments where individuals develop conjectures, critique their own and others’ arguments, and revise ideas to reach conclusions. Ultimately, students are expected to use the mathematical modeling process in learning any new concepts in STEM. Through this course, students will understand how people learn new concepts and how teachers can provide adequate learning environments for students to reach a goal–learning and understanding the core concepts in STEM.

EDTL 6762 STEM Experiential Learning

This course is designed to provide you with meaningful and practical learning experiences that will prepare you to engage in and create effective STEM learning environments within and outside of the traditional classroom setting. The course will explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics in contexts to solve problems that make connections between school, community, work, and the global enterprise enabling the development of STEM literacy and with it the ability to compete in the new economy. The intent of this course is to provide the participants with an overview of the research and best practices supporting new and innovative experiential teaching practices in the STEM disciplines and in integrated STEM learning. The course will focus on introducing students to STEM problem-based learning models for curriculum, instruction and assessment by engaging in authentic experiences and reflecting on how these influence practice and student learning. The course provides an authentic, meaningful, and cross-curricular experience preparing you to be successful in facilitating student engagement in real-world situations and solving problems of interest to the student and community through engagement with community partners.

EDTL 6764 STEM Extracurricular Experience and Capstone (6 s.h.)

Engages teachers in STEM experience outside the traditional classroom; provides 90-hour STEM inclusive experience coupled with a capstone project; engagement with STEM community leaders, business partners, or outreach leaders to develop a plan for participation in, and investigation of, a STEM-related experience; may work with a STEM extracurricular activity in a school or university, a STEM-related business or industry partner, or a STEM-related grant-funded project through a university; course completion is accomplished through a capstone sharing of their experience, how the experience has solidified their understanding of STEM, and how the experience will impact their classroom activities.

EDTL 5095 Issues in U.S. Schools

This course addresses critical questions facing American public schools–governance, finance, and policy structures that have influenced teaching and learning. There is a particular emphasis on disproportionate access and privilege within the institutions that comprise and support public schooling.

EDTL 6765 STEM Independent Research

Opportunity to develop an independent research project and explore a STEM education question of personal interest; students design and carry out research in an authentic STEM learning environment, collect and analyze data, develop claims and conclusions based on their research, present findings, and develop a plan for utilizing findings to improve STEM education learning environments. This is a 3-semester hour course and you must take it two times to fulfill the degree requirements. Prerequisites: EDTL 6761.

Elective Requirements

Complete the 36 semester hours required for your master’s degree by choosing two courses from each of the Math and Science Electives and the Additional Electives for a total of 12 semester hours.

Math and Science Electives (3 semester hours unless otherwise indicated.)

The degree requirements include six elective semester hours on math and science education subjects. Choose two courses from the following to fulfill this requirement.

EDTL 4565 Math in Management & Social Sciences

This course will discuss various real-life applications of modern mathematics, including management, decision-making, issues of optimization, methods for optimal scheduling, voting methods, game theory, error checking, and other related strategies. Participants will explore applications of modern mathematics, including management, decision-making, issues of optimization, methods for optimal scheduling, voting methods, game theory, error checking, and other related strategies.

EDTL 6766 Physical Science in STEM Education

This course is designed to increase knowledge of physical science content in a form that is relevant to education standards, such as Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and connected to engaging and contemporary issues in physical science. Weekly expectations will be differentiated to provide opportunities for deepening knowledge of science. Students will gain insight into teaching science and work together to think critically on the conceptual basis of subject matter appropriate for learners in their context. This course is designed for educators at all levels (e.g., elementary, secondary, and informal settings).

EDTL 6767 Systems Thinking in Biology & STEM Education

This course provides a broad overview of research supporting new and innovative teaching practices in STEM disciplines and in integrated STEM learning. Focuses on introducing students to relevant journals related to STEM learning and teaching. Students will engage in summarizing, critiquing, and discussing a variety of research perspectives and articles, as well as describing how the information is related to their current teaching situations. Students will explore ways to improve their own STEM pedagogical and instructional practices and methods for assessing critical student outcomes. Students will develop an awareness of the research that is providing a foundation for effective STEM teaching and learning as well as strategies for implementing research-supported practices in STEM learning contexts of all types.

EDTL 4768 Computer Science Methods

Introduction to issues and ideas related to the instruction of computer science courses; how to integrate computer science learning into other areas or content learning into computer science courses in meaningful ways; meets all requirements the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has set forth for computer science methods courses including curriculum development, project-based methodologies, communication about computing, and digital citizenship.

Additional Electives (3 semester hours unless otherwise indicated.)

Choose two courses from the list below to satisfy the requirement for six semester hours of additional electives. Other elective courses may be available; consult your advisor for updated information.

EDTL 5085-OEXW Generation Innovation: Technology Integration in 21st Century K-12 Schools

This exploratory course will address the paradigm shift happening in K-12 settings regarding technology deployment and will examine topics including diversity and equity in technology integration, theories of teaching and learning in technology-enhanced environments, personalized learning, innovation/innovator mindset, professional learning networks, digital citizenship, maker spaces, and the four Cs: creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

EDTL 5090-OEXW Diversity and Identity in K-12 Schools

This course is an advanced seminar on diversity and identity-related issues in K-12 education for practicing teachers and K-12 professionals; students engage in regular self-evaluation of practices and develop a deeper understanding of racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of oppression as they relate to the practices of K-12 teachers and schools; curricular and pedagogical decision-making, relative to impact on student identity.

PSQF 4143-0EXW Introduction to Statistical Methods

Analysis, interpretation of research data; descriptive statistics; introduction to probability, sampling theory, statistical inference (binomial, normal distribution, t-distribution models); linear correlation, regression. Same as STAT 4143.

Additional Externship Opportunity for Iowa Teachers

University of Iowa faculty members Ted Neal and Leslie Flynn are mentors for the STEM Teacher Externship Program, which has placed more than 700 teachers in Iowa workplaces since 2009. The program offers participating teachers:

Up to 3 graduate credits
A stipend of up to $5,000
Important industry connections
Workplace experience with the latest applications

Talk with an admissions outreach advisor for more information.

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