Faculty and students in the Science Education programs at the University of Michigan work side-by-side with practitioners to explore solutions to questions like these. The specialization in science education provides a broad perspective from which students and faculty can examine these issues. Advanced knowledge in the sciences and science education along with interdisciplinary study are required to understand and investigate the complex problems facing science education today. The program encourages interdisciplinary work in close cooperation with the university’s science departments and with research programs in other areas of education and the human sciences. In the science education program at Michigan, you will have the opportunity to work along side world-class faculty and other top-notch graduate students to develop your capabilities as a science educator.
How can you design instructional materials to support diverse students in learning science through inquiry? How can new learning technologies support students in doing science inquiry? What should teachers and students know about the role of language and other representations in science learning? How do you design science teacher preparation programs to promote teaching for understanding? How do you design professional development programs to support practicing teachers? How do you design assessments to measure the learning outcomes on new inquiry-based curricula? Faculty and students in the Science Education Specialization at the University of Michigan School of Education are exploring questions like these, and developing innovative curriculum to support diverse students learning enduring ideas in science through inquiry. Exciting research projects focus on the uses of learning technologies in science teaching and learning, the preparation and professional development of elementary, middle school, and high school science teachers, and the adaptation of science reform programs to urban classrooms. Some of the current projects include:
The University of Michigan graduate specialization in science education provides a broad perspective from which students and faculty can examine these issues. When you join the Science Education program at the University of Michigan, you will join a program that leads the way in exploring new ideas to promote student learning and improve the teaching and learning of science.
If you are a motivated learner who learns through engagement with challenging ideas and real-world experiences and an individual who wants to impact the teaching and learning of science in schools, then the School of Education Science Education Specialization may be of interest to you. The specialization will prepare graduate students to tackle difficulty challenges facing the teaching of science in classrooms. The specialization prepares the graduate students to use theoretical and research-based ideas to change science classrooms.
This degree specialization is housed within the Educational Studies program, which fosters links among students and faculty in a number of specializations sharing a commitment to the integration of theory and research on teaching, learning, and educational access in P-12 settings.
The School of Education offers Science and Education degrees at both the Master's and Doctoral levels.
The Doctoral Specialization in Science Education at the University of Michigan prepares scholars and researchers to explore important issues in science education that have an impact on the teaching and learning of science. A primary focus of the doctoral specialization at the University of Michigan is exploration of important questions that can impact children, science teachers and science classrooms as well as informing other scholars in the field of science education. As a student you will develop and refine your own research questions and agenda in concert with others dedicated to the same goal. You will study important topics in science education and then immerse yourself in real-world research alongside nationally recognized specialists in their field. Experts in the field of science education will guide and support your work.
Advanced knowledge in the sciences and science education along with interdisciplinary study are required to understand and investigate the complex problems facing science education today. Specializing in science education requires in-depth understanding of several fields. These include: a science discipline, educational psychology, sociology, history and philosophy of science, and curriculum design.
Teaching and research assistantships are available for qualified applicants. Teaching assistantships, available for those individuals with science teaching experience at the elementary, middle, or high school levels, involve working with science methods and practicum classes and/or the supervision of student teachers. Research assistantships involve work on a variety of externally funded projects. The Science Education area has close ties to both the Learning Technology area and the Teacher Education area within the Educational Studies program.
After completion of your Ph.D. in Science Education, you will be prepared for leadership positions in higher education, public and private research, and school leadership.
It is also worth noting that, as a unit within Michigan's Educational Studies Program, the Science Education PhD program is a national partner in the Carnegie Initiative on the Doctorate, sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of teaching.
I would like to see a list of faculty and their research interests.
What kind of work can I do in this program?
I would like to see a list of Doctoral degree requirements.
I have questions about the Doctoral program which still need answering.
I would like to talk to a graduate student about the program.
The Mater’s Specialization in Science Education at the University of Michigan prepares educational specialists to solve important problems in science education. As a student you will develop and refine your knowledge and capabilities to address these problems. You will study a variety of topics in science education as well as other educational areas. Through field experience and internships, you will apply your new understandings to schools, classrooms, and informal settings. Experts in the field of science education will guide and support your work. After completing your master’s in Science Education, you will be prepared for various leadership positions public and private schools, museums, environmental educations centers or other educational organizations.
To assist those interested in the various concentrations, here are the names of faculty members, student ambassadors, and recent graduates involved with the Science Education specialization. If you have a general question about the program, or would like to talk to a current student about the program, please visit the Science Education Contacts page.
Faculty: To view a faculty member's research interests, click on their name (links open up a new window).
Affiliated faculty:
Ambassadors are students who have agreed to answer your questions about the program. We know there are times when you really want to hear about the program from a student's perspective, and these students have agreed to share their experiences. If you have general Science Education questions, please contact the program directly here. Remember: In order to alert you to recruitment events and the latest admissions updates, be sure to also fill out a graduate program inquiry form
.
Ambassadors:
Jay Fogleman - PhD Student in Science Ed
I'm researching professional development that supports teachers enacting inquiry-based curricula. I'm a doctoral student with family that includes school-aged children, living in Dexter, a small village outside of Ann Arbor.
Barbara Crawford
David Fortus
Amelia Gotwals
Hee-Sun Lee
April Luehmann
Scott McDonald
Katherine McNeill
Julia Plummer
Ann Rivet
Rebecca M. Schneider
Michele Spitulnik
Mark Templin
Hsin-Kai Wu
BaoHui Zhang
Within the Science Education specialization at the University of Michigan, you will have opportunities to work with faculty members who are exploring a range of substantive questions in science education.
Here is a list of some of the projects that Science Education faculty and students are working on now, or have been involved with in the past.
Science Education Projects and Centers (Links on this page will open in a new window. To return to this page, please close the window.)
The Center for Highly Interactive Computing in Education (HiCe)
BioKIDS: Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species
CASES for New Elementary Science Teachers
The Center for Curriculum Materials in Science Education
Investigating and questioning my world through science and technology, IQUEST
ED 750 Learning and Social Cognition in Science and Technology
ED 713 Seminar on Science Education
ED 737 Designing Science Education Learning Environments
ED 830 Historical and Philosophical Roots of Science Education
ED 831 Theory, Research and Classroom Practices in Science Education
ED 832 Theory and Research on the Development of Expertise of Science Teachers
ED 833 Theory, Research and use of Technological Tools in Science
Are you interested in applying to our program? If so, you've come to the right place. Just follow the steps below. Links will open up in a new window, close the window to return to this page.
1. Do you have any questions you would like answered before you
apply? If so, view the School
of Education Frequently Asked Questions or contact
the program. If not, continue on to item 2.
2. Fill out a Rackham program inquiry form to get you into our
system, so we can inform you of the latest recruiting events and other admissions
updates. You can fill
out a program
inquiry form by clicking here (be sure to close the new window to return
to this page).
3. Application Process: You will need to complete an application
to the Horace H. Rackham Graduate School,
which is the overall administrative unit for graduate programs. It is mandatory
that you use the Rackham Web application to apply to our programs.
You also need to send us a statement of purpose, official transcripts from every institution you have attended, three letters of recommendation, and your GRE scores. International students should also send in their TOEFL scores.
We created an application checklist for your use in keeping track of where and when you sent application materials. We recommend that you download and print up an application checklist.
Application Checklist
Fee waivers are available through the Rackham Graduate School for prospective students who qualify for Specialized Fee Waiver Groups. Please check Rackham's fee waiver Web page to see if you are eligible for one of these groups.
Note: The Office of Student Services matches documents to an application using the name appearing on the Rackham application. If the name on your documents, i.e., transcript, letter of recommendation, etc., is different from the name appearing on your application, please be sure to indicate all former last names or other first names on the Rackham application. Contact the Office of Student Services if you have information about your name that you did not include on the Rackham application.
For the latest deadline, please see our deadlines page
5. We hope you will get acquainted with us through our web materials,
e-mail correspondence, and when possible, a personal
visit. Be sure to
check out the University of
Michigan Web site, the Rackham
Graduate School Web site, and the rest of the resources in this program
site along with the School of Education Web site. In addition, you may want
to view the SOE
Bulletin.
There are opportunities through both the School of Education and the Rackham
Graduate School for merit and need based fellowships. To find out more, we
encourage you to review the
Graduate Financial Aid Resource Guide.
The Office
of Fellowships and Recruitment
is the contact for the Rackham Graduate School (734-764-8119).
We are delighted to learn of your interest in the University
of Michigan and this program. We encourage you to visit the campus to
discuss your interests with faculty and students. Visits are most helpful if
made prior to or during the application process. In addition to arranging individual
campus visits, you are encouraged to attend the annual Graduate Information Day. This is a great opportunity
for you to meet with School of Education faculty and staff, some of our current
students, and other prospective students. We wish you the best of luck in pursuing your
graduate studies and encourage you to contact us (above) if you have any questions
about the University of Michigan or your program.
Still have questions? If so, please visit the School
of Education Frequently Asked Questions, or contact the Office
of Student Services.
Questions about the status of your application? Check your application data and status online, via Wolverine Access. Please allow 7 days after submitting your application before checking your web application status on Wolverine Access. To do this you will need to use a login ID and password, and confirm some personal data before viewing your application:
For applicants who are current students or employees
1. Log into Wolverine Access using your existing UMICH uniqname login and click "New and Prospective Student Business."
"For applicants who are new to the University you will
need to create a secure login using a UM Friend Account and then log into Wolverine
Access at https://friend.weblogin.umich.edu/
1. Create a Friend Account by clicking on the following link: Create a Friend Account.
NOTE: If you have questions about creating a UM Friend Account you may go to http://www.itd.umich.edu/itcsdocs/s4316
2. Log into Wolverine Access at https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu/ and click "New and Prospective Student Business."
If you have any further questions, contact the Office
of Student Services at
(734) 764-7563 or
ed.grad.appl@umich.edu.
If you are interested in other School of Education programs, return to the "Academic Programs" home by clicking on the tab above or by clicking here.
