Iowa State University
College of Human Sciences


Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

Programs and Degrees> Graduate: Masters programs> Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Secondary Science

Master of Science in Education (M.S.) | Master of Education (M.Ed.) | Master of Education with Secondary Mathematics Licensure | Curriculum and Instructional Technology (Minor)

 

We have a masters level licensure program that has been developed for individuals already possessing an undergraduate science degree.

The program begins each May and successful individuals graduate 15 months later at the end of the summer in time to begin working that fall.

Graduates of the program will have a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and will have completed all requirements for licensure in the state of Iowa.

 

b Required Courses

 

Summer I
C I 514 (Introduction to science teaching) 2 cr.
20 clock hours Field Experience
C I 529 (Educational Psychology and the Secondary Classroom) 3 cr.
SP ED 501 (Teaching Students with Disabilities) 3 cr.

H P C 504 (Foundations of American Education) 3 cr.


Fall
C I 518 (Science Methods I) 2 cr.
C I 591D (40 clock hours supervised field exp.) 2 cr.
C I 547 (Nature of Science and Science Education) 3 cr.
C I 506 (Multicultural Gender Fair Education) 3 cr.


Spring
C I 519 (Science Methods II) 2 cr.
C I 591D (60 clock hours supervised field exp.) 2 cr.
C I 517 B, D, J, or M (Student Teaching) 12 cr.

Summer II
C I 546 (Advanced Pedagogy in Science Education) 3 cr.
C I 505 (Using Technology in Learning and Teaching.) 2 cr.
C I 599C (Creative Component) 3 cr.

 

Total Required Credits = 45


Note: Updated on Apr. 22, 2008


b Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 71KB)

 

tri What program is available at ISU to become a secondary science teacher?

tri Can I keep my full time job while I complete this program?

tri Are courses offered online or through the ICN?

tri What is required for admission to this program?

tri What is the cost of the program?

tri Is financial aid available?

tri How do I know what science areas I will be licensed to teach?

tri Are the teacher preparation courses part of the master's degree?

tri If I enroll in the program, how often would I need to travel to Ames?

tri How is this program different than alternative licensure programs such as those offered online or through some school-district "fast track" programs?

tri Is there a limit on the number of people admitted to the program?

 

What program is available at ISU to become a secondary science teacher?

We have a masters level licensure program that has been developed for individuals already
possessing an undergraduate science degree and little or no education course work. The program
begins each May and successful individuals graduate 15 months later at the end of the summer―
in time to begin working that fall. Graduates of the program will have a Master of Arts in
Teaching (M.A.T.) and will have completed all requirements for licensure in the state of Iowa.

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Can I keep my full time job while I complete this program?

The program is designed to produce highly effective science teachers who, because they are
successful, will enjoy teaching. Such a program is demanding and requires students be full time
graduate students during those 15 months.

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Are courses offered online or through the ICN?

Because learning to effectively teach requires face-to-face interaction and modeling of effective
teaching by faculty, we limit the science methods courses to 27 students and all courses are
offered on campus except for the extensive field experiences that occur in public schools.

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What is required for admission to this program?

Qualifications for our program include a bachelor's degree in a science or science-related field
and acceptable GRE scores (a minimum score of 400 Verbal and 500 Quantitative). We also
require a letter of intent and 3 letters of recommendation, and complete transcripts. Application
materials can be downloaded from the graduate college webpage that can be accessed through
the university homepage: www.iastate.edu. Applications are due on or before February 1.

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What is the cost of the program?

Please see the graduate college homepage for tuition information.

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Is financial aid available?

Because secondary science is a state shortage area, the state is offering loan deferment and loan
forgiveness programs. For information on this program, see www.IowaCollegeAid.org , or
csac@max.state.ia.us. Another helpful site is
http://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral/loanforgiveness/teacher.html
Additional information about loan programs is available at www.studentloan.org
(call Matt Brown at Iowa Student Loan, (800) 273-7656 or (515) 273-7656).

The new program apparently adds up to $9000 in loan forgiveness over five years for qualifying
students. Students who qualify for this program and additional existing programs potentially
may receive up to $30,500 in loan forgiveness. Other scholarships and financial aid may be
available. Check the graduate college homepage for information.
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How do I know what science areas I will be licensed to teach?

Primary Areas of Endorsement: Certain undergraduate degrees from accredited institutions
qualify for licensure without the need to take additional coursework. In each case, transcripts
must indicate a minimum of 24 credit hours in the licensure area, or 30 credit hours of science
with at least 15 of those credits in the licensure area. Please see the chart below.

For Licensure in Acceptable Major(s)
Biology Biology
Chemistry Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Biochemistry
Materials Science Engineering
Soil Chemistry
Geochemistry
Water/Hydrochemistry
Environmental Science (Not Environmental Studies)
Forensic Science
Physics Physics
Aerospace Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Construction Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering Science
Industrial Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Earth Science Geology
Astronomy
Meteorology

 

Primary areas of endorsement for other majors: If your degree is in a more specialized or hybrid
field, such as horticulture or animal science, we will need to review your transcripts. The state of
Iowa has specific requirements for licensure and we need to ensure your coursework is aligned
with those requirements. All primary areas of endorsement must have 24 credit hours in the
desired content area, or 30 hours in science with 15 of those hours in that content area. All
majors other than those listed above must have transcripts reviewed and courses approved by
program faculty. When we review your transcripts, we will need to see a bachelors degree in a
science-related field, the required credit hours in science listed above, and a minimum of the
following coursework:

For Licensure in Essential Coursework
Biology 1 year general biology with lab
Genetics course
Cell/molecular biology (e.g. cytology, histology, biochemistry)
Ecology course
Biological evolution course
4 additional biology courses at the 300+ level (12 credits)
2 years of chemistry
Options at ISU: 177, 177L, 178, 178L, 331, 331L, 332
Or: 163, 163L, 164, 164L, 231, 231L, 211, 211L
Or: 163, 163L, 164, 164L, 231, 231L, BB301
1 semester of physics
1 year of math/statistics (one course has to be math, not statistics)
Chemistry 1 year of inorganic chemistry for majors plus lab (8 credits)
1 year organic chemistry for majors plus lab (8 credits)
Quantitative analysis (Chem. 211 and 211L) (4 credits)
Physics 1 year classical physics plus lab
Modern physics plus lab
12 credits of upper-division physics, astronomy, or physical
chemistry, fluid mechanics, statics of engineering, dynamics,
thermodynamics, or engineering thermodynamics, or electrical
engineering coursework from 200 level and above related to
circuits
Earth Science 1 year of geology plus lab
Methods in geology (technology)
Field study
Mineralogy/Earth materials
Structural geology
Petrology
Stratigraphy/sedimentation
Meteorology
1 year astronomy
1 year chemistry plus lab
1 year physics
1 mathematics course
1 biology course

 

able to obtain additional endorsements, depending on your university science coursework. For
example, many biology majors find that a second endorsement in chemistry is quite easy to
obtain. In some situations, an individual’s coursework may already meet state requirements
while in other cases a few additional courses will be needed. We advise earning multiple
endorsements as this will afford you optimal flexibility when you begin looking for a teaching
position. However, we do caution you to avoid endorsement in an area where you do not possess
sufficient content understanding. Strong science content knowledge is necessary for effective
teaching and children deserve teachers who are knowledgeable in their field.
Second areas of endorsement in biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science require a primary
area of endorsement plus an additional 15 credit hours in the content of the second endorsement
area.
For a second area of endorsement in general science, a primary area of endorsement in biology,
chemistry, or physics is required, with at least one course in each of these areas. For a second
endorsement area in physical science, a primary area of endorsement in chemistry, physics, or
earth science is required, with at least one course in each of these areas.

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Are the teacher preparation courses part of the master's degree?

Yes. The 15 month program is a master’s level licensure program, so all of the teacher
preparation courses count toward the M.A.T. degree. Upon successful completion of the
program, graduates will have a master’s degree from ISU and will be recommended to the State
of Iowa for licensure. The state actually issues the license. It requires completion of a stateapproved
licensure program and a background check.

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If I enroll in the program, how often would I need to travel to Ames?

Courses vary by semester, and student teaching can be done in several locations near Ames,
including Des Moines. The program structure may vary, but tends to look something like this:
May: One course that meets two or three evenings a week for three or four weeks. During this
course you will also be required to spend a minimum of 20 clock hours observing teachers and
students in the public schools. Another late afternoon or evening class likely will meet beginning
sometime in May.
Mid-June through mid July: Two courses that typically meet M-F during the day.
Fall semester: Three classes that meet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings (the days
may change in the future). Also required is a semester long field experience that requires you to
keep open your mornings (8-noon) or afternoons (noon to 3) the entire semester so that you can
be placed in a field experience where you will be videotaped.
Spring semester: 16 weeks of student teaching plus one course that meets on Monday evenings.
May/July: One course meets three late afternoons a week for four weeks. A second class will
meet sometime during May-July. The creative component is also completed at this time.

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How is this program different than alternative licensure programs such as those offered online or through some school-district "fast track" programs?

If you are going to make the significant commitment and take on the enormous responsibility to
teach children, a quality program is much more likely to help you become an effective science
teacher. Those who graduate from alternative licensure programs are rarely prepared for the
demands of teaching in today’s schools, and are more than twice as likely to leave the profession.
Effective science teacher education requires that complex sets of teacher behaviors and
pedagogical strategies be modeled and explicitly taught to teacher education students, and that
these experiences are coupled with closely supervised field experiences where important support
and feedback is provided. Whatever avenue you pursue for science teacher licensure, ensure that
you receive multiple science methods courses (not just a general methods class), multiple early
field experiences under the guidance of a cooperating teacher, educational psychology, and
coursework that is taught by faculty who are both scholars in the field and have significant K-12
teaching experience. Teaching is a very difficult profession that is both cognitively and
emotionally taxing. Quality preparation is a must!

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Is there a limit on the number of people admitted to the program?

Yes. Enrollment is limited because students must be placed in classrooms for practicum
experiences and student teaching.

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Last update: September 16, 2009