Master of Science in Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering Education

The Master of Science in MSTE Education program prepares educators to work in the development and implementation of research, curriculum materials, and educational activities in formal and informal mathematics, science, technology, or engineering education institutions, such as schools, research centers, museums, industry, cultural institutions, and community agencies. It also prepares future candidates to Ph.D. programs.

The M.S. program enrolls a maximum of 15 students per year and admits candidates with backgrounds in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Technology, Engineering, Education, Psychology, Child Development, Cognitive Science, and other related areas that demonstrate a commitment to understanding the issues and challenges involved in the research and practice of Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Engineering Education.

Candidates without a baccalaureate in Mathematics, Science, or Engineering are required to take additional courses in Mathematics, Sciences, or Engineering Departments in order to reach a level of expertise equivalent to that of a Tufts B.A. major in the content area they want to develop their M.S. course and research work.

Upon entry into the program, each student is assigned two program advisors, one from the Departments of Education or Child Development and another from the Mathematics, Sciences, or Engineering Departments. The program advisors assist the student in making choices regarding courses, content area, internships, and research activities.

The maximum time limit for full-time students to complete the M.S. program is three years.

M.S. Course Requirements
M.S. students are required to complete 12 course credits to fulfill the M.S. in MSTE Education degree requirements. These include:

• 5 course credits from Groups A, B, C, and D (at least one course from each group);
• 2 graduate course credits in the Mathematics, Sciences or Engineering Departments;
• 2 or 3 elective course credits from Group E;
• 1 course credit from Group F (Program Seminar);
• 1 or 2 course credits for Masters Thesis, Project, Research, or Internship experience.

Only courses graded B- or higher will count towards graduate credit.

Click here to see course options in each group (Groups A, B, C, D, E, and F).

Choice of relevant elective courses and course levels (100 or 200 level) is determined by the students' advisors, in agreement with the guidelines issued by each of the Departments involved in the program. This choice is determined by an evaluation of each student's needs in terms of understanding:

• Mathematics, Science, or Engineering content knowledge;
• The socio-cultural foundations of Education;
• Theory and research on human development and learning in different content areas;
• Specific knowledge directly related to the development of the M.S. thesis, project, research, or internship;
• Graduate level discussions.

Transfer of graduate course credits obtained from other institutions and not applied to previous degrees will be granted for up to the limit of two course credits. Transfer of credits depends on the content of the course, the student's performance in the course, and the relevance of the course to the student's plan of study, as judged by the student's advisors and by the Graduate Program Committee. No undergraduate courses will count towards the M.S. degree.

Research
MS students must demonstrate understanding of educational research through the development of a thesis, a project, work with a research team, or an internship.

Transfer to the Ph.D. program
M.S. students are encouraged to complete the M.S. degree requirements and, upon receiving the M.S. degree, submit a regular application to the Ph.D. program.

M.S. students who wish to transfer to the Ph.D. program before completing the M.S. requirements are asked to submit their transfer applications at the end of the first year of study, or later. The application should include an activity report and a research pre-proposal to be judged by the Graduate Program Committee. Applicants will compete against other M.S. students in the program as well as with new applicants to the five Ph.D. positions available each year. Applications for transfer are due May 15 or January 15 of each year.

M.S. students requesting transfer to the Ph.D. program before completing the M.S. requirements will be asked to give an oral presentation on their research pre-proposals to the MSTE Education Graduate Program Committee. Members of the Graduate Committee will discuss the proposal, examine each student's preparation to develop the proposal in terms of educational research and content area preparation, and will decide on each candidate's fitness to transfer to the Ph.D. program. The result of the evaluation of successful candidates will be forwarded to the Chair of the Department of Education who will issue a recommendation of transfer to the Ph.D. program to the Dean of the Graduate School.

All relevant course credits obtained by successful candidates while enrolled in the M.S. program will count towards the Ph.D. degree.

Unsuccessful candidates may continue in the M.S. program and will be given the opportunity to apply once more for transfer to the Ph.D. program in the following semester. Alternatively, they may complete the M.S. degree requirements and, upon receiving the M.S. degree, submit a regular application to the Ph.D. Program.

The research pre-proposal presented as part of the application to transfer to the Ph.D. program is not a commitment to develop that research project, but a demonstration of the student's ability to evaluate the research literature in a specific area, to ask relevant next questions, and to design a study that will address these questions. The final Dissertation Proposal to be submitted, at a later point, by those accepted into the Ph.D. program may be different from the one proposed as part of the application to the Ph.D. program and will be judged by each student's Dissertation Committee.