Degree – Master of Science in Secondary Education, MSEd
Concentration: Science
Description of Program
The Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSEd) degree program offers endorsements in 14 areas. Graduates are prepared for advanced preparation to serve as teachers or practitioners in various educational capacities. The endorsement in Science gives the student an opportunity to become certified in a combination of physical and biological sciences or the student may choose heavy emphasis in the physical science area.
Learning Outcomes
- Acquire basic and broad knowledge of the physical sciences necessary for a career in secondary education
Admission Requirements:
Students applying for entrance to the Master Science in Secondary Education in Science are required to submit an application for admission, Apply Online (www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduate-studies).
- Educator License
- two letters of recommendation
- official transcript from an accredited school (if a student has attended more than one school, transcripts must be submitted from all schools attended). At least one transcript must document the student has a bachelor’s degree.
- Immunization record
Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the Department of Chemistry and Physics admission committee. The department uses an admission formula to accept students. The entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School.
Credentials:
A Standard Educator License in a teaching area is required for admission to programs in the Master of Science in Secondary Education with the exception of certificate programs.
Degree Requirements:
The curriculum for the Master of Science in Secondary Education in Science requires 33 credit hours of coursework and passing required exit exams for degree completion. Students complete 12 hours of required core credits,15 hours of required course credits, and 6 hours of electives.
Graduation expectations require the following:
- A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
- Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
- Successfully pass the Core Exit Exam
- Successfully pass the Area Exit Exam according to content area
- Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University
Academic advisors are allowed to accept up to six semester credit hours earned at an accredited university with a grade of “B” or higher for graduate coursework completed. Substitutions of coursework are allowed with the approval of an advisor and department administrators up to nine hours if the substitution(s) meet curriculum requirements.
See Transfer of Credits Policy for additional information.
See the Substitution of Courses Policy for additional information.
Academic Track: Exit Exams
Students pursuing a Master of Science in Secondary Education must pass a Core Examination and Area Examination to exit.
Master Degree Audit:
Before candidacy for graduation can be confirmed, each student progression to degree completion will be evaluated to determine if student has met all academic requirements for course work and other aspects of the student’s course of study and Graduate School requirements. When these requirements are met, the student is cleared for graduation.
Time to Degree Completion
Alcorn’s time to degree completion policy allows 6 years to complete the chemistry program. Degree completion depends on the pace a student completes the curriculum. If the time exceeds six years, the student must petition the Graduate School to consider an appeal for more time to degree completion.
See the Student Academic Appeals Policy for Expiration of Timeline for additional requirements
Degree Plan and Course Sequence
Core Education Courses (21 Hours)
ED 512 Foundations of American Education
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research
ED 533 Curriculum Development
PH 513 Advanced Educational Psychology
Required Courses (15 Hours)
GS 500 Science and the Environment
GS 503 Earth and Space Science
GS 506 Astronomy
GS 511 Nuclear Science
GS 585 Methods of Teaching Science
Approved Electives (6 Hours)
BI 547 Field Biology and Ecology
CH 580 Advanced Biochemistry
CH 585 Principles of Chemistry for Teachers
GS 501 Earth Science
GS 504 Radiation Chemistry and Biology
GS 505 Atmospheric Science
GS 550 Research and Thesis
GS 560 Problems in General Science
For More Information Contact:
Dr. Sonia Eley ▪ 601.877.6441 ▪ [email protected] (Department of Chemistry and Physics)