Course Offerings

Program Sequence

MSE 1010
Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching (1 credit)
Step 1 invites students to explore teaching as a career. In this course, students teach science or math lessons in upper elementary classrooms to experience planning and implementing an inquiry-based curriculum. Taught by Master Teachers, exemplary former secondary school teachers, students learn from people who love teaching and believe that teaching is a rewarding career choice.

MSE 2010
Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design (1 credit)
Students who want to explore teaching careers become familiar with the middle school environment by observing and discussing middle school culture, and by teaching lessons to a middle school class. Students build upon and practice lesson design skills that were developed in Step 1 and also become familiar with excellent science or mathematics curricula for the middle school setting. As a result of the Step 1 and Step 2 experiences, students will be able to make a decision as to whether they want to pursue a pathway to teacher certification through the MTeach program.

YOED 3520
Knowing & Learning in Mathematics and Science (3 credits)
Explores essential questions relevant to teaching and learning mathematics and science. This course expands students' understanding of current theories of learning and conceptual development. Students examine their own assumptions about learning, and critically examine the needs of a diverse student population in the classroom.  Students will officially apply for admission to teacher education during this class.

YOED 3350
Classroom Interactions (3 credits)
Examine fundamentally important issues in teaching and some of the common assumptions made about learning. Principles of delivering effective instruction in various formats (lecture, lab activity, collaborative setting); examination of diversity in mathematics and science education.  Admission to teacher education is a prerequisite.

PHIL 3120
Perspectives in Science and Mathematics (3 credits)
Faculty in Philosophy and History introduce students to the historical, social, and philosophical implications of mathematics and science through investigations of five significant episodes in science history.

BIOL/CHEM/MATH/PHYS 4740
Research Methods (3 credits)
Students perform four independent inquiries and learn to combine skills from mathematics and science in order to solve research problems.

MATH 4540
Functions and Modeling (3 credits - for math majors only)
In depth study of topics in secondary school mathematics. Emphasis is on modeling with linear, exponential and trigonometric functions; curve fitting; discrete and continuous models. Use of appropriate technology is explored.

YOED 4040
Residency I: MTeach (4 credits)
Taken concurrently with YOED 4050.  Students engage in a substantive field experience where they complete modules designed to give them a deep understanding of the structure and function of public schools.

YOED 4050
Project-Based Instruction (3 credits)
Engages learners in exploring authentic, important, and meaningful questions of real concern to students. Through a dynamic process of investigation and collaboration and using the same process and technologies that real scientists, applied mathematicians, and engineers use, students will work in teams to formulate questions, make predictions, design investigations, collect and analyse data, make products, and share ideas. Students learn fundamental science and mathematical concepts and principles that they apply to their daily lives.

YOED 4400
Apprentice Teaching (12 credits)
Students are immersed in a school setting to prepare them to confidently assume a teaching position.