Mathematics and Science Education
Become empowered to research learning and teaching in biology. Shape the future.
Mathematics and Science Education, Biological Education Concentration, Ph.D.
The Biology Education Concentration of the PhD Program in Mathematics and Science Education is designed to prepare individuals to conduct research on the teaching and learning of biology and teach biology and biology education courses at the post-secondary level. Students in the Biology Education Concentration develop substantial content mastery of biology at the graduate level through coursework. Graduates will accrue at least 18 credit hours using a BIOL rubric so they can teach biology at the undergraduate level. In addition, students engage in conducting biology education research as they work closely with biology education faculty conducting research in this area.
Graduates find employment in institutions of higher education as well as educational administration, research firms, and other related businesses. Students in the MSE program have the opportunity to customize their experience to meet their professional goals. Students will work closely with faculty mentors to narrow their dissertation research topic to one that is both current in the field and a topic of interest to the student.
Recent Dissertations in the Biology Education Concentration include:
- Exploring opportunities for reconceptualizing place-based education as a three-way dance of agency by Dr. Sara Salisbury under the direction of Dr. Ryan "Seth" Jones.
- Using network analyses to understand the intersection between small group dynamics and socioscientific issue discussion by Dr. Brock Couch under the direction of Dr. Grant Gardner.
- Exploring biology instructors' technological pedagogical content knowledge in higher education by Dr. Olena James under the direction of Dr. Grant Gardner.
News Briefs
MTSU faculty awarded $1.2M NSF grant for research on improving STEM teaching
A trio of Middle Tennessee State University professors has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to advance research in improving the teaching of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.[ Read More ]
MTSU faculty, students publish innovative science communication research with $10K in campus grants
Biology professor Liz Barnes and her team of student and faculty biology education researchers at MTSU’s Social Perceptions of Science Lab recently published a novel study about undergraduate biology students’ ability to communicate effectively to their community about COVID-19. “To start, we reviewed the literature about undergraduate biology students serving as science communicators about COVID,” Barnes said. “There was [ Read More ]
News Briefs
MTSU faculty awarded $1.2M NSF grant for research on improving STEM teaching
A trio of Middle Tennessee State University professors has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to advance research in improving the teaching of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.[ Read More ]
MTSU faculty, students publish innovative science communication research with $10K in campus grants
Biology professor Liz Barnes and her team of student and faculty biology education researchers at MTSU’s Social Perceptions of Science Lab recently published a novel study about undergraduate biology students’ ability to communicate effectively to their community about COVID-19. “To start, we reviewed the literature about undergraduate biology students serving as science communicators about COVID,” Barnes said. “There was [ Read More ]
Mathematics and Science Education, Biological Education Concentration, Ph.D.
This program aims to produce college-level professors and researchers in mathematics and science education. It also helps prepare leaders in K–12 mathematics and science education whose jobs require them to perform, evaluate, and integrate the results of research in mathematics and science education into classrooms.
Employers of MTSU alumni include:
- Aquinas College, Nashville TN
- Aspen Academy, Denver, CO
- Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
- Belmont University, Nashville, TN
- California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
- Central Magnet School, Murfreesboro, TN
- Coffee County School District, Manchester, TN
- Crowley Ridge College, Paragould, AR
- James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
- Lander University, Greenwood, SC
- Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
- Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
- Motlow Community College, Smyrna, TN
- Smyrna High School, Smyrna, TN
- Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO
- Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- Trinity Washington University, Washington, DC
- University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
- University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
- University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
- University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
- University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
- University of South Alabama
- Webb School, Bell Buckle, TN
- Welch College, Gallatin, TN
- Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
- Wright State University, Dayton, OH
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake.
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
Links
- National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST)
- National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
- SABER (Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research)
- ASTE (Association for Science Teacher Education)
- NSTA (National Science Teachers Association)
- AERA (American Educational Research Association)
Assistantships
Research and teaching assistantships, with stipends beginning at $20,100, are available on a competitive basis to full-time students in the MSE program. In addition to the stipend, the university also pays all tuition for assistantship holders. Non-Tennessee residents who are awarded a graduate assistantship are not required to pay out-of-state fees. To learn more about the types of graduate assistantships and to download an application, visit the Graduate Studies Assistantship page.
The College of Graduate Studies also awards a limited number of scholarships. For additional information and applications, visit the Graduate Studies Finance page.
In addition to assistantships and scholarships, MTSU's Office of Financial Aid assists graduate students seeking other forms of financial support while in school.
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