Science professionals interested in becoming science teachers have a new graduate program available to obtain a master's degree and secondary science teacher certification in 14 months - and opportunity to compete for a $12,000 scholarship toward the cost of the program.
Through a new National Science Foundation grant-supported program at UNL, as many as 24 master's degree candidates will participate in the first of four cohort-based 14-month-long programs to educate science professionals to become science teachers. The first program starts in May and applications are due by Jan. 21.
The Master of Arts in Science Teaching program seeks to recruit science and engineering professionals with bachelor's degrees in a science discipline or field to teach secondary science. The program will focus on preparing teachers to meet the challenges of the 21st century science classroom and the learning needs of diverse students.
UNL's Robert Noyce Scholarship grants are part of a campuswide commitment to excellence in math and science teacher education led by the colleges of Education and Human Sciences, Arts and Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The Master of Arts Teaching program is augmented by a $1.2 million grant from NSF's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program administered by faculty in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Applicants chosen for the program will have access to high-quality teacher preparation with an emphasis in science teaching. Following successful completion of the 14-month program, they will be eligible for a grades 7-12 Nebraska teaching certificate.
Over the next four years, as many as 56 people will be awarded $12,000 scholarships. Others may enroll in the program without the scholarship to become a science teacher in 14 months. A similar program, also funded through Noyce, promotes improved mathematics teaching in Nebraska schools. These two Noyce grants aim to encourage talented science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers in "high-need" school districts.
High-need school districts include those that educate a large percentage of students living in poverty, have high teacher turnover rates or a significant number of teachers educating outside their training. The scholarship program is named for Robert Noyce, who co-founded Intel and invented the integrated circuit, which sparked the personal computer revolution. Noyce cared deeply about the dwindling number of students heading into math and science careers.
Prospective participants can find more information about the science teaching program, applications and instructions on how to apply at http://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/graduate/MAst.shtml.
- Kelly Bartling, University Communications
More details at: http://cehs.unl.edu/tlte/graduate/MAst.shtml