The Science Teaching Center is a unit within the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the University of Maryland College of Education. We provide courses for the professional study of science education in both formal and non-formal settings and at levels from elementary through university.

We offer degree programs in instructional practice toward Maryland State teacher certification in biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science.We also offer degree programs in science education research, toward a variety of careers in science education.

News: New Course Added to Curriculum

EDCI 655 Teaching & Learning Algebra in the Middle School Curriculum

You can download a guidance packet with details on the application process here.

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Science Teaching Center News

“J. Randy McGinnis, Science Education, was elected as President-elect of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). NARST is a worldwide organization of professionals committed to the improvement of science teaching and learning through research. Since its inception in 1928, NARST has promoted research in science education and the communication of knowledge generated by the research. The ultimate goal of NARST is to help all learners achieve science literacy. NARST promotes this goal by: 1) encouraging and supporting the application of diverse research methods and theoretical perspectives from multiple disciplines to the investigation of teaching and learning in science; 2) communicating science education research findings to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers; and 3) cooperating with other educational and scientific societies to influence educational policies.”

“Dr. J. Randy McGinnis and Dr. Spencer Benson, Science Education, are members of the collaborative education research team located at the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware that was awarded a National Science Foundation Climate Change Education Partnership (CCEP) Program Grant, MADE-CLEAR (Maryland and Delaware Climate Change Education, Assessment and Research), $999,949,. The Project Director is Dr. Don Boesch (USM/UMCES). The planning grant supports two years of planning for a comprehensive climate education program in the states of Maryland and Delaware.”