University of Maryland *
Department of Curriculum and Instruction College of Education

 

Doctoralhandout.html

Doctorate in Science Education

The program in brief

Students pursing a doctorate in Science Education design a program in consultation with their advisors, distributing work in four categories.

1)  Department core requirements: 15 credits of courses in
education research,
theory of teaching and learning, and
diversity.
2)  Science Education specialization requirements: 18 credits of courses in
science education and
further research methodology.
3)  Electives: 15 credits, in
science, in the elected area of concentration
cognition, technology, history and philosophy of science, and other cognate areas.
4)  Dissertation research: 12 credits of independent research.
We have designed these requirements to provide students flexibility in tailoring a program to their interests and needs, while at the same time guiding them to address areas of concern for education in general and science education in particular.

The program in detail

Except where noted, each course listed counts for 3 credits. Follow these links for the schedule of classes and course descriptions in EDCI and other departments.

Department Core Requirements: (minimum 15 credits)

Research (minimum 6 credits)

EDCI 684    Introduction to Field Methods in School and Community
EDCI 685    Research Methods
EDCI 692    Conducting Interpretative Inquiry in Classroom Contexts
EDMS 646   Quantitative Research Methods
EDMS 651   Intermediate Statistics

Teaching and Learning (minimum 6 credits)

EDCI 780 Theory and Research on Teaching, and courses outside the student's specialty area in curriculum (EDCI 620, 621, 630, 640, 641, 650, 663, 680, 681) and theory and research (EDCI 720, 730, 740, 741, 745, 750, 769, 783).  Courses in other departments also may satisfy this requirement, such as curriculum theory and cognition courses in EDHD, EDPL, EDSP as approved by the Graduate Committee.

Diversity  (minimum 3 credits)

EDCI 766 Urban Education.  Courses in other departments also may satisfy this requirement such as EDHD, EDPL and EDSP courses that address issues of equity, cultural diversity, and the education of individuals with exceptional needs, as approved by the Graduate Committee.


Science Education Specialization Requirements:  (minimum 18 credits)

Science education core sequence (9 credits)

EDCI 670    Trends in School Curriculum: Science
EDCI 770    Foundations of Science Education
EDCI 771    Theory and Research in Science Education

Other courses in science education (3-6 credits)

EDCI 671    Teaching Science in Elementary School
EDCI 788x   Selected Topics in Science Teacher Education (various courses, 1-3 credits)
Courses in science education in other departments, as approved by the advisor.

Advanced research (3-6 credits)

Science education doctoral students must demonstrate basic competency in both qualitative research (at least to the level of EDCI 684) and quantitative research (at least to the level of EDMS 645).

Students planning a quantitative dissertation should take at least 3 credits of advanced quantitative methods such as EDMS 651. (Note that EDMS 646 is a pre-requisite). EDMS 626, 647, 651, 771, 722 also may be helpful.

Students planning a qualitative dissertation should take at least 3 credits of advanced qualitative methods such as EDCI 692. EDPL 700, EDPL 737, HIST 601, ANTH 606 also may be helpful.

Students also may enroll in EDCI 798 (variable credits) for First or Second Year Research projects.

Electives:   (minimum 15 credits)

Science education students elect a field of science for specialization. We expect that, by the completion of their degree, all science education doctoral students will have demonstrated graduate-level understanding in that field. Students concentrating on K-8 science education should also demonstrate a breadth of understanding, at the introductory level, across other sciences. Students concentrating on secondary and college levels should demonstrate masters-level understanding in their field of specialization. (Some students may need to take more than 15 credits of courses to meet these expectations.)

In addition to fulfilling the science content requirement, students may choose from courses in cognition, technology, history and philosophy of science, and other cognate areas.  Students may also design their own independent studies in consultation with their research advisors.

Dissertation Research:  At least 12 credits of EDCI 899 for PhD; 6 credits for EdD.  

Doctoral distribution requirements total to 60 credits. Coursework in master degree programs may contribute to distribution requirements. The minimum credit requirement is 52 beyond the master's degree.

For more information, please refer to the Department's graduate degree requirements and to "A Guide for Students and Advisors" issued by the Graduate Studies Office, College of Education, University of Maryland-College Park.  It is the student's responsibility to know and meet the requirements of the University.

Back to Science Teaching Center.

Last updated 12/19/02 by David Hammer.
 


©Copyright 2002-03 Department of Curriculum & Instruction • College of Education • University of Maryland
College Park • Maryland • 20742 • 301-405-EDCI (3324) • Direct questions and comments to .
Last Modified Thursday, March, 13, 2003