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Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.

MASTER OF ARTS Science Education (Middle Grades)

Use your teaching skills to inspire the next generation of explorers, discoverers, engineers, and inventors. Focus your teaching career on middle school general science. Inspire the next generation of discovery—teach science.

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WGU’s teacher education programs were named #1 for combining quality and affordability by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

WGU’s education programs were named #1 for value by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

NCTQ #1 Best Value in U.S. for teaching programs

Overview
The online path to a master’s degree for teachers who want to specialize in science education.

STEM education is more important than ever before. Giving young students a better understanding (and appreciation) of science helps train their minds, suggests a wider variety of career goals, and helps them better comprehend the world in which they live. And there’s a reason WGU has processed more STEM teachers than any other U.S. college or university in recent years.

This online master's degree program in science education prepares current teachers like you to specialize in teaching general science courses at the junior high/middle school level.

The program helps ensure your proficiency in a wide range of natural science topics, including biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science. In addition to the subject matter, you will learn the classroom skills necessary to effectively teach this content to students in the middle school/junior high grades*.

*The specific grade levels you will be qualified or endorsed to teach will depend on your state.

Eligibility note: The M.A. Science Education (Middle Grades) program is for certified teachers who already hold a bachelor's degree and wish to add middle-grades science to their existing licenses. This program is not intended for aspiring teachers seeking licensure or certification. If you are seeking your teaching certificate, please view our programs leading to teacher licensure.

79% of graduates finish in

6–25 mos.

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
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Tuition per 6-month term is

$3,240

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less!
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Graduates who recommend WGU:

97%

The vast majority of alumni say WGU delivered on its promises. In fact, over 50% of students found WGU thanks to a friend's recommendation.
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Tuition as of January 1, 2019.

Teach curiosity. Teach wonder. Teach middle school science.

With a master's degree in junior high science education, you could qualify for a variety of general teaching positions in elementary schools, junior high and middle schools, and even high schools, depending on your state’s requirements. Your career options will widen and your value rise commensurate with your advanced education.

Learn more about our grads' careers
A highly relevant curriculum developed by education experts.

This online Master of Arts in Science Education degree program provides with the essential skills and knowledge needed to become a middle school science instructor. This degree program is for already-licensed teachers looking to complete a graduate degree as the next step in their K–12 education careers.

Download Program Guide

The WGU M.A. Science Education (Middle Grades) degree program was designed (and is regularly updated) with input from the experts on our Education Program Council. These respected authorities know exactly what it takes for a graduate to teach general science content, principles and methodology to young adolescents.
Key Subject Areas

Your program consists of courses focused on science education:

Concepts in Science

Integrated Physical Sciences

General Physics

Ecology and Environmental Science

Middle School Science: Content Knowledge

Chemistry with Lab

Heredity and Genetics

Science, Technology, and Society

Science Methods��Middle Grades General Science

Astronomy

Earth: Inside and Out

MA, Science Education Teacher Performance Assessment

More

See all courses
Areas of Study

The competencies you gain through this program will span these crucial topical areas:

General science content

General education

Biology content

Science education

Geosciences content

Explore the curriculum
The WGU Difference

We reimagined the path to a degree. How it works for you:

It’s doable.
Efficient, flexible, individualized, and supportive, WGU puts you in the driver’s seat—allowing you to advance as quickly as you're able.

It’s surprisingly affordable.
Low, flat-rate tuition and the opportunity to speed up your program allow you to control the cost of your education.

It’s worth it.
Employers love WGU graduates. And grads report greater satisfaction, career advancement, and income growth after earning a WGU degree.

See how we do it
A supported, personalized experience.

WGU is unlike any university you’ve experienced before—in the best possible way! Take a quick look at what we mean:

Faculty Learning Assessment In-Classroom Experience Alumni Support

Faculty

SUPPORTING YOU: Faculty focused on students.

WGU faculty members have one goal in mind: your success. A Program Mentor is your individually assigned faculty member, providing program guidance and instruction from the day you start to the day you graduate. Course Instructors provide subject-matter instruction and support, typically one-on-one, exactly when you need it.

Learning

YOUR ROADMAP: A personalized learning plan.

Your program is made up of a series of courses, each a personalized journey toward subject mastery. A preassessment provides insight into what you already know. You’ll then learn what you still need to learn, using online learning resources—available 24/7—along with one-on-one or cohort-based faculty instruction.

Assessment

PROVE IT: Show you know your stuff.

WGU measures learning, not time, so each course in your program culminates in an assessment—a test, paper, project, or presentation that allows you to prove what you know. As soon as you’re ready, take the assessment—including the ability to take proctored exams from the comfort of your own home— via webcam, any time of day!

In-Classroom Experience

REAL-WORLD: Experience in a classroom.

Most of your program will be completed online but all teacher licensure programs—and many graduate-level programs for already-licensed teachers—also include the opportunity to observe and practice in a K–12 classroom setting. We’ll help you set everything up at a school near you.

Alumni Support

ALWAYS a Night Owl: WGU for life.

Continued support after you graduate includes many opportunities for professional development and enrichment, career support, and networking. WGU Night Owls may be independent learners, but they also become highly engaged in our active alumni community through apps, groups, and events.

The accreditation you need, plus industry respect and recognition.

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

Accredited

The WGU Teachers College is the first competency-based online university to receive accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP is the only recognized national accreditor for educator preparation.

Paired with WGU's university-wide accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, these accreditations assure your teaching degree from WGU will be highly respected.

Respected

“After graduating from WGU, and through all the rigor and quality of instruction that I received in the educational field, I was awarded Hawaii District Teacher of the Year in 2012.”
Amoreena Nestman
M.A. Teaching – Elementary Education

Recognized

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) in 2017 placed WGU’s Teachers College in the top 1% nationwide for the quality of its secondary teacher-preparation programs. This follows several other NCTQ recognitions, including the nation’s #1 best value for teacher education in 2015.

Accredited

Respected

Recognized

Our programs check all the boxes. If this degree is your goal, get started toward becoming a student today—programs start the first of each month.

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Cost & Time
When we say affordable, we mean it.

$3,240

Tuition per 6-month term

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+$145

Flat fee for e-books and learning resources, saving you hundreds per term

=

=$3,385

TOTAL PER TERM

+$65

One-time application fee

Apply FREE this week

Effective for terms beginning on or after January 1, 2019. This program also requires a one-time fee of $350 to cover the cost of an at-home science lab (billed separately along with the first term's tuition).
Control the cost of your program: Our tuition links cost to time.

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.
Flat-rate tuition of $3,385 per term links cost to time.

By charging per 6-month term rather than per credit hour—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or can learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.

Adjust the time and see your costs change

Your time

2 yrs

Your cost

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1 yr
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There's help if you need it.

Financial aid is available.

WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.

View more about financial aid.

WGU students borrow less than half the national average.

Our goal: You graduate with little or no debt.

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2016 (among those who borrowed) was less than half the national average. WGU’s three-pronged approach to keeping your debt low and your return on investment quick: One, provide useful information and advice on responsible borrowing before enrollment. Two, keep tuition low while you're enrolled. And three, offer degree programs that lead to better-paying jobs after graduation.

Read about our Responsible Borrowing Initiative.

Degree Cost Comparison*

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Other Online Nonprofit University

WGU

Earn your M.A. Science Education for about half what you’d pay at another university.

Low tuition and the ability to accelerate make WGU more affordable than most other schools. When you compare us with other programs, WGU’s Master of Arts in Science Education degree program offers a rigorous curriculum with competitive post-graduation results for around half what you'd pay at another university—or even less.

*Estimates based on July 2017 WGU and comparable universities' tuition data. Learn more about WGU's tuition and how it compares.

Transparent fees and no hidden costs.

The costs of attending college often include much more than tuition and fees. WGU is designed to be different, and that translates to cost savings everywhere from books to babysitting.

Other universities bury you in unexpected costs. Not WGU.

Click to explore the extra costs:

Tuition Books

Parking Gas

Library / resource fees Babysitter every week for
nighttime classes

WGU

Other online college

Traditional
4 year school

This demonstration shows how various costs—including official fees and incidental costs of attending school—can add up in different learning environments. It's meant as an illustration only.

Scholarships make our already low tuition even more affordable.

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Here are a few you may be eligible to apply for:

$2,000

Superhero within Scholarship

$2,500

K–12 Partner Scholarship

$2,500

WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship

The affordable, flexible programs offered at WGU put high-quality education within your reach. Start working toward your future.

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Courses & Competencies

Curriculum that ensures you’ve mastered the skills general science teachers need.

Program consists of:
14 Courses
Total courses in program
Download Program Guide

WGU designed this program to be timely, relevant, and practical—in other words, to make sure your M.A. Science Education degree proves you've acquired the advanced knowledge and skills needed in middle school science classrooms.

Every course focuses on clearly defined competencies you must prove you’ve learned—through tests, papers, projects, or other assessments. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, so learning what it takes to be an outstanding educator is at the heart of WGU’s M.A. Science Education curriculum.

It’s all about real-world relevance, so every moment you spend studying is time well spent. That means what you’re learning in your degree program will be directly applicable when you’re employed as a junior high science teacher.

Courses in this program.

This program is made up of the following courses. You will complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means that you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.

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Science

Concepts in Science

Concepts in Science for graduates provides already-licensed teachers seeking an additional license or endorsement in science education with an introduction to essential science themes present within and across all science disciplines, including chemistry, physics, biology, and the geosciences. These themes include comprehending the magnitude of the physical and natural world, analyzing and converting measurements, understanding the basic nature and behavior of matter and energy, examining atomic structure, identifying and naming basic types of chemical bonds, and analyzing and interpreting scientific data. Concepts in Science provides a solid foundation for future, in-depth, scientific studies and should be taken prior to any other science content course. There are no prerequisites for this course.

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General Science Content

Integrated Physical Sciences

This course provides students with an overview of the basic principles and unifying ideas of the physical sciences: physics, chemistry, and Earth sciences. Course materials focus on scientific reasoning and practical and everyday applications of physical science concepts to help students integrate conceptual knowledge with practical skills.

General Physics

This course provides a broad overview of the principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, wave motion, modern physics, and electricity and magnetism and invites students to apply them by solving problems, performing labs, and reflecting on concepts and ideas.

Ecology and Environmental Science

Ecology and Environmental Science is an introductory course for graduate students seeking initial licensure or endorsement and/or to earn their MA degree in secondary or middle grade science education. The course explores the relationships between organisms and their environment, including population ecology, communities, adaptations, distributions, interactions, and the environmental factors controlling these relationships. This course has no prerequisites.

Middle School Science: Content Knowledge

This course covers the content knowledge that a middle-level science teacher is expected to know and understand. Topics include scientific methodologies, history of science, basic science principles, physical sciences, life sciences, earth and space sciences, and the role of science and technology and their impact on society.

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Chemistry Content

Chemistry with Lab

Chemistry with Lab for graduates provides already licensed teachers seeking an additional license or endorsement in middle grades science or secondary physics, biological science, or earth science with an introduction to the field of chemistry, the branch of science that studies the composition, structure, properties, and behavior of matter. Designed for those not majoring in chemistry education, this course highlights how the topics covered can be applied within various branches of science. This course provides students with opportunities to examine the electronic structure of atoms, study periodic trends, name chemical compounds, write chemical formulas, determine the structure of molecules, balance chemical reactions, and discover the changing states of matter. Laboratory experiences facilitate the study of matter and the application of laboratory safety and maintenance procedures. Concepts in Science for graduates is a prerequisite for this course.

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General Education

Introduction to Biology

This course is a foundational introduction to the biological sciences. The overarching theories of life from biological research are explored as well as the fundamental concepts and principles of the study of living organisms and their interaction with the environment. Key concepts include how living organisms use and produce energy; how life grows, develops, and reproduces; how life responds to the environment to maintain internal stability; and how life evolves and adapts to the environment.

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Biology Content

Heredity and Genetics

Heredity and Genetics is an introductory course for graduate students seeking initial licensure or endorsement and/or to earn their MA degree in secondary or middle grade science education. This course addresses the basic principles of heredity and the function of molecular genetics. Topics include Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance and population genetics. This course has no prerequisites.

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Science Education

Science, Technology, and Society

Science, Technology, and Society explores the ways in which science influences and is influenced by society and technology. A humanistic and social endeavor, science serves the needs of ever-changing societies by providing methods for observing, questioning, discovering, and communicating information about the physical and natural world. This course prepares educators to explain the nature and history of science, the various applications of science, and the scientific and engineering processes used to conduct investigations, make decisions, and solve problems. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Science Methods��Middle Grades General Science

Science Methods��Middle Grades General Science focuses on teaching methods specific to science for graduate students seeking an endorsement in middle school science. Course content focuses on the design and teaching of standards-based lessons using the three dimensions of science (science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas) and the appropriate integration of technology into those lessons. Students in this course work within their content areas to evaluate, enhance, and plan appropriate science instruction. This course includes laboratory safety training and certification, which includes safe laboratory practices and procedures for science classrooms and the proper use of personal protective equipment. There are no prerequisites for this course.

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Geosciences Content

Astronomy

Astronomy provides graduate students seeking initial licensure or endorsement and/or to earn their MA degree in secondary or middle grade science education with essential knowledge of astronomy and explores Western history and basic physics of astronomy; phases of the moon and seasons; composition and properties of solar system bodies; stellar evolution and remnants; properties and scale of objects and distances within the universe; and introductory cosmology. A prerequisite for this course is General Physics.

Earth: Inside and Out

Earth: Inside and Out explores the ways in which our dynamic planet evolved, and the processes and systems that continue to shape it. Though the geologic record is incredibly ancient, it has only been studied intensely since the end of the nineteenth century. Since then, research in fields such as geologic time, plate tectonics, climate change, exploration of the deep sea floor, and the inner earth have vastly increased our understanding of geological processes. There are no prerequisites for this course.

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Teacher Performance Assessment

MA, Science Education Teacher Performance Assessment

MA, Science Education Teacher Performance Assessment contains a comprehensive, original, research based curriculum unit designed to meet an identified educational need. It provides direct evidence of the candidate��s ability to design and implement a multi-week, standards-based unit of instruction, assess student learning, and then reflect on the learning process. The WGU Teacher Performance Assessment requires students to plan and teach a multi-week standards-based instructional unit consisting of seven components: 1) Contextual factors, 2) learning goals, 3) assessment, 4) design for instruction, 5) instructional decision making, 6) analysis of student learning, and 7) self-evaluation and reflection.

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Education

Teaching in the Middle School

Teaching in Middle School examines the guiding principles and best teaching practices for educating middle school students. The course explores the history of middle school; the philosophy, theory, and rationale behind middle school organization; and the differences between elementary, middle, and secondary schools. The course also examines the unique needs of middle school students and teaching methods used to meet the needs of these learners. This course has no prerequisites.

Plan to work hard: Program requirements and expectations.

The M.A. Science Education degree program is a mostly online program, with some in-classroom requirements. You will complete your courses by studying and working independently with instruction and support from WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 8 competency units (WGU's equivalent of the credit hour) each 6-month term. (Each course is typically 3 or 4 units.)

The first person you speak with at WGU will be your Enrollment Counselor, who can explain requirements and expectations in more detail. You can also read more about each course in the Program Guide.

Request info from an Enrollment Counselor.
Download the Program Guide.

Special requirements for this program.

Home Science Lab. You will be provided with a self-contained laboratory kit—including science equipment, specimens and chemicals—to complete lab experiments at home.

Teacher Work Sample. The final exam requires that you write an original, comprehensive research paper that provides direct evidence of your ability to design and implement a multi-week, standards-based unit of instruction, assess student learning, and then reflect on the learning process.

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A top-quality curriculum developed with guidance from education leaders and academic experts.

To ensure our teaching degrees are consistent with the expectations of today’s schools, we develop courses with input from councils composed of nationally recognized experts in education. Council members offer guidance on key competencies to be expected from successful WGU graduates.
How You'll Learn

A different way to learn: Degree programs designed to fit your life—and all the demands on your time.

Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused math teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard. But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.

Designed for working teachers.

At WGU, you’re not committed to attend class at a certain time, complete homework on a given schedule, or log “attendance” hours (with the exception of in-classroom demonstration teaching and pre-clinical experiences). You’ll earn your degree by proving what you’ve learned in class and what you already know from your work and life experience. How quickly you progress is largely up to you.

Competency-Based Education (CBE)

How it helps you

Efficient

Save time and money by focusing your efforts where they matter the most.

How much do you already know? Today’s adult students come from different professional backgrounds with varying levels of knowledge and experience. Competency-based education empowers you to take the most efficient path to complete your studies.

Flexible

Learn on your own terms.

What works best for you? No two students—or their schedules—are the same. Whether you’re at your best in the early morning or more energized when you get home from work, your study schedule can be personalized to accommodate your lifestyle and responsibilities. While you will be required to maintain a base level of consistent progress through your program, WGU is designed to empower you to maximize your personal schedule by allowing you to build a study plan that fits into your life—not one that requires you to rearrange it.

Results

Know you’re learning real-world skills.

Will your teaching credentials be recognized? Today's schools look for teachers with the knowledge, skills, and experience to help students understand how to solve problems. WGU’s online teaching degree programs includes a student teaching component to prepare you for real-world classrooms.

Finish courses by proving what you know, as soon as you’re ready.

With competency-based education at WGU, success is measured by actual learning, not class time. You advance by demonstrating that you've mastered the course subject matter—whether you learned it through your study at WGU or picked up that knowledge through years of work experience.

Your progress through a course is driven by you.

How quickly you learn

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The time you devote to studying

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How much previous knowledge you bring

Your experience pays at WGU.

Why start from square one when you could already be well on your way to a degree?

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Career Outlook
With a master’s in science education, you’ll be ready to turn your classroom into a world of discovery.

Early adolescence is a time when science starts to become real for students—real-world applicability emerges, and students who receive a high-quality science education begin to better understand the world they live in through observation and experimentation. Unfortunately, there aren't enough qualified middle school science teachers to help fuel their curiosities and inspire their interest in space science, earth sciences, life sciences, chemistry, and physics.

With today's heavy focus on the importance of STEM in K–12 curriculums, now is a great time to acquire the specialized knowledge to become a science teacher. In fact, there's a national initiative (100Kin10) to recruit, prepare, and retain 100,000 STEM teachers by 2021—an initiative WGU is a proud participant in. WGU is also the nation’s #1 producer of STEM teachers.

6%

Elementary and middle school teaching positions are expected to increase by at least 6% from 2014–2024. With the crisis-level shortage of STEM teachers in America, that increase could be substantially higher for science teachers.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
WGU has alumni teaching across the country.

Graduates of WGU's online Teachers College have found meaningful, rewarding teaching careers in classrooms at:
Inclusionary K–12 classrooms

Middle/junior high schools

High schools

Private and charter schools
Career Resources
Impressive class of graduates.

Graduates of the WGU Teachers College include recipients of many professional honors, including:
Gates Millennium Scholars

Intel Grant for Mathematics and Technology

Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award

Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award

Association of Public Charter Schools Educator of the Year Award
Explore a career in science education.

Get info on a master’s-prepared science teacher’s salary, job outlook, work environment, and more.

LEARN MORE
WGU is a university committed to producing successful grads.

The ultimate test of your degree's value is whether it helps you become an outstanding employee and advance your career. Our happy grads—and their happy employers—confirm that WGU is the path to that kind of degree.
Happy employers

Happy grads

They're Prepared.

Employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.

They Perform.

Employers rated WGU graduates' job performance as very good or excellent.

They Wow.

Employers said their WGU graduates have exceeded their expectations.

They're Confident.

Graduates said the majority of their coursework was related to their jobs.

They're Working.

Graduates are working full-time.

They're Satisfied.

Graduates said their degrees were worth the cost of their education.

Source: 2016 Harris Poll survey of 301 employers; 2016 Harris Poll Online survey of 1,403 new college graduates nationwide compared with survey of 1,207 WGU graduates; WGU--Gallup 2016 Report
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Admissions
Your master’s degree is within reach. The first step: Apply for admission today.

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Start dates are the 1st of every month. Discuss steps and deadlines with your Enrollment Counselor.
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Your Enrollment Counselor is there to help you make an informed decision.
The first step toward change can be the hardest—we get it. Your "welcoming committee" at WGU is made up of Enrollment Counselors, Admissions Specialists, and faculty members. Your initial interactions at WGU will be guided by an Enrollment Counselor who specializes in the programs you're interested in.

Your Enrollment Counselor is ready with as much help as you may need:

Get your cost and admissions criteria questions answered.

Assess WGU's fit with your career goals.

Get started toward enrollment!

Contact an Enrollment Counselor.
Admission requirements unique to this degree.
If you enroll in a program that also includes a special endorsement and you plan to eventually apply for the endorsement, the following is required of you:

A copy of a valid teaching license.

Official transcripts that demonstrate you have earned a bachelor’s degree from a recognized accredited university.

An Enrollment Counselor will instruct you as to when and how to submit your teaching license prior to or during your program.

View general admission requirements
Making an informed admission decision.

WGU seeks to admit individuals who have the capacity and determination to complete a rigorous WGU degree program … and graduate. The admission process is designed to help you and the university reach an informed decision about your likelihood of success.
At WGU we want you to graduate, not just enroll. Consequently, not every applicant is admitted because not every individual has the capacity and determination to complete a rigorous WGU degree program.
Common questions for the M.A. Science Education program.

I am currently a science teacher. Can I enroll in the M.A. Science Education program?

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Our M.A. Science Education program is designed for licensed teachers who want to expand their abilities by adding a Science endorsement.

Is there a practicum requirement for this program?

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There will be a small practicum in the capstone for the degree. You will be teaching a multi-week lesson plan to a body of at least 10 students. This lesson plan usually consists of about 10 hours of in-class time.

WGU is school on your terms.

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