Degree
Requirements
for
M.S.T. Degree Program in Biological Sciences
and General Science
| Applicants may or may not be previously certified to teach in the State of Illinois |
Applicant Previously Certified |
Applicant NOT Previously Certified |
| Required Courses: |
|
|
| Students With Previous Certification: While specific courses are not required, previously certified candidates must complete a minimum of 8 hours of graduate level courses offered by departments in the College of Education. (These courses would be selected in consultation with the Biology advisor based on the student's interests.) |
8 hours |
N/A |
| Elective hours selected from either biology or education |
8 hours |
N/A |
Students Without Previous Certification must complete the 4-semester sequence of professional education courses, including one semester of student teaching, required for teacher certification (29 graduate hours plus 2 undergraduate hours). Some of the graduate level courses are counted toward the basic requirement of 16 graduate hours of Education courses required for the MST degree.
PLUS:
*One 4 hour, 500-level Curriculum and Instruction course
*One 2 hour, 400-level Education Policy Studies course
*(These are selected from a list of approved courses in consultation with the Biology advisor based on the student's interests) |
N/A |
35 graduate hours
2 undergraduate hours |
| Hours Required Within the Unit (Biology - IB or MCB): |
16 hours |
16 hours |
| Research/Project Hours: (min/max applied toward degree): |
min 0
max 4 |
min 0
max 4 |
| Language Requirement: |
none |
none |
| Thesis Hours Required (min/max applied toward degree): |
0 |
0 |
| Total Hours |
32 graduate hours |
51 graduate hours
2 undergraduate hours |
| 500-level Hours Required Overall in Program (min): |
12 |
12 |
| Courses taken "credit/no credit" may not be used toward degree requirements |
|
|
Other Requirements:
Deficiencies in undergraduate courses needed to satisfy the certification requirement must also be taken: these courses normally do not count toward the 32 or 51 graduate hours needed to complete the degree. Deficiencies are determined by an audit of transcripts conducted by the Teacher Certification Officer.
Conferral of the MST degree is contingent upon the completion of all teacher certification requirements.
Qualification for teacher certification is contingent upon the completion of all MST degree requirements |
|
|
Course Load:
To maintain full-time graduate status, the Graduate College recommends that a student carry a minimum semester load of 12 hours unless s/he holds a university appointment. However, in view of the significant laboratory and/or field component of many biology courses and the necessity to complete Professional Education courses for certification, students in the M.S.T. program take a minimum of two 400- or 500-level life science courses per semester. This requirement is waived during the student teaching semester.
The minimum course load may be reduced when a teaching appointment of up to 50% is held. This is negotiated with the M.S.T. Academic Advisor.
Time to Complete the Program:
Between 2 an 3 years usually are needed to complete degree requirements. Completion time varies depending on:
the number of undergraduate deficiencies needed to satisfy the certification requirement; and
holding a teaching appointment in a biological sciences course.
One complete semester is required for student teaching and other courses cannot normally be taken during that semester. |
