Letter to Prospective Students | Science Education Job Postings

The Institute offers several career paths for those interested in Science Education.

Are you a K-12 science teacher who would like to refine your skills as a facilitator of learning?

The 30 credit hour MA program is designed for K-12 teachers of science working for Michigan Professional Certification and for a career path as master teacher of science. For more information, see our Institute degrees or contact the Director by email.

Online Application

If you are currently a K-12 science teacher wondering about career advancement then there are several options at the Institute to consider.

1) If you do not already have your Michigan Professional Certification then the 30 credit hour MA program is designed for that purpose and as a career path for becoming a master teacher of science.

2) If you already have a Master’s degree then you may wish to consider the K-12 Curriculum & Instruction Ph.D. program. This program prepares professionals for careers in science teacher education, school science department leadership, school science curriculum & policy leadership, and K-12 science education research. Admission requires a Master’s degree in science education or related field. (48 credit hours)

3) Are you interested in research? The Institute Ph.D. research pathway prepares professionals for faculty status at university science departments or teacher education units, involved in both teaching and research, where the research focus is the teaching and learning of a specific science discipline. Admission requires a master’s degree in science or science education. (48 credit hours)

4) Are you interested in college science teaching? The College Teacher of Science pathway prepares professionals for teaching undergraduate science at community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and teaching-focused universities. Admission requires a Master’s degree in biology, chemistry, geography, geology, or physics. WMU also offers a unique concurrent-enrollment program (72 credit hours total) where students are jointly admitted to an MA program in one of the sciences and the Ph.D. program in science education.

Online Application

Would you like to pursue a career teaching science at the college level?

Are you….currently an undergraduate in some field of science, a science-related field, or engineering? Or,

…do you already hold a Master’s degree in science, a science-related field, or engineering?

If you are currently an undergraduate student in some field of science, a science-related field, or engineering then you might be interested in teaching science at the college level.

We’d like to tell you about a unique program at Western Michigan University’s Mallinson Institute for Science Education. This suggested program of study prepares professionals for teaching undergraduate science at community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and teaching-focused universities. For students interested in research careers, the program prepares professionals for both teaching and research, where the research focus is the teaching and learning of a specific science discipline.

Online Application

Students who enter this program of study apply for admission into an MA program in one of the sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, or Physics) while simultaneously indicating their interest in subsequently pursuing a doctoral degree in science education. For more information, see our Institute degrees or contact the Director by email.

If you already hold a Master’s degree in science, a science-related field, or engineering then…

Earning a Ph.D. in science education coupled with a master’s degree in a field of science is the professional pathway for teaching undergraduate science at community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and teaching-focused universities. Admission to the Institute Ph.D. program requires a Master’s degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, geography, geology, or physics. For more information, see our Institute degrees or contact the Director by email.

Online Application

Are you interested in researching how students learn science and the implications for how science should be taught?

The Institute Ph.D. research pathway prepares professionals for faculty status at university science departments or teacher education units, involved in both teaching and research, where the research focus is the teaching and learning of a specific science discipline. Students have access to several lines of research expertise. Admission requires a Master’s degree in science or science education. (48 credit hours)

Online Application