Science (M.A.T.)

NOTE: new students are no longer being accepted into the M.A.T. in science program.

Locations

All M.A.T. courses are offered at the Home Campus in St. Louis.

Program Description

The science major is designed for elementary and junior high teachers without extensive background in science who want to increase their ability to interact with children and science. The program is designed to revolve around the four following major concerns:

1. The student must "do" some science in order to understand what science is.
2. The student should accumulate science materials and approaches to the materials that are applicable to the classroom situation.
3. The student should build a content background that increases his or her ability to work in this area in the classroom.
4. The student should develop a questioning attitude toward the role of science in the curriculum and the classroom organization that is compatible with this role, the teacher's personality, and the learning style of students. The student should be able to select from existing materials as well as design and implement original materials that move toward the kind of science experience held as valuable.

Requirements

1. SCIC 5000 Introduction to Science or SCIC 5010 Introduction to Science and Science Teaching.
2. EDUC 5460 Curriculum Design or EDUC 5800 Applied Research.
3. A report: Science for the Classroom. After delivering a seminar, each participant will write a paper that communicates the student's research and its use in the classroom.
4. At least 3 credit hours from one of the following: SCIC 5180, SCIC 5300, SCIC 5320, or SCIC 5340.
5. At least 3 credit hours from one of the following: SCIC 5220, SCIC 5240, SCIC 5260, SCIC 5270, or SCIC 5280.
6. The student may wish to design some learning experiences that are self-initiated and self-directed. To exercise this option, that student should contact the major coordinator.
7. Up to 12 credit hours may be taken outside the major area. The choice of courses should depend on the student's classroom responsibilities.
8. After completing 9 credit hours within an M.A.T. major, all M.A.T. degree-seeking students are required to be advanced to candidacy. Please refer to the Advancement to Candidacy section in this catalog for specific guidelines.

Interest in science and a personal effort to explore the subject are the major determinants of success in the program. Many of the students begin with relatively weak science backgrounds; this does not seem to be a determining factor in student success.

The major is designed to have the student begin in the summer with SCIC 5000 or SCIC 5010; however, a student can earn up to 12 credit hours toward the degree before registering for these courses. Three credit hours per semester is considered a normal load for someone working full time. The minimum time for completion of the degree work is two calendar years.

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Course Descriptions

SCIC 5000 Introduction to Science (3)

The concept of energy and the attitudes and values concerning its use form the base of a laboratory-oriented course. The course introduces teachers to some energy-related materials that serve both as models for teaching science and as an introduction to energy education. The course incorporates other selected activities that serve as models for science education.

SCIC 5010 Introduction to Science and Science Teaching (3)

To begin to understand what science is, students must "do" science; they must "fool with" material things, ask questions of these things, attempt to discover patterns for themselves, and use the patterns to predict the answers to new questions. The material things that are selected for the course include at least four areas directly applicable to the elementary classroom. Class participants investigate some units for use in the elementary classroom developed by the Elementary Science Study, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and other curriculum development groups. The student is expected to explore units more extensively than would be done in elementary school classrooms.

SCIC 5020 Adventure Education: Personal Development (2)

This course recognizes that personal development is a prerequisite to professional growth. Intensive challenge using both natural and urban environments is the vehicle for students to look at themselves; to learn to trust themselves and a group; to learn that some tasks require more than normal effort; and to learn that they have the resources to give.

SCIC 5080 Energy Conservation (1)

Data on U.S. and world energy consumption and reserves are presented with conservation activities for both personal and classroom use. The course provides discussion of the design of buildings for maximum use of solar energy and home energy conservation.

SCIC 5090 Experiments in Environmental Education (3)

The objective of this class is that students develop an understanding of the human environment in all its aspects—social, physical, and biological—and how these aspects fit together. Course content includes background information for teachers as well as activities to use in the classroom.

SCIC 5100 Adventure Education: Cooperation and Initiative Tasks (3)

This course focuses on group initiative games, ropes initiative courses, and orienteering. Students design and use group initiative games. They experience and develop group leadership skills on ropes initiative courses. The course includes the opportunity to earn Level I and Level II certification for use of ropes initiative courses in St. Louis area parks. (This certification involves an additional $5.00 fee.) Basic skills in orienteering will be emphasized. Students increase their abilities to take initiative, make decisions, and work cooperatively. NOTE: This course can be taken for CR/NC only.

SCIC 5110 Astronomy for School Personnel (1-3)

This course provides involvement in the kinds of activities in observational astronomy that can be used with children. Participants also study theory and an overview for background material.

SCIC 5120 Geology for School Personnel (1-3)

Students in this course look at a particular land area and the kinds of tools a geologist would use to gather information about the area. The emphasis is on the kinds of tools the geologist uses so that the teacher is able to use these tools on a land area near the classroom.

SCIC 5140 Chemistry for School Personnel (3)

The course approaches chemistry from a phenomenological point of view. It is designed to study and classify the phenomena that occur and to seek similarities and differences in behavior.

SCIC 5150 Microcomputers and Science Teaching (3)

This course enables students to gain competence in the use of BASIC and PILOT as programming tools for educational materials, to know the range of materials currently available for use in science instruction in CAI and simulations as well as to develop some new materials, and to be able to use the computer to solve problems and gather data.

SCIC 5160 Meteorology (3)

This class introduces concepts of meteorology and the teaching of these concepts on both the elementary and secondary levels. Topics included are temperature, pressure, moisture distributions in the atmosphere, and dynamic effects such as radiation, stability, storms, and general circulation.

SCIC 5180 Selected Topics in Physical Science (3)

Students in this course explore materials and content selected from the physical sciences that can be directly applied to the classroom. The specific topics to be studied during any particular semester depend on the instructor's background, current interest, and materials available from curriculum projects. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

SCIC 5200 Independent Study: Research (3-6)

M.A.T. students with special interests or needs that are not met by existing curricula may request that a member of the faculty supervise an independent study. Together the student and faculty member decide the content of the independent study and the criteria for evaluation. In no case can an independent study be set up when an existing course already covers the subject. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

SCIC 5210 In-Service Education (1-4)

Various graduate in-service courses are offered that are not part of the existing M.A.T. curricula but provide experiences important to the academic and professional development of educators. Consult the semester course listings for specific topics. Prerequisite: prior approval of the M.A.T. advisor. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

SCIC 5220 Whole Plant Physiology for School Personnel (3)

Students in this course study the plant kingdom comprehensively. The course emphasis is on the botanical activities, demonstrable to children, that play a key part in the living world.

SCIC 5240 Animal Form and Function for School Personnel (3)

This course covers the physiological processes as they concern the whole animal. Animals chosen are those that can be kept in elementary school classrooms. The experiments deal with animals and humans, and many are applicable to the student's classroom.

SCIC 5260 Fresh Water Ecology for School Personnel (3)

This course is designed to acquaint teachers with the fresh water environments of this area and how they may be used in the classroom. There are six required field trips (one all-day), with others optional. The emphasis is on making equipment, learning to use it, identifying organisms, field trip experiences, and human beings' effects on the fresh water environment.

SCIC 5270 Field and Forest Ecology (1-3)

This course is a field study of plant and animal organisms found in fields and forests. Students consider relationships to environment and population changes, and develop specific activities applicable to their classrooms.

SCIC 5280 Selected Topics in Biological Science (3)

Materials and content selected from the biological sciences apply directly to the student's classroom. The specific topics to be studied during any particular semester depend on the instructor's background, current interest, and materials available from curriculum projects. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

SCIC 5300 Light and Sound for School Personnel (3)

How do we see objects that do not emit light? What about color? What do we see in mirrors and lenses? These are typical of the questions raised as the participants explore subjects of light and sound with laboratory materials.

SCIC 5320 Mechanics for School Personnel (3)

Class members study motion, machines, work, and energy. Materials and content are used by the students as background for direct use with children.

SCIC 5340 Electricity and Magnetism for School Personnel (3)

In studying electrical and magnetic phenomena, students use batteries, bulbs, wire, and permanent magnets to observe phenomena and to establish patterns and systems for predicting phenomena to be observed in different situations.

SCIC 5410 In-Service Topics (1-3)

In-service courses are designed to provide M.A.T. degree-seeking students with practical applications of contemporary research and methodology to improve classroom effectiveness. These courses have been approved for the M.A.T. degree with prior approval of the student's advisor. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

EDUC 5460 Curriculum Design (3)

This course is required for all M.A.T. degree-seeking students regardless of their major. It is designed to help individuals plan learning experiences. Participants discuss technology in the classroom, research regarding learning, models of curriculum design, and methods of evaluation. Each student develops a curriculum package that has direct application to his or her particular teaching situation.

SCIC 5490 Seminars in Science (1-3)

Seminars are designed to focus on contemporary research and classroom application of these data. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

SCIC 5750 Special Institute (1-3)

Webster offers various institutes to provide for a wide range of workshop experiences and contemporary topics within the science program. May be repeated for credit if content differs. For more specific and current information, contact the M.A.T. Office.

EDUC 5800 Applied Research (3)

This course enables students, through action research projects, to develop strategies for problem solving within their classrooms and procedures for conducting self-study as it relates to, but is not limited to, teacher behaviors, learning outcomes, curriculum, policy development, and behavior management. Prerequisites: advancement to candidacy and permission of the instructor. This course may be substituted for EDUC 5460 Curriculum Design.

SCIC 5990 Independent Scholar (1-3)

M.A.T. graduates with special interests or needs that are not met by existing curricula may request that a member of the faculty supervise an independent study. Together the student and faculty member decide the content of the independent study and the criteria for evaluation. In no case can an independent study be set up when an existing course already covers the subject. Prerequisite: must be an M.A.T. graduate. May be repeated for credit if content differs.

SCIC 6000 Advanced Graduate Certificate Project (3)

The advanced graduate certificate (A.G.C.) project is the culminating experience in the A.G.C. program. The student chooses a faculty member to supervise this final project. Examples include a presentation or demonstration for an M.A.T. class, a school district, a local board of education, or a community group; a paper or research project which might be published or distributed within an appropriate school, community group, or for a large audience; or an action project designed and implemented within the student's place of employment. Prerequisite: permission of the A.G.C. coordinator.