MST Program Details: Tracks and Concentrations - Maine Center for Research in STEM Education

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

ORONO, Maine – At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Tracks & Concentrations

Thesis Information

Course Descriptions

K–12 Classroom Experiences

MST Program Details: Tracks & Concentrations

Program Tracks

INITIAL CERTIFICATION TRACK – For those who wish to become certified to teach life sciences, physical sciences, or mathematics in grades 7–12

In addition to the core courses, students in this track:

Take all required PRAXIS exams for their area of certification
Take a course on adapting instruction for students with disabilities (certification requirement)
Take one course related to diversity in teaching and learning
Participate in a 15-week student teaching practicum along with a co-requisite seminar
Document an experience working with students from groups under-represented in STEM

NON-CERTIFICATION TRACK – For those already licensed who wish to increase their content and pedagogical knowledge, those who plan to pursue a PhD in the field of education research, or those who wish to pursue a related career in STEM education that does not require K–12 certification.

Students in this track take the core courses plus 12 additional credits of courses to strengthen their content knowledge and/or research skills.

Concentrations

Students choose one of four possible concentrations:

Physics and Astronomy
Mathematics
Earth Sciences
Generalist (a combination of any of the above concentrations, or for those interested in other science fields such as biology or chemistry)

Each concentration has different prerequisites required to apply to the program.

These concentrations do not directly correlate with the certification areas for K–12 teachers in Maine – rather, they are areas in which the RiSE center has several faculty that specialize in that field. In the program requirements, you will see a core requirement of two teaching methods courses in your area of concentration. These methods courses are taught by faculty with backgrounds in that particular field. Students in the generalist concentration are able to take two required teaching methods courses in any of the three content areas above (or they can mix and match).

To see a list of alumni, their MST concentrations, and current positions, when available, visit: umaine.edu/risecenter/about-us/alumni.

For ideas and research topics, see our:

RiSE Center Theses and Dissertations collection (UMaine Digital Commons)
Faculty profile pages: umaine.edu/risecenter/about-us/faculty-page
Thesis information page for sample research questions