Summer Masters

Due to the severe budget cuts sustained by the University of Texas and the College of Natural Science, we have had to make the difficult decision to NOT offer any new cohorts for the UTeach Summer Masters program to start in June 2012. We are truly disappointed in this outcome but cannot, in good conscience, move forward without assurance of the funding needed to support the program. We are, however, committed to making sure the students currently in the program are able to finish their degrees.

The UTeachEngineering Master of Arts in STEM Education - Engineering (MASEE) program is still is still accepting applications. For more information, visit the MASEE home page.

Introduction

Expanding on the foundations built by the nationally-recognized UTeach Natural Sciences undergraduate program, we have created the SUMMER UTeach Master of Arts in Science and Mathematics Education. For mathematics candidates there is also a summer MA Mathematics degree option. A collaborative effort between the Colleges of Education and Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, this degree program has been recently updated. It is intended to produce the next generation of Master Teacher leaders - individuals who will return to the classroom and their school districts as highly qualified content and instructional specialists.

Because the needs of practicing classroom teachers are not met by upper division and graduate math, science and computer science courses in the College of Natural Sciences at UT Austin, entirely new courses in the disciplines of chemistry, physics, biology, earth/environmental sciences and mathematics have been developed for teachers who wish to increase their content knowledge and to use this knowledge effectively in a secondary setting. These new courses were developed by University faculty, along with master teachers who have extensive experience in middle and high school classrooms.

Applications are accepted for admissions into each summer cohort during the spring semester prior to the start date. Because of the cohort design, a limited number of content disciplines are taught each summer. The following table summarizes the number of teachers attending and completing cohorts in chemistry, biology, earth/environmental sciences, engineering, physics, and mathematics since the program began in 2004.

Overview

• The degree is completed in three 9-week summer sessions and four long semesters (fall and spring semesters) - a total of 27 months from start to finish.
• Face-to-face course work consists of 9-11 credit hours each summer on campus.
• A total of six hours of on-line course work is required during the 2 intervening academic years - 2 hours the first year and 4 hours the second year.
• Scholarships are available to subsidize costs of tuition. Housing and travel assistance is provided on an as-needed basis for the summer sessions.
• The final summer requires participation in a University research group OR a "coursework only" option for Mathematics degree seekers.
• Final completion of the program will require a report that relates a candidate's advanced content knowledge to the teaching and learning of math, science or computer science in the secondary setting.
• Program completers will be recommended to the State Board of Educator Certification as Master Teachers in Science or Mathematics, allowing them to take the MST / MMT exams.
• There are two Mathematics Education degree options and one MA in Mathematics degree options offered; Mathematics teachers may choose to apply for the standard degree option OR the non-Report degree option which will enable students to earn the 18 graduate mathematics credit hours required by many school districts and institutions to teach AP courses or "dual enrollment" courses. Contact Dr. Mark L. Daniels for more information.
• For application information on the MA in Mathematics degree option click here.

Application

Candidates are selected through a competitive application process. Cohorts in specific subject matter areas are recruited according to demand and need for teachers. Applications in Mathematics and in Chemistry are now being accepted for Summer 2012. The application deadline for Science Education is February 15, 2012.

Interested individuals must:
• Fill out the online application at: http://www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/grad/. Select Math Education (code: 32600) or Science Education (code: 32700) for your major.
• Write a Statement of Purpose. This statement should describe how your professional goals to be a master teacher leader (MST OR MMT) will be met by completion of the UTeach Master of Arts in Science and Mathematics Education. Include specific examples from past work that will convince the application review committee of your potential to grow in content knowledge and become a mentor, coach and teacher/leader in your classroom, on your school campus, and in the school district. Be sure to specify in your Statement of Purpose that you are applying to the SUMMER UTeach Master's of Arts in Science and Mathematics Education Program.
• Submit three letters of recommendation. On your on-line ApplyTexas application, you will list your 3 references, including full name, title (example: Mrs., Prof., Director, Principal, etc.) and current email address. Be sure the email address is accurate. After you submit your application and it loads on our system, your recommender will be sent an email with a link to the on-line reference form. If you have any questions or concerns, please email gradref@austin.utexas.edu. The letters must be submitted from Department Chairs, Principals, and District Administrators attesting to your potential as a master teacher leader. These letters should include specific information regarding the support you will be given to exercise your role as a master teacher leader once you return to your campus or your district. For example, will you be given release time to mentor, observe and co-teach with your colleagues during the school day? Or, will you be given responsibility and funding to create and run staff development sessions focused on improving student learning in science, mathematics or computer science? Will your increased knowledge and skills be utilized in the development, implementation and testing of new curriculum and/or assessments of student achievement? To monitor or maintain your requests for references, please go to the status check website. On the page, you can:
  • Monitor the status of your pending recommendations
  • Resend a Request for Reference email to your recommenders
  • Add a new recommender (for example, add a 4th or 5th reference)
  • Revise your FERPA (right to view) status from retained to waived
• Take the General GRE (multiple choice only) and have the scores submitted to the University by the required deadline. Our University code is 6882. GRE Website.
• Request that electronic copies of your test and your official Transcripts be sent to the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC).
  Address (for postal service):
  Graduate and International Admissions Center
  The University of Texas at Austin
  P.O. Box 7608
  Austin, TX 78713-7608
  Street Address (for overnight letter or package delivery):
  Graduate and International Admissions Center
  The University of Texas at Austin
  Walter Webb Hall
  405 W. 25th Street
  Austin, TX 78705
• Download from this web site and complete the Science and Math Education Degree Designation Form and email it to Stephen Flynn at sflynn@mail.utexas.edu.
• For Science, take a diagnostic content exam that will assess your current level of knowledge and ability to think critically about your subject area speciality. The results of this exam will assist the UTeach Master's program advisors in appropriate course placements. Once you have completed all other parts of the application process for science, contact Dr. Mary Walker.

Please send your resume and the designation form to Stephen Flynn via email or by traditional mail:

For specific questions regarding the UTeach SUMMER Master's Education program, please contact Stephen Flynn.

For specific questions regarding the UTeach SUMMER Master of Arts in Mathematics Education program, please contact Dr. Mark L. Daniels.

Curriculum

In general, summer sessions are 9 weeks long, 5 days per week, from the second week in June until the first week in August. There may be discussion or lab hours scheduled outside of stated class schedules. In addition, due to the intensity of delivering a graduate course in a condensed time frame, out of class assignments could require 3 to 4 additional hours per day. In short, commitment to this summer masters program requires a full-time effort on the part of the participants.

Degree Plan for MA in Science and Mathematics Education Program

Degree Plan for MA in Mathematics

Courses in Computer Sciences are scheduled for development in the future, depending on demand. If interested, please contact Dr. Mary Walker.

Courses have already been developed in the following disciplines: biology, physics, chemistry, earth/environmental science and mathematics.

Generally, one new mathematics and one new science cohort will be established each summer. The determination of which science discipline to be offered will be based on demand from potential applicants. If you are interested in applying in a particular discipline, please contact Stephen Flynn for education related degree plans and Dr. Mark L. Daniels for the Mathematics degree option.

Financial Aid

Each semester, a limited amount of financial support will be available to help offset the costs of the program. The amount awarded each semester may vary and is subject to availability. Please be aware students are financially responsible for any costs not covered by the UTeach Program.

For those who will travel to the Austin area and need temporary housing to complete the summer sessions, assistance will be provided. Each summer the program will contract with a dorm near campus to provide summer housing. This plan includes room, board and parking. Rooming is provided in a double room and, if space is available a single room can be requested, but the participant will be required to pay the difference in costs directly to the housing management.

The policy regarding financial aid and housing assistance can be amended and rescinded by the program at any time. Participants who are not making adequate progress through the program may have their aid suspended.

Master Mathematics and Master Science Teacher Certification

Completion of the UTeach Summer Master's Program satisfies the University's requirements for Master Mathematics or Master Science Teacher certification. Successful candidates will be recommended to SBEC to take the certification exam.