Cadence Hunkins ’23, and a Norwood-Norfolk alum, is completing SUNY Potsdam’s MST program in science education while teaching at Norwood-Norfolk Central School. The program is now fully online. SUNY Potsdam photo.
POTSDAM — SUNY Potsdam is adding to its growing list of virtual graduate programs, with a new 100 percent online option for the College’s longstanding Master of Science in Teaching (MST) degree in adolescence science education, which leads to certification in Grades 7 to 12.
The program allows aspiring educators with undergraduate degrees in a scientific field to enter the rewarding and growing field of science education, with just three semesters of full-time study. No GRE scores or prior teaching experience are necessary, and students can begin their graduate work as soon as Summer 2023. Applications are now being accepted.
“One of the best features of the program is the short timeframe. If you are coming in with your bachelor’s, you can start in the summer full time right away. Then, you study in the fall and complete your student teaching in the next spring semester, and you’re done in one year. Our graduates are finishing up their field placements and coursework in March and April, just before schools are hiring in May and June,” said Secondary Science Instructor Melissa Cummings, who directs the program.
Specializations in biology, chemistry, earth science and physics are available. Students can complete two specializations, depending on their background and passions, or add an extended certification for Grades 5 and 6, to broaden their career options.
The projected job growth for science educators is 4 percent nationwide through 2028, and there are currently more than 71,000 active science teacher openings in the U.S. based on job postings, according to analysis by Zippia.com. The U.S. Department of Education has designated science education as one of a dozen teacher shortage areas in New York State.
“Right now, science teachers are a hot…
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