MS in STEM Education
The Master of Science in STEM Education prepares students to work on the development and implementation of research, curriculum materials, and educational activities in formal and informal STEM Education settings, such as schools, research centers, museums, industry, cultural institutions, and community agencies. The MS program also prepares future candidates for PhD programs in STEM Education. If they choose to do so, MS students can apply to continue their studies as PhD students at Tufts.
We encourage interested students to look over faculty research areas and email a potential mentor, providing a brief summary of your background and research interests, before the application deadline. Admissions decisions are made by the STEM Education faculty as a whole.
Potential applicants should review information about program tuition and financial aid.
Message from Program Director
Julia Gouvea
Director, STEM Education Program
Program of Study
Upon entry into the program, each PhD student is assigned two program advisors, one of whom is a faculty member in STEM Education and serves as the student’s primary mentor. Program advisors help students choose courses, internships, and research activities. These advisors can be changed at any time within the program.
Course Requirements
Students are required to complete 12 courses to fulfill requirements for the MS in STEM Education degree. These include:
- 7-8 graduate-level courses in Education
- 2 graduate-level courses in a STEM discipline
- Enrollment in the STEM Ed program seminar for 1 year (1 course)
- 1 or 2 courses for Master's Thesis, Project, Research, or Internship experience.
Students who have taken graduate-level coursework not applied to previous degrees may apply for a transfer of credits. No undergraduate courses will count towards the MS degree.
Research/Internship Requirement
MS students must demonstrate understanding of educational research through a thesis, project, work with a research team, or an internship. Faculty support and closely supervise students' research/internship experiences.
Job Placement
Graduates from our MS program work in many areas of PreK-16 STEM education. Examples of positions held by alumni of the STEM Education MS include:
- A grade 9 teacher at City Polytechnic High School in Brooklyn, NY,
- An AP Biology Teacher at Lexington High School in Lexington, MA
- A Research Associate at TERC in Cambridge, MA.
To learn about our alumni visit the Meet Students and Alumni page.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Master of Science program will allow students to do the following:
- Develop and exhibit a deep understanding of the:
- Theory and research on learning, development, and teaching; cognitive science; and the sociocultural foundations of education, both broadly and within their discipline
- Developmental, pedagogical, content specific, and sociocultural challenges inherent in teaching and learning
- Research methods and results appropriate for the development of studies that will contribute to new theoretical insights and practical approaches to education
- Knowledge and practices in their respective disciplines
- Develop abilities to:
- Express themselves and disseminate in effective ways, through different media, the results of their research (for example, orally, in writing, through video)
- Address questions of educational and social relevance grounded in disciplinary knowledge, where relevance refers both to the field at large and to students' particular professional experiences and interests
- Collaborate with others on joint research projects
- Situate their research within a global and international community
- Understand the importance of respecting the children, teachers, students, and educators with whom they work
Student and Alumni Perspectives
Harpreet Auby, MS STEM Education, speaking about 'Socio Cultural Perspectives in Education'