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Master of Education
MEd in Curriculum & Instruction: Science Education and Communication
| Method of delivery: Online |
Applications open: October 1, 2024 |
Applications close: February 1, 2025 |
Next start date: September 2025 |
Expand your understandings of current issues in science education and science communication and build new career skills to nurture professional growth.
Designed for
K-12 educators, science communicators and journalists, educators affiliated with outreach initiatives, museum educators, science journalists, scientists interested in science communication, community leaders, community leisure services workers.
Note: This program is intended for working professionals who are working within their profession throughout the program, therefore may not be suitable for international applicants.
Program Structure
- Two year, 35-unit program (seven 5-unit courses)
- Online synchronous classes
- Classes meet online one evening per week, and usually run from 4:30 - 9:30 pm; 2 hrs synchronous online, 3 hrs of independent work
Intake Schedule
Applications are typically accepted biennially.
Next Start Terms
Fall 2025
Program Design
Designed with working professionals in mind, this two-year degree program offers the opportunity to obtain a high-quality master's degree. Our cohort-based model allows students to work through the program and coursework together (18-24 students).
This program will explore the evolving concept of scientific literacy, especially in relation to issues like fake news, post-truth, and public engagement with science and technology. Students will examine the social, cultural, and political roles of science education and communication through various perspectives, including the history and philosophy of science; socioscientific issues; science, technology, society and environment (STSE) approaches, decolonial views, and critical informal science education frameworks.
The courses in this program aim to develop students' critical thinking, ethical values, and proactive stance on urgent issues such as climate change, environmental degradation, and gender inequalities in science and technology. Indigenous perspectives will be integral to the program, encouraging students to challenge dominant views on science, education, communication and research. Topics like the "nature/culture divide”, objectivity in science, place-based learning, public engagement, participation, and equity will be central to the discussions.
Goals of the Program
- Engage critically with community and practitioner-based scholarship, and theory in science education and communication.
- Appraise and examine the complex relationships between science, technology, society and environment in different educational and communication contexts (e.g. schools, museums, social media, NGOs, outreach initiatives, science cafés, etc.)
- Develop critical views and values on the relationships between scientific and technological development and the distribution of wealth and power.
- Critically examine the current state of science education and communication in provincial, national and international contexts.
- Explore theoretical and practical perspectives of decolonizing and indigenizing science education and science communication.
- Reflect upon the meanings and possibilities of public engagement and participation in science, technology and environmental issues.
- Engage in transformative practices related to science education and communication.
Courses
Students complete:
Year 1
Fall Term
EDUC 859-5 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND PERSPECTIVES OF EDUCATION: SCIENCE IN CONTEXT
An introductory examination of various philosophical positions about the nature of science, including logical positivism, naive realism, instrumentalism, relativism and social constructionism, and their relation to curriculum and instruction in science.
Spring Term
EDUC 710-5 SPECIAL TOPICS: CURRENT ISSUES IN SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
In this course, students will engage with science communication as a practice and as an area of study and scholarship. As such, the course will offer opportunities to explore and make collective meaning of the models of science communication, citizen science experiences, science communication in diverse media and contexts, science communication and indigenous knowledge, and inclusion and equity in science communication. By exploring science communication resources, and developing science communication materials/initiatives, students will apply theory to practice and will consider how to promote and foster public engagement with science in formal and informal settings.
Summer term
EDUC 816-5 DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES FOR DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS
Investigates theories and issues associated with developing educational programs and practices in various educational contexts. Addresses the development of new programs and their implementation in schools and other educational settings.
Year 2
Fall Term
EDUC 861-5 STUDY OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Focuses on educational issues, trends and practices which impact teaching and learning in schools and other educational settings.
Spring Term
EDUC 864-5 RESEARCH DESIGNS IN EDUCATION: SCIENCE EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
Designing and interpreting research about education. Introduction to survey techniques, correlational designs, classic experimental and evaluation designs for investigating causal relations, case study methods, interpretive approaches to research. Students with credit for EDUC 814 may not take this course for further credit. Equivalent Courses: EDUC814.
Summer Term
EDUC 837-5 SEMINAR IN EDUCATION, EQUITY AND SOCIAL THEORIES: SCIENCE EDUCATION
An in-depth study of selected topics in education, equity, and social theories.
EDUC 883-5 MED COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
The examination is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Program courses and order of delivery subject to change.
Online
Courses in this program are offered online synchronously via Zoom. Ensure you have the following minimum technical requirements:
- PC (Windows XP or Vista) or Mac (OS X 10.4 or greater)
- High-speed internet connection
- USB headset with a microphone (or a headset)
- Webcam
- Acccess to a printer
Where can this program take you? The world is changing rapidly and so is the full range of career and academic opportunities that await.
Occupations
- Adult and community educators and communicators
- Teachers
Further Studies
- Graduates of this program may be interested in pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Theory and Practice) or an Educational Leadership EdD.
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Barbara Djokic Program Assistant
EdD and MEd Programs, Community Graduate 778-782-8099 educedd@sfu.ca SRYC 5203