Master of Science Teaching Program
A Professional Masters degree for educators administered by
the Physics and Astronomy Department.
Approved by full Rice University faculty March 17, 2004.
Application | Program Requirements | Courses for Teachers | Upcoming Workshops
Apply now! Application Deadlines October 1 for January admission; Feb 1 for fall admission
Ham Radio Course PHYS 401 starts JAN 8, 2007 Teachers: Please send email to Dr. Reiff (reiff (at) rice.edu) if you are interesting in attending any of our special teacher courses, either for credit or just as an auditor. You need not be in the MST program to take our courses. However, teachers interested in applying for the MST program are encouraged to take these classes, because up to 9 hours of Rice credit can apply to your degree. Some tuition waivers are available; after those are exhausted, the special teacher tuition rate is $750 per course. These classes are also generally open to Rice undergraduate non-majors. Both the Space and Earth programs follow a four-semester sequence.
Summary of the MST Program:
A content-based, non-thesis, advanced degree primarily directed towards inservice middle school, IPC (Integrated Physics and Chemistry), Physics, or Astronomy high school teachers and other Education and Public Outreach (EPO) professionals. Thirty credit hours required, of which at least 15 will be content or combination content/tools courses. The remaining credits can either be content, tools, education, research, or practicum, with no more than 12 hours total in research and practicum credits. A special project will be part of the research or practicum hours. Each student will have a 3-person committee, with at least two members from the tenure-track faculty, to approve the studentŐs proposed program, advising which specific courses will best suit the studentŐs needs. At least one of the members of the committee will be an experienced Education Professional, who will ensure the appropriateness of the courses to the educatorŐs program. At least one person of the committee will be an expert in the content area that is the studentŐs primary teaching interest. The usual other MS requirements will apply; for example, no more than 9 hours as a Class III student, no more than 6 hours transfer credit, and at least 15 hours at the 500 level and above. The students apply through the Physics and Astronomy Department; GREŐs are required. A 3-person committee with at least one Education Professional will review applications. The teachers who finish the program are encouraged to become master teachers in their district, multiplying the impact of the program manifold by giving workshops and other inservice programs to other teachers both in state and across the country.
Advisory Council, who set policy and program direction
Educational Professionals, who serve on student committees to set individualized student requirements
Quicktime of "HISD Today" (14 MB) which features MST students learning ham radio along with students at HMNS summer camp. Here is a larger format (640x480, 23 MB) version of that HISD program .
Quicktime of 2004 MST graduation: Anastasia Furitsch and Dolores Garay receiving their degrees. Here is a larger format (640x480, 9 MB) version of the 2004 graduation ceremony .
A PDF of the MST Proposal, as approved by the faculty. Note: some changes to the program may be approved from time to time by the Advisory Council, so this website and official documents from the Physics and Astronomy Department should be consulted for the most recent changes to the program.