Degree – Master of Science in Secondary Education, MSEd
Concentration: Chemistry

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSEd) degree program offers endorsements in 14 areas. Graduates are prepared for advanced preparation to serve as teachers or practitioners in various educational capacities. The endorsement in Chemistry gives the student an opportunity to become certified in a combination of chemistry and the physical science area .

Learning Outcomes

  • Acquire basic and broad knowledge of chemistry necessary for a career in secondary education
  • Participate in scholarship, service, and leadership opportunities for teachers in the area of general and applied knowledge
  • Participate in teacher training which responds to the demands of a dynamic democratic society
  • Obtain advanced training in specialized fields and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and new truths through scholarly research and inquiry
  • Apply modern methodologies of instruction at the secondary level

Admission Requirements:

Students applying for entrance to the Master Science in Secondary Education in Chemistry are required to submit an application for admission, Apply Online (www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduate-studies).

  • Educator License
  • two letters of recommendation
  • official transcript from an accredited school (if a student has attended more than one school, transcripts must be submitted from all schools attended). At least one transcript must document the student has a bachelor’s degree.
  • Immunization record

Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the Department of Chemistry and Physics admission committee. The department uses an admission formula to accept students. The entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School.

Credentials:

A Standard Educator License in a teaching area is required for admission to programs in the Master of Science in Secondary Education with the exception of certificate programs.

Degree Requirements:

The curriculum for the Master of Science in Secondary Education in Chemistry requires 33 credit hours of coursework and passing required exit exams for degree completion. Students complete 12 hours of required core credits,15 hours of required course credits, and 6 hours of electives.

Graduation expectations require the following:

  • A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
  • Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
  • Successfully pass the Core Exit Exam
  • Successfully pass the Area Exit Exam according to content area
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

Academic advisors are allowed to accept up to six semester credit hours earned at an accredited university with a grade of “B” or higher for graduate coursework completed. Substitutions of coursework are allowed with the approval of an advisor and department administrators up to nine hours if the substitution(s) meet curriculum requirements.

See Transfer of Credits Policy for additional information.
See the Substitution of Courses Policy for additional information.

Academic Track: Exit Exams

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Secondary Education must pass a Core Examination and Area Examination to exit.

Master Degree Audit:

Before candidacy for graduation can be confirmed, each student progression to degree completion will be evaluated to determine if student has met all academic requirements for course work and other aspects of the student’s course of study and Graduate School requirements. When these requirements are met, the student is cleared for graduation.

Time to Degree Completion

Alcorn’s time to degree completion policy allows 6 years to complete the chemistry program. Degree completion depends on the pace a student completes the curriculum. If the time exceeds six years, the student must petition the Graduate School to consider an appeal for more time to degree completion.

See the Student Academic Appeals Policy for Expiration of Timeline for additional requirements

Degree Plan and Course Sequence

Core Education Courses (21 Hours)
ED 512 Foundations of American Education
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research
ED 533 Curriculum Development
PH 513 Advanced Educational Psychology

Required Courses (15 Hours)
CH 510 Development of Modern Chemistry
CH 550 Analytical Methods
CH 560 Selected Topics in Chemistry
CH 585 Principles of Chemistry for Teachers
CH 586 Principles of Chemistry for Teachers

Approved Electives (6 Hours)
CH 500 Science and Environment
CH 506 Astronomy
CH 520 Advanced Inorganic Laboratory
CH 530 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CH 540 Advanced Organic Chemistry
CH 570 Modern Theoretical Chemistry
GS 503 Earth and Space Science
GS 511 Nuclear Science
GS 580 Advanced Biochemistry

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Sonia Eley ▪ 601.877.6441 ▪ [email protected] (Department of Chemistry and Physics)