The Master of Education in Earth Sciences degree program includes 21 required credits and a minimum of 9 elective credits to comprise the 30-credit degree program. A minimum of 18 of the 30 credits must be at the 500-level or 800-level (with at least 6 credits at the 500-level).
The program courses are offered in Penn State's traditional semester format, with courses offered three times a year (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) unless otherwise noted in the chart below.
The chart below provides a listing of the required and elective courses in the program. As noted, EARTH 501 is the recommended introductory course for the program and EARTH 591 is the required capstone course. For course availability information, see our Course Calendar. The content of many of our courses is available as part of the Open Educational Resources initiative of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State. Those courses are linked to their course home page in the table below. Check them out!
| REQUIRED COURSES (21 credits) | ||
|---|---|---|
| EARTH 501 Recommended first course |
CONTEMPORARY CONTROVERSIES IN THE EARTH SCIENCES (3) Exploration of current areas of research in the Earth sciences. Prerequisites: None. |
3 credits |
| ASTRO 801 | PLANETS, STARS, GALAXIES, AND THE UNIVERSE Overview of the structure, formation, and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe. Prerequisites: None. |
3 credits |
| C I 501 | TEACHING AS INQUIRY Course guides teachers to develop systematic inquiries into effective teaching and learning. Prerequisites: None |
3 credits |
| C I 550 | OVERVIEW OF CONTEMPORARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM Current school programs and options and their impact on pupils; problems in introducing new content into the curriculum. Prerequisite: 12 credits in education and psychology or teaching experience* |
3 credits |
| EGEE 401 | ENERGY IN A CHANGING WORLD Energy is in transition, with increased international energy demand and increasing environmental pressures. Energy transitions, approaches, and outcomes are addressed. Prerequisites: EGEE 101 or EGEE 102 or CHEM 013* |
3 credits |
| METEO 801 | UNDERSTANDING WEATHER FORECASTING FOR EDUCATORS Fundamental principles of synoptic and physical meteorology, satellite and radar imagery and data analysis in the setting of mid-latitude weather forecasting. Prerequisites: None. |
3 credits |
| EARTH 591 Required capstone course |
INDIVIDUAL STUDIES Development of a capstone project, supervised on an individual basis outside the scope of formal courses. Prequisites: Completion of (or concurrent enrollment in) all other required courses in the program: EARTH 501, ASTRO 801, C I 501, C I 500, EGEE 401, and METEO 801* |
3 credits |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (minimum of 9 credits) | ||
| EARTH SCIENCE (EARTH) COURSES |
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| GEOGRAPHY (GEOG) COURSES |
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| METEOROLOGY (METEO) COURSES |
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| EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (EDPSY) COURSES |
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| SCIENCE EDUCATION (SCIED) COURSES |
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* NOTE: Prerequisites as listed may be waived by the course instructor if you can demonstrate the required level of competency.
Typical Plan of Study
Students accepted into the program may begin their coursework during any academic semester. The typical student course load is expected to be three to four courses per year. It is strongly recommended that students take only one course at a time while working full time. However, it is anticipated that students will enroll in two courses during the Summer semester. At the rate of four, three-credit courses each year, most students will complete the M.Ed. in Earth Sciences program in about two and a half years of part-time study.
The M.Ed. in Earth Sciences program can be tailored to provide a focus in a desired discipline based on the student's choice of elective course(s). Two sample course pathways are provided below, one with a focus on geosciences and one with a focus on meteorology.
Pathway Example 1: Student focus in Geosciences
| SEMESTER | REQUIRED COURSES | OTHER COURSES |
|---|---|---|
| Summer #1 | EARTH 501 | EARTH 530 |
| Fall #1 | METEO 801 | |
| Spring #1 | EGEE 401 | |
| Summer #2 | C I 550 | EARTH 520 |
| Fall #2 | C I 501 | |
| Spring #2 | EARTH 540 | |
| Summer #3 | ASTRO 801 EARTH 591 |
Pathway Example 2: Student focus in Meteorology
| SEMESTER | REQUIRED COURSES | OTHER COURSES |
|---|---|---|
| Summer #1 | EARTH 501, METEO 801 | |
| Fall #1 | METEO 802 | |
| Spring #1 | EGEE 401 | |
| Summer #2 | C I 550 | METEO 803 |
| Fall #2 | C I 501 | |
| Spring #2 | METEO 804 | |
| Summer #3 | ASTRO 801, EARTH 591 |
Note:
By successfully completing the four METEO courses this student would also have met the requirements for the “Certificate of Achievement in Meteorology,” a four-course postbaccalaureate program.