For information, please contact:
George Becker, Coordinator of Program.
NM Tech MST Department
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801
505-835-5470

Interdepartmental Program

Advisory Committee for Master of Science for Teachers

• Chávez (mineral engineering)
• Davidson (EODI director, ex officio)
• Ford (humanities)
• Johnson (graduate dean, ex officio)
• Reiss (biology)
• Stone (mathematics)
• Harrison (earth and environmental science)
• Werbelow (chemistry)
• Westpfahl (physics- chair of program)
• Becker (coordinator)

Degree Offered: Master of Science for Teachers

Program Description
The MST program is designed to provide graduate-level classroom and laboratory instruction for teachers of science, mathematics, engineering, and/or technology. The emphasis of the courses is on content, rather than pedagogy. MST students are encouraged to develop laboratory exercises, demonstrations, and teaching methods from the course content and apply these as directed study or independent study projects in their own classrooms during the academic year. Courses for the participants are offered in a variety of disciplines and are taught by New Mexico Tech faculty. Classes build on fundamental principles and offer new concepts and novel teaching methods. Courses are offered throughout the year via distance instruction and as live courses on the New Mexico Tech campus and around the state.

Program Prerequisites
An individual with at least one year of teaching experience may apply for admittance into the MST Program. The Program encourages individuals to hold a valid teaching certificate when appropriate.

Transfer Credit Policy
Credits used for another degree are not available for use in the MST degree program. Up to 12 credit hours of approved upper-division undergraduate or graduate (300–500 level) science, mathematics, engineering, and/or technology courses taken at New Mexico Tech with a grade of “B’ or better, may be applied to the total required for the MST degree.

A maximum of 12 credit hours of course work with grade B or better, earned at another accredited institution, may be approved by the student’s advisory committee for transfer to the MST program. To be approved, credits must not have been used to satisfy the requirements for a previous degree. Transfer credits can include upper-division undergraduate or graduate credit in science, mathematics, engineering, and/or technology.

Transferred credits may include up to six credit hours of professional education courses in areas generally appropriate to this program. Requests for evaluation of transfer credit hours must be made in writing to the program coordinator and must include the transfer credit form and official transcripts.

Application for Admission
Application forms may be obtained from the internet at www.nmt.edu/~grad/. Printed forms or more information can be requested by e-mail from graduate@nmt.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by mail from:

Master of Science for Teachers
Graduate Office
801 Leroy Place
New Mexico Tech
Socorro, NM 87801

For information on Tech’s Education Department and alternate licensure, see the Student Catalog.

MST Fellowships
The MST Office maintains a list of available fellowships.

Endorsement Policy
Information regarding certification endorsements may be obtained from the New Mexico Department of Education, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Placement Exams
MST students may take placement exams for ST 523, 524, 525, 526, or 550. Upon successful completion of the exam(s), this requisite for the program will be waived and the student will not be required to take the course(s). The exams consist of questions covering basic concepts of science and mathematics.

Use of Tech Facilities
If an MST student is utilizing New Mexico Tech facilities or faculty (i.e., computer center, advisor, or graduate committee), the student must be registered for at least one Tech upper-division or graduate course.

Thesis or Independent Study Requirement
The candidate for the MST degree must select either a thesis or a non-thesis program under the guidance of the student’s advisor and advisory committee. The thesis program involves the preparation of a thesis (ST 591), which may be experimental, theoretical, or applied, under the supervision of a faculty member. Six credit hours will be allowed for the thesis. The non-thesis program involves the preparation of a paper (ST 590—Independent Study) under the supervision of a faculty member. The paper may be experimental, theoretical, or applied in terms of science teaching. Three credit hours will be allowed for the preparation of this paper. A list of individuals willing to supervise independent study can be obtained from the MST Coordinator.

Graduate Advisory Committee
Each MST student will be assigned a temporary advisor at the time of first registration. The student will select an advisor and an advisory committee by the completion of 12 credits. The student’s academic advisor must be a regular faculty member of the Institute. The advisory committee consists of at  east the academic advisor and two other faculty members. The MST Coordinator is the fourth member of all MST committees. The academic advisor serves as chair of the advisory committee. The MST Coordinator and the Graduate Dean must approve the advisor and members of the advisory committee. The student should meet with his or her advisory committee at least once a year.

Course Program
Courses to be used towards each of the graduate degrees at New Mexico Tech must meet with the prior approval of the student’s advisory committee. These courses constitute the student’s Course Program. The approved Course Program must be on file in the Graduate Office for full-time students no later than the end of the second semester of residency. Part-time and distance education students must formalize their course program by the time they complete 12 credits. The course program is reported on the committee report form, available online and from the Graduate Office.

Program Requirements
All incoming MST students must demonstrate competence in science and mathematics by either:

1. Completing the introductory courses:
   • ST 523, Survey of Biology
   • ST 524, Survey of Chemistry
   • ST 525, Survey of Geology
   • ST 526, Survey of Physics
   • ST 550, Mathematics for Teachers
2. Passing the appropriate placement exams (see above). 

Master of Science for Teacher students must take the following core of 16 credit hours that will give breadth and depth to the program:

1. All incoming students must take a technical communication course and a computer literacy course.
   • ST 530, Technical Communication for Teachers (2)
   • ST 556, Computers and Science Teaching (2)
2. For comprehensiveness, MST students must take one course in each of the following distribution areas, for a total of ten credit hours:
   • Math (2)
   • Physics (2)
   • Chemistry (2)
   • Geology/Biology (2)
   • Engineering/Computer Science/Economics (2)
3. For depth, MST students must take an additional two courses (four credit hours) within one of the above distribution areas of the student’s choice.

In addition to the core requirements above, MST students must complete:

• ST 590, Independent Study (3), or ST 591, Thesis (6)
• ST 592, Seminar (1)
• Additional courses to complete 30 credit hours. These courses may be chosen from MST courses or other Tech courses numbered 300 or above. Up to 12 transfer credit hours are allowed.