Checklist for the Master’s Degree with Thesis (MA)
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Education Program
- Admission into Program
Attend orientation: Consult with graduate advisor and graduate coordinator about initial semester registration.
- Begin coursework in consultation with the STEM graduate advisor (Dr. Catherine Riegle-Crumb) or a faculty advisor that has been assigned to you.
Semester / Recommended Coursework / Milestones
1st year Fall / Required:
Knowing and Learning in STEM Education (core requirement)
Choose other courses based on the needs of your degree plan:
-Content course.
-Research Methods course. EDC 380 R Educational Research and Design
-Possible concurrent core course. Equity, Research on Teachers and Teaching, and Systemic Reform are offered every third semester. It is better to take these after Knowing and Learning and Curriculum History and Development, but one of them may have to be taken concurrently to fit it into your schedule.
-EDC 398T (if you plan to TA or AI in the future)
- / -Consult with Grad Advisor or Grad Coordinator for spring registration approval and register for Spring courses (October).
- If you are planning to do a masters with thesis or report, complete Institutional Review Board (IRB) required training for research involving human subjects.
1st year Spring / Required:
Curriculum History and Development in STEM Ed (core requirement)
Choose other courses based on the needs of your degree plan:
-Concurrent core course
-Content course if needed
-Research course if needed
-EDC 398T if not already taken
-Independent study or related course work / If you are planning a master’s with thesis or report, begin thinking about a possible topic, and decide which faculty you might want to supervise your thesis or report. You will eventually need to identify a second reader. Talk to faculty; solicit feedback and foster relationships.
Consult with Grad Advisor or Grad Coordinator for summer and fall registration approval and register for summer and fall courses (April).
1st year Summer / Enroll in additional courses if needed / Begin to identify a research question for your thesis. Consult with faculty members who have taught the core courses and others on the GSC about opportunities for research aligned with their work.
2nd year Fall / Required:
3rdcore course (Equity, Systemic Reform, or Research on Teaching)
Choose other courses based on the needs of your degree plan:
-Research course if needed
-Content course if needed
-Independent study or related course work / Join the appropriate professional organizations in your field. Add yourself to the listserv for the most appropriate professional organization (NARST, NCTM, etc.)
Mentor incoming STEM graduate students.
Independent research or pilot project for your thesis.
2nd year Spring / Recommended:
Complete core courses
-Consider forming a writing group with other graduate students and meeting at regular negotiated times to review each other’s work.
Choose other courses based on the needs of your degree plan:
-Research course if needed
-Content course if needed
-Independent study or related course work / Independent research or pilot project for your thesis.
2nd year Summer / Enroll in additional courses if needed / Submitting a proposal for presentation at annual meetings of professional associations and learned societies (i.e. AERA, NARST, etc.) is recommended. Consider working with a faculty member.
Most proposal deadlines for these conferences occur in the late summer. Ask you faculty advisor about conference recommendations
Additional semesters / Required:
SME 698A (First of 2 semesters of Thesis for 3 credits)
Required:
SME 698B (Second of 2 semesters of Thesis for 3 credits)
-Remaining core courses if needed
-Remaining content courses if needed
-Remaining research methods
-Independent study
SOME IMPORTANT RULES ABOUT COURSEWORK:
-You can take 6 hours of coursework (2 classes) as Credit/No Credit. (This does not apply to STEM Core Courses).
-You can take 9 hrs (3 courses) at the upper division undergraduate level.
-Independent study courses must constitute less than 25% of your coursework.
-You can transfer in up to 6 hours of coursework from another university—as long as it was not applied in fulfillment of another degree. Make an appointment with the Graduate Advisor to discuss this possibility if it applies to you.
-All graduate students must maintain continuous enrollment (long semesters) in order to remain in a graduate program at UT. Students are allowed up to 2 semesters of leave during their studies.
AFTER COURSE WORK IS COMPLETE:
- If you have not already done so, apply for approval from the IRB to conduct research with human subjects as soon as your research protocol is firm.
A.Log onto the UT Human Subjects/IRB web site, to determine what forms are needed and to submit your proposal electronically.
B.You must obtain your Department Research Committee (DRC) chair’s approval prior to submitting your proposal to the UT IRB Committee. Log onto the C&I Human Subjects web site at to view the departmental process for Human Subjects/IRB DRC approval. Complete and submit the appropriate (exempt, expedited, or full-board) forms to the DRC and then to the UT Office of Research Support and Compliance (UT IRB Committee office) for approval BEFORE beginning your research.
It is extremely helpful to view this web site at the same time you view the UT Human Subjects/IRB web site. Much of the information required on the UT Human Subjects/IRB online proposal application is provided on the C&I Human Subjects web site.
Contact Gail Seale, the Coordinator of Human Subjects Research Review, if you have any questions about the approval or submission process. You may reach Gail in person (SZB 340J), by phone (512-232-6202) or email ().
C.If needed, obtain approval of the school or other entity where you intend to conduct research.
- Finalize your thesis question and methodology with your supervisor and second reader.
- Amend approval to conduct research with human subjects (IRB) as needed.
- Register for SME thesis hours and conduct research and work to complete your thesis. (Two semesters, 6 hours minimum)
- During the semester you expect to graduate, download graduation information and forms from:
File Degree Candidate form with Graduate School at the beginning of semester you plan to finish. Note:You must be registered the semester you intend to defend your dissertation. - Turn in the completed thesis in electronic format (PDF), as well as the Signature Page, to the Graduate School (MAI 101) by the appropriate deadline.