The College of Arts and Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in College Science Teaching

REQUIREMENTS  |  APPLY  |  FUNDING  |  COURSES

Requirements/Description:

Description: This program is for those who plan to teach undergraduate courses in the sciences or mathematics in a junior college, small liberal arts college, or university.  The program leads to a Ph.D. in general science and offers:

• Broad training concentrated in the sciences
• A combination of breadth, specialization, and integration in the sciences
• Supervised college teaching experience in the candidate’s science specialty, either at Syracuse University or at another college in the Syracuse vicinity
• Seminars in curriculum development and methods of teaching science in higher education
• Research focused on the problems of college teaching.

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Apply:

Students who are interested in applying for admission are encouraged to explore the Department of Science Teaching website and schedule a campus visit to meet with faculty about their research and teaching interests. Applicants are required to complete the graduate program application available through the University’s Graduate School.

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Funding:

The University offers financial support for students in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, scholarships and fellowships based on academic merit and available funding.  Teaching and research assistantships typically provide support for students during the academic year, with limited summer funding available. Ph.D. students may also apply for grants to conduct research with SU faculty members.  For additional information visit the School of Education website.

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Courses:

Program Outline: Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School and must hold a bachelor’s degree in a science field or in science education.  Students with a master’s degree in a science field, but no college teaching experience are also eligible. 

• The degree requires a total of 90 credits, of which a minimum of 18 must be for the dissertation.  At least 54 credits of graduate courses in science and/or mathematics beyond the bachelor’s degreeare also required.
• Programs are planned individually so that each student specializes and develops teaching competence in one science field.  In addition, the student must take a minor in another science field.  The number of credits required is determined by the student’s academic background.
• The following courses, which constitute a foundation area, are also required:

  Philosophy of Science (3 Credits),
  Methods of Teaching Science in Higher Education(3 Credits),
  Higher Education(3 Credits)

• One research tool must be selected from the following areas:

  a foreign language (French, German, Spanish, Russian);
  statistics; or
  computer programming. 

• The language requirement can be satisfied by a departmental examination or the ETS examination if one is offered. Statistics and computer programming requirements are satisfied by taking a prescribed core of courses in these areas and obtaining a grade of B or better in each course.

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