Doctoral Degree in Science/Mathematics Education

Faculty

Professors:

Diack, Moustapha

Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry

University of Metz/France

Guillory, Christopher

Ph.D., Educational Leadership/Research

Louisiana State University

Jones, Nastassia

Ph.D., Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry

Southern Illinois University

Mellieon-Williams, Francesca M.

Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education)

Louisiana State University

Affiliated Faculty*:

Bagayoko, Diola

Ph.D., Physics

Louisiana State University

Dilworth, Kimyata

Ph.D., Science/Mathematics Education

Southern University and A&M College

Craig, Susannah

Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction

Louisiana State University

Cunningham, Katrina

Ph.D., Mathematics

St. Louis University

Hinyard, Brittany

Ph.D., Science/Mathematics Education

Southern University and A&M College

Jackson, Lynette

Ph.D., Science/Mathematics Education

Southern University and A&M College

Jackson-Osagie, Emily

Ph.D., Science/Mathematics Education

Southern University and A&M College

Lawson, Albertha

Ph.D., Higher Education Administration

University of New Orleans

Mellieon, Harold

Ph.D., Ag Extension Education

Louisiana State University

Mensah, Patrick

Ph.D., Engineering Science

Louisiana State University

Morton, Jodi

Ph.D., Animal Sciences

Kansas State University

Munoz-Barona, Humberto
Ph.D., Mathematics
University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Okwan, Phyllis

Ph.D., Science/Mathematics Education

Southern University and A&M College

Samkutty, Pushpa

Ph.D., Dairy Microbiology

Louisiana State University

Vincent-Finley, Rachel

Ph.D., Computational and Applied Mathematics

Rice University

Young, Luria

Ph.D., Educational Leadership and Research

Louisiana State University

* Graduate faculty who serve this program from the Departments of Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Computer Science, Curriculum and Instruction, Engineering, and Mathematics and Physics

Introduction

Overview

The Southern University and A&M College Science/Mathematics Education Doctoral (SMED) program is an interdisciplinary doctoral program designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) discipline. Students accepted into the program who have not completed the master’s degree in one of the content areas will earn a Master of Science (M.S.) degree or complete a master’s equivalency in STEM during their course of study. This program is designed to develop knowledge and research skills that will lead to improvements in teaching and learning in STEM, in environments ranging from the primary to postsecondary levels; and preparing researchers for a changing and growing STEM economy.

This program prepares graduates for a wide variety of careers, including:

  • University-level teaching and research in science or mathematics education,
  • Teaching in the content area at undergraduate or community colleges,
  • School district science/mathematics curriculum administration,
  • Program development and exhibit design at informal science sites,
  • Leadership in science or mathematics’ education professional organizations,
  • Instructional program development in industry,
  • Scientific writing and/or software development for science/mathematics education, and
  • Independent consulting

Science/Mathematics Education

Graduates of the Ph.D. program in Science/Mathematics Education are qualified to teach in colleges and universities but do not automatically qualify for K-12 teacher certification. Students lacking but wishing to secure K-12 certification must conform to additional requirements. This will necessarily lengthen their program of study. The applicant should further note that employers in several of the career options may expect several years of prior successful teaching experience. Accordingly, it is essential that the applicant clearly describe their long-range goals in the initial application, so the Department can provide appropriate advisement and mentoring.

Admissions Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the applicant must:

  • hold a Master’s Degree in a STEM discipline

    OR

  • possess 24 credit hours of coursework numbered 500 or higher in a STEM discipline.

Plan of Study

Core Courses - Foundations

Enrolled students must complete six credit hours of foundations core courses specified by the department as listed below.

SMED 702BCognitve Psyc in SMED

3

SMED 705BFoundation of Sci Math Ed

3

OR

SMED 710BHistory and Structure Sci/Math

3

Core Courses - Research

Enrolled students must complete six credit hours of research core courses specified by the department as listed below.

SMED 739BApplied Statistics

3

SMED 740BQuant Meth Sci Math Ed Res

3

SMED 741BQual Meth Sci/Math Edu Res

3

SMED 743BSMED Research Design

3

SMED 750BAdv/Quant/Methods in SMED

3

OR

SMED 755BAdv Qualitative Meth in SMED

3

Core Courses - Curriculum

Enrolled students must complete six credit hours of curriculum core courses specified by the department as listed below.

SMED 715BSci Math Curriculum I

3

SMED 716BSci/Math Curriculum II

3

OR

SMED 717BSci/Math Curriculum

3

Core Courses - Technology

Enrolled students must complete three credit hours of the technology core course specified by the department as listed below.

SMED 720BTechnology in SMED

3

Electives

Enrolled students must complete nine credit hours of elective graduate level courses selected from approved courses as listed below.

SMED 701BDev Psyc and Sci/Math Edu

3

SMED 721BDesign in SMED

3

SMED 722BInstr Design & Multimedia Tech

3

SMED 725BCritical Thinking in SMED

3

SMED 726BEvolution & Science Education

3

SMED 732BTopics in Number Theory

3

SMED 737BTeaching Practicum III

3

SMED 760BInformal Science Education

3

SMED 770BSpecial Topics in SMED

3

Dissertation

Enrolled students must complete a minimum of twelve credit hours of dissertation research courses specified by the department as listed below.

SMED 799BAdvanced Research

3

SMED 800BDissertation Research

3