Best Master's in Science Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published July 16, 2026·Last updated July 22, 2026

Ranked by the number of master's degrees awarded each year, the most established programs. The top 25 out of 56 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

1
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UTPrivate nonprofitOnline available
- 218Master's/yr
- $77,920Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts, Science Education (Middle Grades)
- Regionally accredited (NWCCU)
- Online
About the program
Western Governors University offers a Master of Arts, Science Education (Middle Grades) fully online, designed as an add-on specialization for teachers who already hold a valid license rather than a route to initial certification. The general science curriculum spans biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science for middle and junior-high classrooms, and it ships an at-home lab kit with equipment and specimens so candidates run hands-on experiments themselves. WGU's competency-based model and flat-rate tuition let motivated teachers accelerate through material they already know, and the program closes with a comprehensive, standards-based instructional research paper rather than a thesis. Regionally accredited by the NWCCU, it reads as a deepening credential for practicing science teachers who want to sharpen content expertise and pedagogy on a flexible schedule. As a master's degree in science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Utah.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 218 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,920, roughly $77,249 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
2
Montana State University
Bozeman, MTPublic
- 31Master's/yr
- Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE)
- Hybrid
About the program
Montana State University offers a Master of Science in Science Education designed for practicing educators, both in traditional classrooms and in informal settings like museums and nature centers, rather than for those seeking a first license. The 30-credit program pairs 14 core credits, including a 3-credit capstone, with 16 elective credits that let teachers build interdisciplinary content across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science according to what they actually teach. Its rhythm suits working professionals, delivering coursework asynchronously online while bringing students to campus for a summer field or lab course that adds the hands-on science experience remote study cannot. The program culminates in an action-research capstone, an emphasis that pushes teachers to investigate and improve their own practice rather than simply accumulate content. With no GRE required and CAEP accreditation behind the educator preparation unit, it reads as an accessible, practice-oriented degree for science educators mid-career. As a master's degree in science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Montana.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
3
Hamline University
Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofitOnline available
- 21Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching, General Science 5-8/9-12 licensure
- Hybrid
About the program
Hamline University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching that carries General Science licensure for grades 5-8 and 9-12, one of twelve licensure areas the program supports alongside Elementary Education, ESL, Special Education, and other secondary subjects. The pathway is built to meet candidates where they are, requiring no prerequisites and letting advisors tailor coursework to a student's prior experience before layering in license-specific study and a culminating student teaching placement with a capstone. Foundational coursework runs 18 credits, and the hybrid delivery with synchronous evening classes signals a design meant for people already working during the day. That evening schedule, paired with the flexibility to complete ESL and Special Education tracks fully online, makes this a practical route for career-changers and paraprofessionals stepping into licensed science teaching. The CAEP-accredited School of Education and Leadership anchors the program in Minnesota's initial licensure standards. A master's-level path in science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Minnesota.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
4
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CAPublicOnline available
- 18Master's/yr
- $101,860Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Secondary Science Education
- Online
About the program
California State University, Northridge offers a Master of Arts in Secondary Science Education built for practicing secondary science teachers who want to deepen their craft without leaving the classroom. The two-year program runs fully online as a cohort that meets just one night per week, and guaranteed enrollment lets each group move through the sequence together on a predictable schedule. A single track keeps everyone on common ground while two elective courses in science, science-related subjects, or education let candidates tailor their study. The degree does not itself award a teaching credential, so it reads as advanced professional preparation rather than an entry route, with a separate CSUN credential program running alongside for those who need licensure. Students close the program with a master's portfolio anchored by a significant original, thesis-like project, and admission is limited to California residents. Graduates of this science teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
5
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, ILPublic
- 13Master's/yr
- Master of Education in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
The University of Illinois Chicago offers a Master of Education in Science Education built around two distinct strands, letting the degree serve two different kinds of students under one roof. Strand A is a licensure track that leads to the Illinois Professional Educator License with a middle grades or high school science endorsement, and its 44 credit hours can be finished in as little as twelve months for candidates who begin in the summer, with 190 hours of field experience and a ten-week student-teaching capstone anchoring the classroom preparation. Strand B, at 32 credits, drops the licensure requirements and instead points experienced educators toward out-of-school science contexts or advanced study and research. Evening courses scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. signal a program shaped around people who work during the day. The GRE is not required, lowering the barrier for career-changers and working teachers alike. Taken together, the structure reads as a flexible pathway that can either launch a new secondary science teacher or extend the reach of one already in practice. Graduates of this science teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
6
East Carolina University
Greenville, NCPublicOnline available
- 13Master's/yr
- $55,490Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Science Education
- Online
About the program
East Carolina University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Education in Science Education built for practicing North Carolina teachers advancing their careers. The 36-credit program serves educators who already hold a valid North Carolina A-level license and moves them to M-level licensure, expanding their eligibility for instructional and administrative roles. Tracks in Elementary, Middle School, and High School science let teachers align the degree with the grade band they teach. The practitioner-oriented design can be completed in as little as one year, with an optional 21-month cohort pathway and no GRE or GMAT required, lowering barriers for working professionals. Accredited through SACS, CAEP, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and rounded out by optional study-abroad experiences, it reads as a flexible advancement credential for in-service science teachers. This master's-level science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in North Carolina.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Greenville, NC, where elementary teachers earn a median $55,490, roughly $62,770 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
7
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NYPublic
- 13Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education in Biology / Chemistry / Earth Science / Physics (7-12); also Master of Arts in Adolescent Science Education (7-12)
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY Queens College offers science education master's degrees preparing candidates for New York State initial certification to teach grades 7-12, structured as separate tracks by discipline in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics. Candidates can pursue either a Master of Science in Education in a chosen science or a Master of Arts in Adolescent Science Education, giving the program flexibility across academic and professional orientations. A Science and Bilingual Extension option lets candidates add a bilingual credential to their single-discipline certification, a meaningful asset in Queens' linguistically diverse classrooms. Post-baccalaureate advanced certificates in each discipline extend the offerings to teachers seeking further specialization. Delivered on campus, the suite reads as a discipline-focused set of pathways into secondary science teaching with room to layer on bilingual credentials. This master's-level science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
8
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NEPublicOnline available
- 13Master's/yr
- $62,380State teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.), STEM Education
- Online
About the program
The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a Master of Science in Education in STEM Education built for teachers who already hold certification in a qualifying science or math field and want to strengthen their content and practice. Its structure is notably flexible, letting candidates pursue an integrated option that combines two disciplines from a menu including Biology, Chemistry, Cyber Systems, Mathematics, Physics, and Technology, or focus on a single discipline-specific track. That breadth reflects the program's unusual collaborative design, jointly administered by six academic departments so that the 18 discipline credits are taught by the science and math faculty themselves rather than an education department alone. Nine credits of professional development and a 3-credit capstone round out the 30-credit online program, keeping pedagogy in view alongside deep content. The fully online delivery and CAEP accreditation make it a content-rich option for certified educators advancing their STEM teaching. As a master's degree in science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Nebraska.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Nebraska statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,380, roughly $69,232 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
9
University of Georgia
Athens, GAPublic
- 12Master's/yr
- $76,600Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Science Education
- Online
About the program
The University of Georgia offers an online Master of Education in Science Education designed to advance already-licensed practitioners rather than to confer initial certification, upgrading an existing Georgia teaching certificate from T4 to T5. Offered by a SACSCOC-accredited institution and ranked seventh nationally for online master's in education by U.S. News in 2023, the 36-credit program carries strong institutional standing. There are no formal concentrations, but electives let teachers focus on STEM integration, socio-scientific issues, or environmental science education. Without a cohort requirement, students can start any semester and typically finish in about two years while continuing to teach, with up to six transfer hours accepted. Faculty include nationally recognized science-education scholars, reinforcing the program's identity as serious professional advancement for practicing science teachers. This master's-level science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Georgia.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Athens-Clarke County, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,600, roughly $82,063 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
10
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NYPublic
- 12Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Adolescence Science Education (7-12), Master of Arts in Teaching
- On-campus
About the program
Brooklyn College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Science Education for grades 7-12, with distinct tracks preparing Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics teachers. The program is built around two entry points that reveal who it serves: an in-service concentration of 30-33 credits that moves already-certified teachers from an Initial to a Professional New York State certificate, and a pre-service concentration of 30-37 credits that carries candidates with strong science backgrounds toward both Initial and Professional certification. Its pedagogy is grounded in inquiry-based instruction and draws on community science resources such as gardens, museums, nature centers, and zoos, extending learning well beyond the classroom walls. A stated commitment to culturally responsive-sustaining education and preparing teachers for diverse urban students gives the program a clear sense of mission. The on-campus setting keeps candidates close to the New York City schools and science institutions the program is designed around. This master's-level science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
11
Boston University
Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit
- 10Master's/yr
- $98,060Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Science Education that moves candidates quickly toward the classroom, with completion possible in as little as one year across 38 to 40 credits. Students concentrate in biology, chemistry, or physics for grades 8 through 12, or in general science for grades 5 through 8, and the coursework leads to Massachusetts initial teaching licensure in the chosen area, with an optional TESOL add-on for teaching English learners. The defining feature is immersion in practice, with students placed in science teaching field experiences every semester and finishing with a full student-teaching practicum. A Robert Noyce full-tuition scholarship is available to candidates who commit to teaching in high-need districts, tying the program to a broader mission of staffing hard-to-fill science classrooms. Offered in person on a full-time or part-time basis, it reads as an intensive, service-minded route into secondary and middle-grades science teaching. Earning a master's degree in science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
12
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IAPublic
- 10Master's/yr
- Master of Science in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
The University of Iowa offers a Master of Science in Science Education that deliberately avoids a fixed track structure, instead asking each student to build an individualized program of study with science education faculty. The minimum 38 semester hours are customized case by case, which makes the degree read less like a standardized credential and more like a tailored plan of graduate work. Teaching licensure is recommended but not required for admission, and the program describes a notably broad audience that spans K-college teachers alongside professionals in medical education, museum program management, and science outreach. That range, paired with the non-cohort design, positions the degree for people who already know the science context they work in and want depth on their own terms rather than a preset sequence. The result is a flexible, faculty-mentored path shaped around the individual rather than a single career endpoint. Earning a master's degree in science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Iowa's secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
13
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OHPrivate nonprofitOnline available
- 10Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) with Initial Adolescent-to-Young-Adult (7-12) License in Integrated Science, Life Science, or Physical Science
- Hybrid
About the program
Baldwin Wallace University offers a Master of Arts in Education paired with an initial Adolescent-to-Young-Adult (7-12) teaching license in Integrated Science, Life Science, or Physical Science. The program leads to Ohio initial teaching licensure in the chosen science content area and combines on-campus coursework in Berea with clinical placements in partner districts. Candidates can also pursue additional graduate specializations in educational technology or literacy. As of the most recent program page, this Initial License plus Master's program is listed as no longer admitting new students as a major, so its offerings now serve current and legacy candidates. Graduates of this science teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
14
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WAPublic
- 9Master's/yr
- $102,920Metro teacher pay
- Master in Teaching (Secondary Teacher Education Program / STEP)
- Hybrid
About the program
The University of Washington offers a Master in Teaching through its Secondary Teacher Education Program, awarding the M.I.T. in a hybrid, cohort-based format for aspiring secondary teachers. The intensive one-year sequence begins in spring quarter and builds toward full-time student teaching in late winter, packing licensure preparation and extensive fieldwork into a tight, shared timeline. Candidates choose a secondary endorsement area such as Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, or Physics, alongside options in math, English language arts, social studies, and world languages, and the program frames its mentorship around educational justice. Graduates earn Washington state residency teacher certification with a secondary science endorsement for grades 6 through 12. The cohort model and heavy clinical emphasis read as a program built to move committed candidates into the classroom with strong practical grounding. Earning a master's degree in science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington's secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
15
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJPublic
- 9Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Ed.M. in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
Rutgers Graduate School of Education offers an Ed.M. in Science Education with tracks in Physical Science, Biological Science, and General Science Education, a degree that advances the craft of teaching science rather than issuing a New Jersey school personnel license. Certification is not required to enter, though many students arrive already certified, which signals a cohort of practicing or aspiring educators looking to deepen expertise on their own terms. The 30-credit program balances 15 credits of science-education core with 6 credits of cognitive and instructional psychology and 9 elective credits, and it opens with an individualized goal-setting process between student and faculty that tailors the path to each person's aims. A culminating portfolio ties the work together, while the program's stated emphasis on culturally responsive teaching and social justice in science instruction shapes its intellectual character. The on-campus, CAEP-accredited setting keeps that reflective, pedagogy-forward focus at the center. As a master's degree in science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New Jersey.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
16
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NMPublic
- 9Master's/yr
- Master of Science for Teachers (MST)
- Hybrid
About the program
New Mexico Tech offers a Master of Science for Teachers built primarily for current K-12 teachers who want to earn science endorsements, with coursework spanning Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Science. The 30-credit part-time structure fits around a teaching schedule, mixing 15-week online classes with two-week in-person summer sessions on the Socorro campus that concentrate hands-on science into an intensive residency. Candidates can shape the degree to their goals through coursework-only, independent-study, or thesis pathways, and a portfolio is required before the final semester, an arrangement that reads as accommodating both practice-minded teachers and those drawn to deeper research. While the core audience is licensed teachers adding endorsements, the program also offers pathways toward an initial New Mexico teaching certificate. Overall it functions as a content-heavy, schedule-friendly route for science teachers strengthening their credentials. As a master's degree in science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New Mexico.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
17
University of South Florida
Tampa, FLPublic
- 8Master's/yr
- $60,120Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
The University of South Florida offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Science Education built for career changers who hold a bachelor's degree outside education and want to enter the secondary science classroom. Candidates concentrate in biology, chemistry, earth and space science, or physics, and the on-campus program pairs coursework with part-time or full-time classroom internships mentored by experienced secondary science teachers. Internship requirements scale to experience, a minimum of three credits for those already teaching and six for others, keeping the training grounded in real schools. Graduates become eligible for Florida teacher certification in biology, chemistry, or physics, with ESOL and Reading endorsements embedded once they pass the FTCE. The design reads as a purposeful bridge from a science background into a credentialed teaching career. This master's-level science teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Florida.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,120, roughly $59,590 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
18
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NYPublic
- 8Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Adolescence Education: Biology (Grades 7-12)
- NYSED-registered program-accredited
- On-campus
About the program
CUNY Hunter College offers a Master of Arts in Adolescence Education: Biology aimed at candidates preparing to teach the subject in grades 7-12. Registered with the New York State Education Department, the program leads to initial certification and is designed for those who do not yet hold NYS certification in the subject, marking it as an entry route into the profession rather than a credential upgrade. Hunter offers the degree separately by science discipline, with parallel MA programs in Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics, so each candidate concentrates fully in a single content area. Field preparation is organized into sequential Clinical Blocks that build toward supervised student teaching, keeping the on-campus coursework anchored in classroom practice. The structure reads as a deliberate, staged pathway for new secondary science teachers. Earning a master's degree in science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
19
Brown University
Providence, RIPrivate nonprofit
- 7Master's/yr
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Science
- On-campus
About the program
Brown University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Science with concentrations in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics/Engineering for grades 6-12. The twelve-month, full-time cohort opens with a summer session teaching at Brown Summer High School, then moves into a year-long residency in a local urban school, so candidates spend nearly the entire program in front of students. That residency model, paired with a Multilingual Learner Endorsement sequence, signals a program oriented toward equity and the realities of diverse city classrooms. An Urban Education Fellowship offers loan forgiveness for graduates who teach in Rhode Island's urban core, reinforcing that commitment with concrete incentives. Graduates become eligible for initial Rhode Island secondary certification after passing the Praxis II subject exams, and Rhode Island's participation in the NASDTEC agreement eases portability to other states. Graduates of this science teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
20
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CAPublic
- 7Master's/yr
- Master of Science in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
California State University Long Beach offers a Master of Science in Science Education built for practicing educators who want to deepen their teaching of science rather than earn an initial credential. Applicants must already hold a California Multiple Subject or Single Subject Science teaching credential or equivalent instructional experience, so the program serves those already in the field. It offers a TK-12 Science Education option and an Informal Science Education option for museum, aquarium, outdoor, and environmental educators, broadening its reach beyond the traditional classroom. Small cohorts capped at about 15 students per year and evening classes are structured around the schedules of full-time educators. The 30-unit program ends with a choice of a culminating project or thesis, and no GRE is required for admission. The result is a focused, community-oriented degree for science teachers and informal educators advancing their practice. A master's-level path in science teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in California.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site
21
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate nonprofit
- 7Master's/yr
- $58,300Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Science Education
- Online
About the program
Nova Southeastern University offers a Master of Science in Science Education delivered entirely online across 36 credits, with a single curriculum aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. The program is explicit that it is a non-certification degree, so it will not by itself lead to state teaching licensure. Rolling admissions let students begin without waiting for a fixed cohort start. Beyond classroom teaching, the program aims to prepare graduates for administrative, corporate, and nonprofit roles in science education, signaling a broader career reach than a traditional teacher-prep track. It reads as a flexible option for science educators seeking advanced, standards-based knowledge across a range of settings. Graduates of this science teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,300, roughly $51,071 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
22
Teachers College at Columbia University
New York, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 7Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education of Teachers in Science
- On-campus
About the program
Teachers College at Columbia University offers a Master of Science in Education of Teachers in Science, a 60-credit degree that leans heavily toward science subject matter, requiring 30 credits of science content. Rather than fixed tracks, candidates build individualized content coursework in consultation with an advisor, and the program runs parallel to an Ed.M. option with a lighter content load. The heavier science emphasis makes it especially suited to prospective community college instructors who are strengthening their disciplinary command without immediately pursuing a doctorate. The degree culminates in a required master's paper, which may take the form of laboratory research, a literature synthesis, or the development of a novel model. Delivered on campus, it reads as a content-intensive path for those who want to deepen their science expertise as teachers. As a master's degree in science teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
23
SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NYPublic
- 7Master's/yr
- $76,490Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Science Education
- On-campus
About the program
SUNY Buffalo State University offers a Master of Science in Science Education that prepares candidates for New York State initial teacher certification in grades 7-12, with concentrations in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Geology, or Physics. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the on-campus program pairs disciplinary depth with an unusually immersive clinical model. Its standout feature is a competitive, paid full-year residency, selected from first-year candidates, that provides roughly 1,000 hours of graduated field experience progressing from co-teaching toward serving as teacher of record. Candidates complete the degree with a required Master's Project, tying their classroom work to a culminating scholarly product. The extended paid residency and heavy field-hour commitment make this a program built for candidates who want to learn to teach science by doing it at length. Graduates of this science teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
24
Piedmont University
Demorest, GAPrivate nonprofit
- 7Master's/yr
- $72,290State teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Secondary Education
- Hybrid
About the program
Piedmont University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education for candidates preparing to teach grades 6 through 12, with a broadfield science concentration among the content areas it markets. The program is distinguished by three sequential internship experiences that build classroom readiness step by step, and its minimum of 37 semester hours can be spread across up to six years, offering flexibility for those balancing other commitments. Graduate coursework must be completed at a 3.0 GPA or higher, and candidates pass the appropriate GACE content-area test before Internship III and before being recommended for certification. Completion leads to Georgia teacher certification in secondary education. Housed in the Charles and Catherine Sewell Center for Teacher Education and offered in a hybrid format, it reads as a supported, internship-heavy path into secondary teaching. Earning a master's degree in science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia's secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Georgia statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,290, roughly $75,073 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
25
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, COPublic
- 6Master's/yr
- Master of Science in STEM Education
- On-campus
About the program
Colorado School of Mines offers a Master of Science in STEM Education aimed squarely at people ready to teach STEM subjects, with concentrations in science teaching, middle or secondary mathematics teaching, and K-12 computer science teaching. The non-thesis, 30-credit design is built for efficiency and can be finished in as few as two semesters, and a 4+1 combined bachelor's and master's option lets Mines undergraduates double-count up to six credits. Applicants bring strong disciplinary grounding, since the program expects 24 undergraduate credits in math, science, engineering, or computer science. The degree is structured to include Colorado teacher licensure in secondary science, secondary or middle-grades mathematics, or K-12 computer science. As the state's only teacher-prep program focused exclusively on STEM subject teachers, it reads as a fast, discipline-intensive route from a technical background into the classroom. Earning a master's degree in science teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Colorado's secondary school teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.
School site

← Back to the overall Best Master's in Science Teacher Education

Best Master's in Science Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

Western Governors University

Montana State University

Hamline University

California State University-Northridge

University of Illinois Chicago

East Carolina University

CUNY Queens College

University of Nebraska at Kearney

University of Georgia

CUNY Brooklyn College

Boston University

University of Iowa

Baldwin Wallace University

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

University of South Florida

CUNY Hunter College

Brown University

California State University-Long Beach

Nova Southeastern University

Teachers College at Columbia University

SUNY Buffalo State University

Piedmont University

Colorado School of Mines