2008–2009 - Florida Institute of Technology

The goal of the program (depending on the option) is to prepare
graduates to teach introductory computer science, computer
literacy and programming; use technology and computers in a
wide variety of educational settings; and evaluate and create
educational software materials.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. In addition, if the
program is to be used for teacher certification purposes, the
applicant must hold certification (or be certifiable) at the elementary,
middle and/or high school levels.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are
presented in the Academic Overview section of this catalog.
Degree Requirements
The master’s degree in computer education is conferred on
students who have successfully completed 30 credit hours including
a six-credit thesis or 33 credit hours including three credit
hours of research. The thesis option concludes with an oral thesis
presentation/defense. The nonthesis option concludes with an
oral final program examination or an oral final program examination
and a written final program examination.
Up to 12 credit hours of appropriate transfer credit may be
applied.
Curriculum
The following core courses are required for both concentrations:
EDS 5070 Educational Statistics* .........................................................3
EDS 5095 Essentials of Educational Research* ....................................3
EDS 5203 Theories and Trends in Education* .....................................3
EDS 5226 Introduction to Computers in Education .............................3
EDS 5227 Educational Software Evaluation and Design ......................3
EDS 5229 Methods of Teaching Computer Literacy
and Computer Science.........................................................3
*These three courses must be taken at Florida Tech. Exceptions may
be considered only through a written petition to be reviewed by the
department’s graduate faculty.
Students selecting the computer science certification concentration
with thesis take the six core courses plus six credit hours of
thesis (EDS 5999), a computer language course and one computer
science elective, for a total of 30 credit hours.
Students selecting the computer science certification concentration
without thesis take the six core courses plus a computer
language course, one computer science elective, three credit
hours of research (EDS 5081) and six credit hours of electives,
for a total of 33 credit hours.
Students selecting the instructional technology concentration
with thesis take the six core courses plus six credit hours of thesis
(EDS 5999), a current topics in computer education course (EDS
5299) and one computer science or computer education elective,
for a total of 30 credit hours.
Students selecting the instructional technology concentration
without thesis take the six core courses plus a current topics in
computer education course (EDS 5299), one computer science or
computer education elective, three credit hours of research (EDS
5081) and six credit hours of electives, for a total of 33 credit
hours.
Any schedule that meets the above requirements within a sevenyear
period is acceptable. Any combination of part-time and/or
full-time semesters can be used, as well as any combination of
evening and summer courses.
Environmental Education _____________________
Program Chair
Thomas J. Marcinkowski, Ph.D.
Environmental education is for individuals with experience and/
or active interest in formal programs (i.e., schools) and nonformal
programs (e.g., nature/environmental centers, agencies, parks,
gardens, zoos and museums). The program is designed to provide
graduate education in science and environmental content, as
well as to expand and improve environmental education teaching
skills. To this end, the program includes graduate course work
in environmental content, in environmental education and in
educational research.
The master’s degree program includes course work in an
environmental content concentration. Each concentration is
designed around a unifying theme for the purpose of expanding
environmental knowledge and skills pertinent to that theme
(e.g., a disciplinary theme such as ecology; a natural resource
theme such as estuaries; or a problem-oriented theme such as
water quality). Concentrations reflect the academic and research
strengths of programs within the university. Programs that offer
course work for inclusion in environmental content concentrations
include ecology and marine biology; environmental science
and environmental resources management; biological, chemical
and geological oceanography; coastal zone management and
marine environmental science. Further, to provide breadth to
the development of knowledge and skills, concentrations are
designed to include course work in each of the following areas:
ecology or another foundational science; environmental problems;
environmental fieldwork or monitoring; and environmental policy,
planning or management.
The master’s degree program also includes course work in environmental
education foundations and methods. The foundations
course is designed to develop and expand knowledge of the field
and of educational practices in the field from diverse perspectives.
The methods courses are designed to develop and improve
teaching skills. To accommodate students’ differing backgrounds
and interests, course projects and assignments allow students to
develop and apply these skills in relevant contexts or settings.
Admission Requirements
The master’s program is designed for individuals holding
bachelor’s degrees in areas of science, environmental studies,
environmental interpretation or K–12 education. All entering students
are expected to have a background in the sciences and in
education that will permit them to successfully complete graduate
course work. Individuals for whom this may be a concern are
encouraged to discuss this directly with the program chair.
General admission requirements and the process for applying
are presented in the Academic Overview section of this catalog,
which also contains information on financial assistance.
Degree Programs—College of Science 151