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Graduate programs
Advance your career with a graduate degree from CSTL
The Department of STEM Education strives to provide cutting-edge, high-quality graduate programs that utilize and build upon individuals science knowledge and experiences to support students in becoming innovative and highly effective science educators, leaders, and scholars. We offer both master’s and doctoral degree options.
Our master’s degree programs are designed for in-service (already practicing) teachers seeking secondary science teacher certification or continuing education. These programs can help you:
- enhance your science content knowledge
- build your classroom practice
- obtain your initial teacher certification
- prepare for doctoral studies in science education or leadership positions
The MAT-S and MAST degrees are rigorous initial and continuing education programs designed for current science educators. The programs are unique in that they focus solely on science education allowing students to be part of a supportive cohort of high-achieving science educators taught by faculty who specialize and conduct research in science education. The programs are similar, but differ in whether or not you intend to earn a standard Arizona teaching certificate along with your master’s. Financial assistance is available for both programs.
The Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) Doctoral Program (Ph.D.) is designed for educational professionals with prior degrees in fields such as education, higher education, and other professional fields (i.e. science and engineering). Students who choose to focus in STEM education will work closely with a Department of STEM Education or affiliated faculty member while engaging in targeted coursework and research opportunities in the field. The program is flexible allowing students to engage in a part-time or full-time manner, on campus or at a distance. Specific research areas supported by Department of STEM Education faculty include science teaching and learning at the secondary and post-secondary levels, science teacher education, and learning in informal science education contexts. Graduate research and/or teaching assistantships may be available. Please contact the graduate program coordinator (cstl@nau.edu) or individual faculty members for information on current opportunities. Applications are due on November 15th for the upcoming academic year. (Note: The C&I doctoral program is administered in partnership with the Department of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Educational Specialties.)
Select the program that’s right for you
Graduate debt free
The Arizona Teachers Academy (ATA) at NAU covers all tuition and academic fees for master’s students in the MAST and MAT-S programs if you commit to one year of teaching in Arizona for each year you receive the Teachers Academy Scholarship. Graduate students are eligible for four semesters of support. Want to graduate debt free? Get more information about the Arizona Teachers Academy at NAU.