MSSST Application

MSSST Earth Science Online cohort application closed

Applications closed. Stay tuned to the MSSST News page for upcoming cohorts: https://csme.utah.edu/mssst/mssst-news/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off

Summer 2021 Class Schedule

Summer classes will run from Monday, June 7th through Friday, July 2nd, 2021. Summer classes will utilize both synchronous and asynchronous course components.

Astronomy – Mo/We 10am-1pm
Environmental Programing and Statistics – Tu/Th 10am-1pm

General Program Class Schedule

Fall 2021 & Spring 2022 – One 3-credit course per term, synchronous components one evening per week
Summer 2022 – 2 field-based courses, 7 credits total. Plan on weekend field trips around the state.
Fall 2022 & Spring 2023 – One 3-credit course per term, synchronous components one evening per week
Summer 2023 – 320 hour research experience/project in a University of Utah lab
Fall 2023 – Write paper to summarize research experience, graduate December 2023

Application Requirements

Applicants apply to the MSSST program through the University of Utah Graduate School. *NO GRE required.

MSSST requires that all applicants:

have earned a Bachelor’s of Science (BS) in any scientific discipline
currently hold a valid license and teach in a k-12 STEM classroom in Utah
have at least three years of teaching experience (conditional exceptions may be possible)
have completed at least one undergraduate course in both General Chemistry and Physics

The Graduate School requires:

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university. The Office of Admissions will determine if an applicant’s degree meets the Graduate School’s requirement of a recognized Bachelor’s degree.
At least a 3.0 or higher undergraduate weighted mean GPA on a 4.0 scale. If the undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, a GPA will be calculated based upon the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) if the student attended a U.S. institution.

Benefits to teachers in the Earth Science cohort include:

MS degree in Earth Science with an emphasis in Teaching
Coursework in chemistry, geology, geophysics, ecology, astronomy, and atmospheric science
Evening/ Summer class schedules designed specifically for teachers
Lab and field-based research opportunities
Reduced and/or highly subsidized tuition rates
- (tuition around $3500, depending on funding)
Coursework aligns with endorsement criteria for Earth Science, Physical Science, and Environmental Science endorsements for teachers with USBE-approved prerequisites.

How Do I Apply?

Click here to apply to the MSSST Program through the University of Utah Graduate School by March 15th, 2021.

Complete all required sections of the application. Specifically:

Program Information page:
- Program of Interest: select “Salt Lake City Campus” and “Science Program for Secondary School Teachers MS”
- Application Term and Year: select “Summer 2021”
- Additional Program Information: this program is not a combined BS/MS program or a dual degree program
- Area of Interest: select “Earth Science Teaching”
Educational History page: Be sure to upload and submit a copy of your transcripts (these can be unofficial) from all colleges or universities you have attended (including an institutions you transferred from).
Additional Information page: Under Financial Support, the MSSST program is a part-time Master’s degree, based on the Graduate School’s definition of full-time status (9+ credits per term)
CV/Resume page: Optional, but not required
Statement of Purpose page: Please upload a one-page statement of purpose about what you hope to accomplish, what you can contribute, and how you anticipate your classroom will improve should you be admitted to the MSSST Earth Science cohort.
Teaching Background page: Required
Post Submission page: Please upload a copy of your teaching license here.
Recommendations page:
- Enter the contact information for your school principal or other administrator who is qualified to judge your abilities as an educator. They will receive an auto-email directing them to upload a letter of recommendation via the online web application. Your recommender may also mail the recommendation on official letterhead to the MSSST program office, but a hard copy is not required.
- You may submit a second name for a letter of recommendation, but it is not required.

Once all of the required documents have been received in the web based application system they will be screened by the Graduate Admissions office and the MSSST Committee. You will be contacted by the MSSST program regarding the status of your application in April. If admitted, you must request official transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended and have them sent to the Graduate Admissions office. See the Admissions website for more information.

Application Deadlines & Fees:

Applications due March 15, 2021. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application in April and will be invited for a virtual interview.
There is a $55.00 admissions fee for domestic students and a $65.00 admissions fee for international students to apply to the Graduate School.