The Science Education area in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction is focused on providing state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary professional training for prospective science education researchers at the graduate level.
Opportunities for research experience abound both in the area and within the School of Education more generally, where a multitude of educational research projects garner high levels of federal and private foundation funding. The rich and diverse resources of the department and the campus make this a stimulating and productive environment in which to pursue graduate work.
Our graduate students are highly sought after and have secured positions as senior teachers, district-wide science coordinators, and, of course, as faculty members in colleges and universities all over the world. Our strong emphasis on producing future leaders in the science education research community has resulted in our Ph.D. students being hired over recent years by institutions such as: Beloit College, University of California-Davis, Florida State University, University of Michigan, Ohio State University, University of Rochester, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rutgers University, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University, State University of New York-Albany, and Teachers College Columbia University.
We are always looking to accept new graduate students whose academic skills and interests align with the work that we do. For possible areas of study, please explore the research profiles of our faculty listed below.
Area Faculty
- Leema Berland, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Northwestern, 2008
Student engagement in complex scientific practices, argumentation, engineering education
- Noah Feinstein, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Stanford University, 2008
Science in everyday life, public engagement with science, sustainability education
- John Rudolph, Professor, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999
History of science education, science studies and science education
- Rosemary Russ, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. University of Maryland, 2006
Student epistemology and cognition in science and mathematics
Emeritus Faculty
- Peter Hewson, Professor Emeritus, Ph.D. Oxford University
- Jim Stewart, Professor Emeritus, Ph.D. Cornell University
Affiliated Faculty
Partner Departments and Centers
Many of our faculty work closely with faculty from other departments on campus and have joint departmental appointments as well. Below are some of the key units on campus we connect to and in which we encourage students to work as well.