Master’s in Chemistry Education Emphasis Degree

Master of Science in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Education

Offered By: College of Natural Sciences

Earn Your Master’s Degree in Chemistry Education Emphasis

A Master’s of Science in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Education degree from Grand Canyon University (GCU) helps students with a background in chemistry find new career paths. Graduates of this master’s in chemistry education degree emphasis will be taught to teach undergraduate chemistry courses while being able to demonstrate scientific inquiry skills within the context of practical examples. This includes mechanisms of disease and therapeutics and advanced chemistry concepts like identifying and explaining the physical, chemical and atomic properties of matter.

GCU’s chemistry master’s degree with an emphasis in education is designed to improve the content and pedagogical knowledge of teachers of chemistry who may already possess a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. This non-licensure version of the master's in chemistry with an emphasis in education degree program is shorter in duration as it does not include the 15-week student teaching component. This is ideal for those who already have their teaching license but looking to position themselves for possible career advancement. This degree is designed for postsecondary education.

Admission into the chemistry master’s degree with an emphasis in education at GCU requires a few prerequisites. You’ll need a:

  • Bachelor’s degree in chemistry; or
  • Bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a specialization or emphasis in chemistry; or
  • Bachelor’s degree and a completion of one year of undergraduate organic chemistry and a course in biochemistry

GCU offers an online master’s of chemistry education degree emphasis for working professionals and for those already juggling a full schedule. MS in chemistry online classes are designed to provide the coursework needed to advance your chemistry knowledge, while still maintaining your active lifestyle. This means that GCU’s online master’s in chemistry education emphasis courses can be taken anytime and from anywhere. You will receive the same type of support from expert faculty and adjunct staff as you would on campus, allowing you to efficiently achieve a higher education.

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12%

Job Growth for postsecondary teachers to increase by about 12% from 2021 to 2031.2

Chemistry Master’s Degree With Education Emphasis Course Topics

Both chemistry knowledge and teaching skills are the core focuses in the master’s in chemistry education degree program at GCU. Postsecondary level chemistry teachers will need to know how to navigate the coursework and the university teaching landscape. Teaching at the postsecondary level, especially in online environments, requires excellent communication skills.

You will be taught effective pedagogy skills, such as whole-class and structured group work, to assist chemistry professionals in adapting to the teaching environment by applying learning theories in the classroom. This on-campus and online master’s in chemistry with an education emphasis equips chemistry professionals to lead classroom dialogue and use effective instructional methods by developing activities, assessments and lesson plans. Topics and courses covered in the master’s in chemistry education degree program include:

  • Medicinal chemistry
  • Organic and inorganic chemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Current applications in chemistry
  • Curriculum design
  • Adult learning theories

As a student in the chemistry master’s program, you will receive instruction on developing your teaching abilities that include the necessary skills to be prosperous in the classroom. Graduates of the master’s in chemistry education emphasis program have the opportunity to study both theoretical and practical applications of both science and instruction.

Career Paths for Chemistry Master’s Degree Graduates

Graduates of the master’s degree in chemistry education emphasis at GCU are prepared to teach chemistry at the postsecondary level. You may find work at:

  • Universities
  • Colleges
  • Community colleges
  • Trade schools
  • Science research/development institutions

STEM careers are on the rise and teachers in those areas are needed more than ever.1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates job growth for postsecondary teachers to increase by about 12% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 159,400 jobs in the field.2 GCU’s Master of Science in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Education degree program helps students with a chemistry background fill these openings at postsecondary institutions.

Future STEM professionals — scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians — have to start their training somewhere. Most of these students will be required to take chemistry at the college level. As STEM fields continue to grow, so too will the needs for chemistry teachers. Transitioning to this career path makes sense for a lot of chemistry students.

Using your own chemistry background to teach future STEM students can be an act of giving. Your contributions in the education of future scientists have the potential to leave a lasting impact on our world. Join future chemistry teachers who are ready to educate other professionals in GCU’s master’s degree in chemistry with an emphasis in education degree program.

Chemistry Master’s Degree With Education Emphasis FAQs

If sharing your chemistry knowledge with upcoming generations of chemists is important to you, we’ve prepared answers to your most frequently asked questions about pursuing this chemistry master’s degree with an education emphasis from GCU.

The master’s in chemistry degree with an education emphasis requires a total of 34 credits for completion. Most of the chemistry master’s degree classes are eight weeks in length. Fill out the form on this page to speak to an admissions counselor to better understand how long it takes to earn your master’s in chemistry education emphasis degree at GCU.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, chemists and materials scientists have a median annual wage of $79,760 as of May 2021.3 A chemistry degree can be worth your time and investment because it can open the door to additional opportunities, such as a postsecondary educator. As of May 2021, postsecondary teachers had a median annual wage of $79,640 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.4

The pursuit of an MS in chemistry education can be challenging due to the rigorous academic requirements and the need to effectively integrate both the principles of chemistry and educational pedagogy. However, if you enjoy chemistry and sharing your knowledge and experience with others, a master’s degree in chemistry education may be a good fit for you.

1 Abbott (2021, Jan. 26). Why STEM Careers Are More Important Than Ever. Retrieved on May 23, 2023.

2 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers, retrieved on March 23, 2023.

3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Chemists and Materials Scientists as of May 2021, retrieved on March 23, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as chemists and materials scientists. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Postsecondary Teachers as of May 2021, retrieved on Jan. 19, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as postsecondary teachers. It does not reflect earnings of workers’ earnings in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.

TOTAL CREDITS & COURSE LENGTH:
Total Credits: 34
Online: 8 weeks
[More Info]
TRANSFER CREDITS:
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
TUITION RATE:
Online: $590 per credit [More Info]

Course List

Major:
34 credits
Degree Requirements:
34 credits

Core Courses

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Natural Sciences. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.

Course Description

This focus of the course is the fundamentals of medicinal chemistry. Medicinal chemistry is an organic-chemistry-based discipline that interfaces strongly with the biological and pharmaceutical sciences. The field of medicinal chemistry includes the discovery and preparation of biologically active compounds; the study of their metabolism; the mechanism of action at the molecular level; and the construction of structure-activity relationships. This course includes the process of drug design, the structure and function of macromolecular drug “targets” (receptors, enzymes, nucleic acids), as well as the mechanisms by which drugs interact with their targets. Also, the complexity of human physiology and its effects which on the physical and chemical properties of a drug candidate can influence its absorption, distribution, and metabolism in a human patients will be discussed. Prerequisites: Students should have completed a year of organic chemistry and a course in biochemistry.

Course Description

The objective of this course is to provide a foundational knowledge on basic principles and applications of physical chemistry. The following topics will be covered: chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and thermodynamics. Additional topics will include applications of physical chemistry principles towards chemical and biological systems including enzymatic reactions; time-dependent chemical and nuclear reactions; electrochemistry; and equilibria related to acids, bases, buffers, and solubility. Prerequisite: Students should have completed a year of general chemistry.

Course Description

This course covers adult learning theory and instructional practices that are research-based and proven effective in higher education. Technology, online learning, and effective instructional methods for online and traditional instruction are emphasized. Participants research learning models, personalized learning and andragogy and apply their knowledge to improve student engagement and achievement in higher education.

Course Description

The objective of this course is to provide a foundational knowledge on basic principles and applications of inorganic chemistry. The following topics will be covered: modern atomic structure, nomenclature of inorganic compounds, bonding theory, magnetism, periodic trends, and chemical reactivity. Additional topics include fundamentals of organometallic chemistry and transitional element chemistry and their application towards material properties, catalysis, and bioinorganic chemistry. Prerequisite: Students should have completed a year of general chemistry.

Course Description

The objective of this course is to provide basic and advanced theories, techniques, and principles of qualitative and quantitative analysis. Additional topics may include application of concepts of analytical chemistry to the fields of environmental science, forensic science, and medicine. Students should have a prior understanding of basic quantitative statistics. Prerequisite: CHM-505, CHM-510, CHM-515.

Course Description

This course applies learning theories to classroom instructional methods and strategies. Effective communication, creating learning goals, developing student outcomes and assessments, and giving effective feedback are emphasized. Participants are asked to develop activities, assessments, and lesson plans that would be appropriate for a course taught at a community college or university. Prerequisite: EDU-534.

Course Description

This course surveys the broad areas of contemporary chemistry research and illustrates the application of chemistry principles. The topics will be determined by current events, technology, faculty and student interest.

Course Description

The objective of this course is to survey basic biochemical principles, including the composition, structure, and function of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Important biochemical principles, including structure-function correlation, kinetics and equilibrium, thermodynamics, membrane structure and function, and metabolic energy pathways, will illustrate the key concepts of biology and chemistry.

Locations

GCU Online Student


Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.

GCU Evening Student


Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.

* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.

* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.

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