Doctor of Philosophy in
Mathematics and Science
Education
Orientation
September 2013
1
Story Time
2
March 2000
The Big Picture
Knowledge
Base
Research
Mentoring
Preparing Faculty in
Mathematics and
Science Education
Teaching
Opportunities
Service
Supports
3
The Big Picture
Knowledge
Base
Research
Mentoring
Preparing Faculty in
Mathematics and
Science Education
Teaching
Opportunities
Service
Supports
4
The MSE Research Myth
• MSE students are not allowed to engage
in research until after they have completed
their coursework.
5
The MSE Research Myth Truth
• MSE students are not allowed to engage in their
dissertation research until after they have
completed their coursework.
6
Why??
• MSE students are not allowed to engage in their
dissertation research until after they have
completed their coursework.
Knowledge of
Methodological
Options
Knowledge of
Research
Process
Knowledge of
Analysis
Procedures
Dissertation
=
Independent
Research
7
Misinterpreting the Truth
I’m just going
to take my
classes and I’ll
worry about
research after
that!
MSE Student
8
Why this “won’t” work . . .
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Courses
Courses
Dissertation
Proposal/Collection
of Data
2 presentations
2 manuscripts
Dissertation
Writing/Defense
Dissertation
Ideas??
Job
Applications
Presentation
Proposals Due
ed. vs. non-ed
9
Is this
feasible?
The MSE Research Myth Truth
• MSE students are not allowed to engage in their
dissertation research until after they have
completed their coursework.
• With faculty
Before • With fellow
students
Research
After
10
• It’s all you

A better plan . . .
11
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Courses
Courses
Dissertation
Proposal/Collection
of Data
Dissertation
Writing/Defense
Start working with a
faculty member –
helping them with
them with their
research.
Proposal
submissions and
manuscript
preparation
Presentations and
second manuscript
preparation
Presentations and
another manuscript
(maybe)
Research focus:
faculty
Research focus:
collaborative
(student & faculty)
Research focus:
student
Research focus:
student
Job
Applications
The key to this plan . . .
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Courses
Courses
Dissertation
Proposal/Collection
of Data
Dissertation
Writing/Defense
Start working with a
faculty member –
helping them with
them with their
research.
Proposal
submissions and
manuscript
preparation
Presentations and
second manuscript
preparation
Presentations and
another manuscript
(maybe)
Research focus:
Research focus:
collaborative
(student & faculty)
Research focus:
student
Research focus:
student
faculty
12
Job
Applications
How do I get started??
• Talk to faculty
• Take advantage of opportunities
• Talk to the director 
13
But don’t get me wrong . . .
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
14
MSE Students rock!!!
A Prize for one lucky individual 
MSE Student
First Year Student
Collaboration with faculty member(s) on a research project
Manuscript submission
Manuscript acceptance
Manuscript revise and resubmit
Manuscript appeared in print
Presentation
Award
And the lucky winner is . . .
Program Overview
15
General Course Requirements
• Let’s take a look at the degree plan . . .
16
General Course Requirements
Teaching Internship (pg. 2)
• EVERYONE must complete the teaching
internship.
• Work experience may NOT be substituted for
the teaching internship.
• A student may NOT conduct internship
experiences within the student’s current work
environment.
• The internship experience must occur in the K12 classroom if the student has no K-12
teaching experience.
17
Additional MINIMAL Program
Requirements
•
•
•
•
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Two research presentations (p. 4)
Two manuscript submissions (p. 4)
Grant proposal (p. 5)
Residency requirement (p. 5)
Preliminary Examination
• Lots of info in handbook (pg. 5 – 9)
• Taken during last semester of coursework
• Consists of three parts
1. MSE Core
2. Concentration Core: Content
3. Concentration Core: Discipline-based
Education
19
Preliminary Examination
“A question”
• Write an essay . . .
• Answer 4 out of the following 5 . . .
• One question with multiple parts . . .
20
Preliminary Examination
Part 1: MSE Core (p. 8)
• Pool of questions
• 2 randomly selected questions
• Question 1: Educational Research Methodology
– PSY 7280, PSY 7290, SPSE 7010, SPSE 7180
• Question 2: Psychology, Learning Theories, &
Technology
– PSY 7190, SPSE 7170, SPSE 7220
• Study Guide
21
Preliminary Examination
Part 2: Concentration Core: Content (p. 9)
• Two questions
• Each question from a course in the
concentration core
• Student selects the course/faculty member
22
Preliminary Examination
Part 3: Concentration Core: Discipline-based
Education (p. 9)
• Two questions
• Based on reading list
23
Preliminary Examination
Pass/Fail
• must receive a Pass score on all three
components of the exam.
• a second opportunity to complete unsatisfactory
component(s) during the next semester
• If after the second attempt on the unsatisfactory
components the student has not received a Pass
score on all three components of the preliminary
examination, he/she will be released from the
program.
24
Preliminary Examination
TIPS:
• Six weeks is not enough.
• Six months is not enough.
• Start preparing now.
• Talk to those who came before you.
• As you prepare, write.
25
Dissertation Procedures
Prior to passing the preliminary exam:
Major
Professor
Lit Review
Research
Question(s)
26
Committee
Members
Dissertation Procedures
Dissertation Committee
• Officially formed after passing prelims
• Major Professor (p. 9)
– Chair of your dissertation committee
– Your course advisor does not automatically become
your major professor.
– Must be a doctoral member of the graduate faculty
http://www.mtsu.edu/graduate/faculty/gradfaculty.shtm
l
• Five faculty members (p.10)
27
Dissertation Procedures
After passing preliminary exams . . .
Formally form
Committee
28
Defend
Prospectus/Proposal
IRB Approval
Data Collection
Dissertation Procedures
• Prospectus vs. Proposal (p. 11)
• Traditional Format vs. Alternative Format
(p. 12 – 13)
• TIP: Read a dissertation.
• TIP: Get a book like Writing the Winning
Dissertation: A Step-by-step Guide.
• TIP: Attend a dissertation defense.
29
Forms
• Where are the forms?
www.mtsu.edu/msephd/MSE_forms2.php
30
Q&A
You get out of it
what you put into it!
31