CAREER GUIDE M.A. Science Education (Middle Grades)

Heads up, teachers! By middle school, students are ready to learn how the world works and how to solve problems. That's when science education becomes critical to helping them understand the world they live in through observation and experimentation. Unfortunately, there aren't enough qualified middle school science teachers to help fuel their curiosities and inspire their interest in space science, earth sciences, life sciences, chemistry, and physics.

With today's heavy focus on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in elementary and middle school curriculums, it's a great time to acquire the specialized knowledge to become a science teacher. In fact, there's a national initiative (100Kin10) to recruit, prepare, and retain 100,000 STEM teachers by 2021.

Graduate programs in science education are available for licensed teachers who have a bachelor's degree and are ready to take their careers to the next level. Start by earning your master's degree with a middle school certification in science built into the curriculum. You'll study basic science principles, physical sciences, life sciences, Earth and space sciences, and the role of science and technology and their impact on society. Once you've mastered a comprehensive understanding of content that middle school science teachers are expected to know and understand, you'll be on your way to inspiring America's next generation of engineers, space explorers, computer scientists ... or science teachers!

According to the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program, there is a crisis-level shortage of science and math teachers in American schools, and the demand is so high, teachers often teach outside of their areas of expertise. This, coupled with a national initiative to recruit, prepare, and retain 100,000 STEM teachers by 2021, has created an unprecedented opportunity for today's middle school teachers to update their credentials with the science knowledge and teaching skills to mold the minds of the next generation.

There's often a direct correlation between your level of education and the salary you can expect to earn as a middle school science teacher. Increasingly, school districts are seeking candidates with advanced degrees and are paying them more than job seekers with bachelor's degrees. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates middle school teachers with a bachelor's degree, including science teachers, earned a median annual wage of $56,000 in 2013. However, their counterparts with master's degrees earned $68,000, a significant 28% premium for their advanced knowledge and credentials.

Clearly, in this day and age, a science teacher's salary can benefit from having an advanced degree on the resume. It pays to continue your education, because the more you know, the higher your salary can go!