Master of Science in Teaching in chemistry

The Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) in Chemistry at Boston College combines advanced chemistry preparation with practical teacher-training experiences. The program is administered jointly by the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the Department of Chemistry, and Boston College states that master's programs leading to secondary-education certification include practical experiences alongside coursework. Students can therefore develop chemistry knowledge while gaining school-based experience in teaching and learning.

Program-specific experiential learning opportunities include:

• School-based practicum: Students complete practical school-based experiences as part of the teacher-preparation pathway, with practicum courses accompanied by inquiry seminars. These experiences allow students to apply teaching methods in real educational settings and collaborate with other master's students on teaching and learning issues.
• Chemistry teaching laboratories: Boston College's Merkert Chemistry Center contains classrooms and teaching laboratories alongside faculty research laboratories, giving chemistry students access to a dedicated environment for practical chemical education.
• Advanced chemistry facilities: The 109,000-square-foot Merkert Chemistry Center houses specialized research facilities and shared instrumentation supporting research in organic chemistry, chemical biology and physical chemistry.
• Mass Spectrometry Center: Students working within the Chemistry Department's research environment can access mass-spectrometry capabilities including electrospray, APCI, APPI, MALDI-TOF and DART techniques.
• Magnetic Resonance Center: The department maintains 600, 400 and three 500 MHz NMR spectrometers, together with two EPR systems, providing access to advanced molecular characterization instrumentation.
• X-ray Crystallography Center: The facility includes several diffractometers, crystal-growth rooms and computing resources for investigating protein and small-molecule structures.
• Scientific data tools: Boston College's Chemistry Department uses Waters NuGenesis Scientific Data Management System, including NuGenesis Vision and NuGenesis UNIFY, to archive and manage research data with searchable metadata.
• Chemistry research groups: Boston College provides access to faculty research environments covering areas such as catalysis, chemical biology, organic synthesis, materials chemistry, energy conversion and spectroscopy, giving students exposure to contemporary chemistry research.
• Professional teaching development: The secondary education master's curriculum includes teaching-methods coursework, content-area electives and practicum experiences, while students can also pursue a Teaching English Language Learners (TELL) Certificate to strengthen their preparation for diverse classrooms.
• Massachusetts licensure preparation: The program prepares students for secondary teaching in Chemistry and, for students pursuing Massachusetts certification, requires the Massachusetts Educators Certification Test.
• Internships and group projects: Boston College's official M.S.T. information specifically identifies school-based practicum experiences and collaboration with fellow master's students; a separate chemistry-specific internship is not stated on the official program pages.
• Research facilities: Boston College maintains university-wide core research facilities, with resources scheduled through the iLab system, providing access to shared scientific infrastructure across the institution.

The Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) in Chemistry at Boston College prepares graduates to teach chemistry at the secondary-school level while combining advanced subject knowledge with professional teacher preparation. The program is offered jointly by the Lynch School of Education and Human Development and the Department of Chemistry and includes practical experiences as part of the pathway toward Massachusetts secondary teaching licensure.

Career opportunities: Secondary Chemistry Teacher, Science Teacher, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Education Program Professional.

Career support and progression:

• Career advising and employment preparation: Boston College's Career Center provides education-focused resources including teacher job-search guidance, résumé and cover-letter critiques through Handshake, and access to alumni through Eagle Exchange. BC's education career resources identify employers such as Boston Public Schools, Newton Public Schools, Cambridge Public Schools, NYC Department of Education and Teach For America.

• Teaching experience: M.S.T. students complete practical experiences as part of the secondary-teaching preparation. Boston College states that its M.S.T. and M.Ed. science-teaching pathways include 14 weeks of supervised student teaching, giving graduates substantial classroom experience before entering the profession.

• School partnerships: The Lynch School maintains collaborative partnerships with Boston, Newton and Brookline Public Schools, as well as Catholic, private and charter schools throughout Greater Boston. These relationships support field placements and supervised teaching experiences in different school settings.

• Employment outcomes: Boston College reports that 96.6% of the Class of 2025 were employed, enrolled in graduate school, or participating in a fellowship or volunteer experience. This is a university-wide outcome rather than a Chemistry M.S.T.-specific employment rate.

• Salary information: Boston College does not publish a Chemistry M.S.T.-specific graduate salary figure on its official program pages, so a program-specific salary range or median is not stated.

• Licensure value: The program is designed for secondary teaching in Chemistry, grades 8–12. Completion of the approved teacher-preparation program provides Boston College endorsement toward Massachusetts Initial Licensure, while candidates must also satisfy the Massachusetts testing requirements.

• Long-term professional value: Massachusetts Initial Licensure is valid for five years and can be renewed once for another five years. Boston College notes that educators subsequently seeking a Professional License generally need teaching experience, mentoring requirements and the applicable professional-licensure pathway; the Lynch School does not itself offer master's programs leading to Professional Licensure.

• Accreditation and institutional standing: Boston College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), while the Lynch School's teacher-education programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial Licensure. Boston College's current accreditation information specifically lists the Lynch School's Teaching, Curriculum, and Instruction and Counseling master's programs under Massachusetts DESE approval.

• Graduation outcomes: The program's preparation is directed toward secondary teaching, with learning outcomes focused on designing effective instruction, assessing student learning, analyzing performance data, providing feedback, creating inclusive learning environments, and collaborating with families and communities.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced study in Chemistry, Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or related doctoral-level fields. At Boston College, the Chemistry Department offers a Ph.D. in Chemistry, while the Lynch School offers graduate study in areas such as Curriculum and Instruction and other education fields, allowing graduates to deepen either their chemistry expertise or their educational leadership and research interests.