Master of Science in the Teaching of Chemistry (MSTC)

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Program Overview

The Master of Science in the Teaching of Chemistry (MSTC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is designed for students who want to teach chemistry at the secondary-school or community-college level, with an option to earn an Illinois Professional Educator License in chemistry alongside the master's degree. Students strengthen their chemistry knowledge while developing practical teaching skills through education coursework, chemistry coursework, team learning, peer teaching and CHEM 495: Teaching Chemistry at the Secondary Level, which focuses on lesson design, teaching laboratories, chemical demonstrations and interactive teaching.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their foundation across graduate chemistry, education and teaching-focused coursework. The curriculum includes advanced CHEM courses alongside education courses, while CHEM 495: Teaching Chemistry at the Secondary Level develops practical skills such as lesson planning, laboratory management, chemical demonstrations and interactive instruction; students also gain classroom experience through freshman chemistry courses using team learning and peer teaching.

Year 2: Students completing the MSTC with Illinois teaching certification continue with education and professional preparation courses while completing the remaining chemistry requirements and supervised teaching experience. The official recommended sequence includes CI 403, EDSY 485, SPED 405, CHEM 495, CI 404 and EDPR 442, with the certification pathway integrating education coursework and practical teaching assessment.

Program structure: The degree requires 32 graduate hours, comprising 16 hours of chemistry, 8 hours of education and 8 hours of electives in education or physical science; at least 12 hours must be at the 500 level, including at least 8 hours of 500-level chemistry. Students without certification follow the two-year pathway, while students entering with certification can complete the MSTC in one year.

Focus areas: Chemistry content knowledge, secondary chemistry education, teaching pedagogy, interactive instruction, laboratory teaching, chemical demonstrations, classroom practice, team learning, peer teaching and Illinois secondary-school educator preparation.

Learning outcomes: Develop a deep working knowledge of contemporary chemistry; educate students in the chemical sciences using state-of-the-art technology and pedagogy; communicate clearly and effectively within and across disciplinary areas.

Professional alignment: The two-year MSTC pathway can be completed alongside an Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed in Chemistry for grades 9–12; the university does not state a separate professional accreditation for the MSTC degree itself on the official program page.

Reputation: The official MSTC pages do not publish a program-specific QS, Guardian or equivalent employability ranking, so no program-specific ranking is stated here.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Master of Science in the Teaching of Chemistry (MSTC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign develop practical teaching expertise by combining advanced chemistry study with hands-on preparation for chemistry education. The program is designed around authentic classroom experience, giving students opportunities to apply chemistry knowledge in teaching settings while working with faculty and education professionals. Students can also benefit from UIUC’s extensive chemistry facilities and instructional resources, including specialized laboratories and technology used for chemistry teaching and research. These opportunities help connect graduate-level chemistry with the practical skills needed to teach effectively in secondary-school settings:

Teaching experience: The MSTC is designed to prepare students for chemistry teaching, with practical teaching experiences that allow them to apply instructional methods in real educational settings and develop classroom-management and lesson-planning skills.
Chemistry teaching laboratories: Students have access to the Department of Chemistry’s teaching and laboratory infrastructure, supporting hands-on experimentation and the development of laboratory-based chemistry instruction.
Instructional technology: The program incorporates educational technology and chemistry teaching resources that help students develop approaches for presenting complex chemical concepts through demonstrations, laboratory activities and other classroom methods.
Hands-on chemistry: Graduate study in chemistry gives MSTC students opportunities to work with experimental chemistry and laboratory techniques, strengthening the subject knowledge needed to design meaningful practical activities for future students.
Chemistry education research: Students can engage with chemistry education scholarship and research through the Department of Chemistry and the School of Chemical Sciences, connecting classroom practice with evidence-based approaches to chemistry teaching.
Faculty interaction: Students work with faculty in chemistry and chemistry education, gaining exposure to current approaches to chemical instruction and educational practice.
Teaching-focused professional development: The program's structure allows students to build practical skills in curriculum development, assessment, classroom instruction and communication that can be directly applied to secondary chemistry teaching.
School-based experience: The MSTC provides preparation for teaching chemistry in schools, giving students opportunities to connect university coursework with the realities of secondary-school classrooms.
Chemistry facilities: UIUC's School of Chemical Sciences provides extensive instructional and research infrastructure, including laboratories and specialized facilities that support chemistry learning and experimentation.
Libraries and learning resources: Students can use the University Library system and chemistry-related collections and databases to support graduate coursework, teaching preparation and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Science in the Teaching of Chemistry (MSTC) is designed for graduates who want to teach chemistry at the secondary-school or community-college level, combining advanced chemistry study with focused preparation in teaching. Students who enter with teaching certification can complete the degree in one year, while the certification pathway allows students to work toward the master's degree and an Illinois Professional Educator License in chemistry.

Career opportunities: Secondary School Chemistry Teacher, Community College Chemistry Instructor, Chemistry Education Specialist, Curriculum or Instructional Support Specialist.

Career progression and opportunities:

Career advising: Illinois Graduate College Career Development provides graduate students with individual career advising, career exploration, job-search strategy, application and interview support, and opportunities to build relationships with alumni and employers.
Teaching-focused preparation: MSTC students gain actual teaching experience in freshman chemistry courses featuring team learning and peer teaching. CHEM 495, Teaching Chemistry at the Secondary Level, develops practical skills such as lesson design, teaching-laboratory management, chemical demonstrations and interactive teaching.
Employment resources: Students can use Handshake@Illinois to search for jobs and internships, while the University provides career fairs and an Educators' Job Fair specifically for teaching and education-related employment.
Employer connections: The Graduate College helps employers recruit graduate-level candidates through Handshake, campus visits and connections with faculty, departments and student organizations.
Employment statistics and salary: The University of Illinois provides post-graduation employment and salary information through its career-outcomes resources, but a program-specific MSTC employment rate or salary figure is not stated on the official MSTC pages.
University–school connections: Illinois and Eastern Illinois University jointly organize an Educators' Job Fair, connecting teacher candidates and school districts or education organizations. This provides a direct recruitment channel for students pursuing teaching careers.
Professional/licensure value: Students entering without certification can pursue the MSTC alongside an Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed in chemistry for grades 9–12. This provides a formal state licensure pathway in addition to the master's degree; the specific long-term value of the credential outside Illinois depends on the licensing requirements of the destination state or country.
Graduation outcomes: The program specifically prepares graduates for chemistry teaching at the secondary-school or community-college level, while the teaching experience and advanced chemistry coursework can support progression into education-focused professional roles.

Further Academic Progression: After the MSTC, students interested in advanced chemistry education or academic careers can progress to the Ph.D. in Chemistry with a concentration in the Teaching of Chemistry at Illinois. The doctoral concentration adds education coursework to the Chemistry Ph.D. and is intended particularly for students interested in academic careers with a primary focus on instruction.