The primary goal of the graduate programmes in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education (DMSE) is to build capacity in Mathematics and Science Education in the southern African region. The Department works to produce high calibre, professionally sound personnel for pedagogical and research careers in tertiary institutions as well as in allied institutions/ bodies in the education sector of the region. The objectives of the graduate programmes are:
a) To produce high-level graduates in Mathematics and Science Education for careers in pedagogy and research in tertiary institutions and allied bodies;
b) To provide research skills to Mathematics and Science graduate students with a view to enhancing their analytical abilities;
c) To broaden the research base of the Department to enable graduates to contribute more significantly and meaningfully to innovations in the different fa-cets of Mathematics and Science Education;
d) To strengthen the research capacity of the Department with a view to enhancing its ability to extend the frontiers of knowledge in the realm of Mathematics and Science Education.
2.1.1 The normal minimum entrance requirements for admission to the Master of Education Programmes are:
a) A relevant Bachelor of Education Degree from this or any recognised university or equivalent institution with at least a 2 or its equivalent or:
b) A relevant Bachelor’s Degree of this University with at least a second class, second division plus at least a credit in the concurrent Diploma in Education
or pass in the Post Graduate Diploma in Education. Equivalent qualifications from other recognised academic institutions will be considered or:
c) A relevant Bachelor’s Degree of this University at pass level with at least a credit in the Post Graduate Diploma in Education
d) At least two years of appropriate professional experience and at least two satisfactory professional references
e) A satisfactory interview may be required
f ) Evidence of potential to perform successfully in a graduate level Programme.
2.1.2 With the approval of Senate, equivalent qualifications and experience may be accepted. Such candidates may be required to perform successfully on an admission examination or satisfy other requirements as deemed appropriate by the Faculty of Education.
2.1.3 Master’s-level work in Mathematics Education or Science Education must be preceded by sufficient undergraduate work in that field or a related field to satisfy the Board of the Department of Mathematics and Science Education that the candidate is likely to be successful.
2.1.4 Candidates may be required to take and pass pre-requisite courses, which are deemed by the Board to be necessary or desirable. Such pre- requisites may be required prior to admission to the Master’s Programme or prior to commencing a particular course or prior to the granting of the Degree. Pre-requisite courses will not earn credit towards Degree requirements.
Upon admission, each student will be assigned an Advisor The Advisor will be available to consult with the student regarding coursework and any other issues related to Master’s-level studies. During the second semester of Level One, a Research Supervisor for the Dissertation or Research Essay, which is to be completed during Level Two, will be appointed for each student. The Advisor will normally, but not necessarily, act as the Research Supervisor.
Level 1
Core Courses
All students are required to take the following:
EFF 640 Integrated Foundations of Education
EFF 641 Educational Research I
EFF 642 Educational Research II
ESM 641 Advanced Curriculum Development, Implementation and Evaluation in Mathematics Education. In addition, students shall choose any four optional courses, each carrying 3 credits, from one of the following areas of subspecialisation:
ESM 643 Advanced Instructional Strategies in Mathematics Education
ESM 642 Research Seminar in Mathematics Education
ESS 644 Computer Applications in Mathematics and Science Education
ESM 646 Statistical Models and Experimental Designs
With the consent of the Department and agreement with the cognate department, a maximum of two optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/ sub-specialisations or from Level 400 or Level 600 approved Mathematics courses of the Faculty of Science.
ESM 643 Advanced Instructional Strategies in Mathematics Education
EPM 642 Elementary Theory of Numbers
EPM 644 Fundamentals of Probability and Statistics
EPM 646 Critique of Educational Literature in Mathematics Education
With the consent of the Department and agreement of the cognate department, a maximum of two optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/subspecialisations or from Level 400 approved Mathematics courses from the Faculty of Science.
Students are required to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 24 credits before proceeding to the Dissertation Route or Research Essay Route in Level Two.
Level Two
In Level Two of the Programme, students shall take the Dissertation Route or the Research Essay Route.
Dissertation Route
ESM 761 Dissertation
Research Essay Route
ESM 751 Research Essay
In addition, students taking the Research Essay Route shall take 4 optional courses, each of which carries 3 credits, from one area of subspecialisation.
ESM 741 Research Seminar in Mathematics Education II
ESM 743 Philosophical Foundations of Mathematics Education
ESM 745 Development of Mathematics Education in Botswana
ESM 747 Independent Study in Mathematics Education
ESM 749 Ethnomathematics
ESM 750 Special Topics in Mathematics Education
With the consent of the Department and agreement of the cognate department, a maximum of two optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/subspecialisations or from Level 400 or Level 600 approved Science courses of the Faculty of Science.
EPM 741 Modern Algebra for Teachers
EPM 743 Basic Ideas of Calculus
EPM 745 Foundations of Geometry
EPM 747 Problems of Teaching Primary School Mathematics
EPM749 Computers and Algorithms in Mathematics
With the consent of the Department and agreement of the cognate department, a maximum of two of the four optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/ subspecialisations.
Level One
All students will be required to take the following core courses, each of which carries 3 credits:
EFF640 Integrated Foundations of Education
EFF641 Educational Research I
EFF642 Educational Research II
ESS641 Advanced Curriculum Development, Implementation and Evaluation in Science Education
In addition, students shall take any four optional courses, each of which carries 3 credits, from one of the following areas of subspecialisation:
ESS643 Advanced Instructional Strategies in Science Education
ESS642 Research Seminar in Science Education I
ESS644 Computer Applications in Mathematics and Science Education
ESM646 Statistical Models and Experimental Designs
With the consent of the Department and agreement of the cognate department, a maximum of two optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/sub-specialisations or from Level 400 or 600 approved Science courses of the Faculty of Science.
EPM630 Advanced Integrated Science Concepts I
EPM632 Advanced Integrated Science Concepts II
EPM634 Teaching Science in Primary Schools
EPM636 Foundations of Environmental Education
EPM638 Critique of Educational Literature in Science Education
With the consent of the Department an agreement of the cognate department, one optional course may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/sub-specialisations or from Level 400 approved Science courses in the Faculty of Science. It should be noted that the Department might not be able to offer every optional course every year. Students are required to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 24 credits before proceeding to the Dissertation Route or Research Essay Route in Level Two.
Level Two
In the second year of the Programme, students shall take the Dissertation Route or the Research Essay Route.
Dissertation Route
ESS761 Dissertation
Research Essay Route
ESS751 Research Essay
In addition, students shall take four optional courses, each of which carries 3 credits, from one of the following areas of sub-specialisation:
ESS741 Research Seminar in Science Education II
ESS743 Emergent Issues in Science Education
ESS745 Development of Science Education in Botswana
ESS747 Independent Study in Science Education
ESS749 Science, Technology and Society
ESS750 Special Topics in Science Education
With the consent of the Department and agreement of the cognate department, a maximum of two optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specializations/ sub-specialisations or from Level 400 or 600 approved Science courses of the Faculty of Science.
EPM731 Advanced Integrated Science Concepts III
EPM733 Advanced Integrated Science Concepts IV
EPM735 Teaching College Science
EPM737 Science Supervision
EPM739 Trends and Issues in Environmental Education
With the consent of the Department and agreement of the cognate department, a maximum of two optional courses may be selected from other Master of Education specialisations/sub-specialisations.
2.5.1 Unless otherwise specified in the course outline, each course will be assessed by continuous assessment. The ratio between continuous assessment and formal examination, if applicable, is 60:40.
2.5.2 Courses taken in Faculties other than Education will be examined in accordance with the Regulations of the Faculties within which the work was undertaken.
2.5.3 The cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) for each semester will be computed on the basis of equal weighting for all courses.