Distance education program deepens teachers’ impact on students

Kate Moore and Lidia Tejeda believe their role as educators goes beyond teaching biology. Their dedication to student-learning led these two high school teachers to Mississippi State University’s Master of General Biology (MSGB) online degree program.  

 “I believe my job is important, not only to educate students in science but to provide a supportive place where my students can learn what kind of person they want to be in the world and in the future,” said Moore, a science teacher at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington. 

Tejeda, a science teacher in the La Quinta, California, area for five years, agreed. “I am passionate about engaging students and sparking an interest in science that will fuel them to ask questions and drive them to become critical thinkers that will make a positive impact in our society,” Tejeda said.

When looking for an online curriculum, both professionals wanted to find a program that would allow them flexibility to balance their full-time teaching careers and personal obligations. 

Tejeda, who during the program was pregnant and then caring for a newborn, chose the MSGB program at MSU because she felt it was the best fit for her as a full-time teacher. 

“I knew I would be able to manage my schedule and have flexibility when needed. The faculty were understanding and ensured I was still able to care for my growing family while completing my courses,” Tejeda said.

Meanwhile, Moore was searching for an online biology curriculum with a non-thesis option. 

“I applied to Mississippi State because it checked those boxes, but I chose Mississippi State after speaking with admissions and several professors,” Moore said. “I had this feeling that it was going to be the right fit for me, so even before I was accepted, I put it as my top choice.”

Both Tejeda and Moore estimate that they spent 15-20 hours a week on their studies in addition to their teaching responsibilities. For Moore, it was all about finding work-life balance. “I worked really hard to finish my teaching work at work, to clear time for myself at home,” Moore said. 

Moore said her online experience sometimes felt detached until she connected with her professors and fellow students. “I got used to their voices and was able to carry on great conversations with them via the online platform,” she said. 

For Tejeda, the convenience of watching or listening to her professors’ lectures at a time that was right for her made all the difference in completing her studies.

“It was great because I had a two-hour time difference, and with a busy work schedule on top of that, it made it convenient for me to listen to the lecture anytime I could,” Tejeda said.

“The MSGB program is exceptional for working teachers who want to earn a master’s in their content area and advance their careers. The knowledge I gained has made me feel confident about teaching biology in higher education. It has also better prepared me to engage and inform my current high school students,” Tejeda said.

Donna Gordon, MSGB graduate coordinator and an associate professor of biological sciences, said the online flexibility offered allows students to complete the program in just two years by enrolling in two courses per semester (fall, spring and summer). 

“On average, we have found that 65% of students that complete the degree requirements do so in two years; with the majority of the remaining students completing their degree requirements within a four-year period,” Gordon said.

“When we came together for the capstone course at the end of the program, I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming, inclusive and supportive the campus and professors were. While every course made me feel like an expert in the content, I found that the capstone opened more opportunities of learning,” Moore said. 

“The courses were definitely challenging, but also enjoyable and interesting. The hard work, time and effort were worth it,” said Tejeda, a first-generation college graduate. She also enjoyed her time on campus. “It was an amazing experience and so impactful to meet professors we had earlier in the program and the students in my cohort. Everyone was so supportive and caring.”

Gordon acknowledges that the on-campus component leaves a lasting impression on her students. “I have heard back from graduates that they have been inspired by the labs they participated in during the capstone course and have worked versions of the exercises into their own lesson plans,” Gordon said. 

Upon program completion, graduates will have an increased understanding of biological principles across the multiple subdisciplines within biology, content knowledge that can augment their own high school curricula. They may also be eligible to teach advanced placement biology or dual-enrollment courses at the high school level.

“My goal is to teach dual enrollment biology at my school site. Dual enrollment allows students to earn college credit while in high school. With a master’s degree in biology, I would be eligible to bring this amazing opportunity to the students at my school,” Tejeda said.

Moore said, “When I started this degree, I was really driven, and, in the end, I graduated with all A’s and a sense of accomplishment and pride.”  

“I am so happy to be a Mississippi State Bulldog,” she said. 

MSU’s Department of Biological Sciences now offers students a graduate certificate in general biology earned with the completion of 18 credit hours in biology. The certificate program began admitting students in the fall 2019 semester. 

The MSGB degree program requires the completion of 33 credit hours of coursework. Ten of these three-hour courses are online, while the final two-week course is a hands-on, laboratory-based capstone course at the Starkville campus which includes the written comprehensive exam.