Master of Science in Teaching Biology (1 year, 60 ECTS) – 2013/2014-2016/2017

Name and the Goals of the Study Programme

The name of the Study programme is Master of Science in Teaching Biology (1 year, 60 ECTS), and the objective of the study programme is to educate and train students for professional and research career in biology teaching.

Type of the Study and the Outcome of the Education Process

Master studies in biology teaching are based on a one-year study programme and are completed with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits.

Upon completion of the master course of study candidates are qualified for teaching biology in both primary and secondary education. The level of acquired knowledge ensures its easy application in workplace.

Professional Title, Academic, or Scientific Title

Students who complete the postgraduate study are awarded the following degree:

Master in Biology Teaching.

Admission Conditions

Applicants for master studies are required a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with 240 ECTS credits or a Bachelor’s degree in a related subject area with a minimum of 180 ECTS obtained in biology-related courses. The applicants are ranked on the basis of the period of time needed to complete the undergraduate study and the grade point average obtained during the study.

The Structure of the Study Programme

The study programme of Master’s degree in Biology Teaching includes a number of required and elective courses with generally described contents. The courses provide students with knowledge and skills required for earning a Master degree.

The curriculum of one-year course of study comprises the following:

3 required courses, obligatory student teaching course, 4 electives and a master thesis.

Each of the courses in study programme is allocated a specific number of ECTS and the overall course of study includes the total of ECTS. The total of ECTS per acedemic year is minimally 60, which represents the average workload of the student in a 40-hour working week per academic year. The overall student workload includes teaching activities (lectures, practicals, practicums, seminars and field studise), individual studying, tests, examinations and other forms of coursework.

The Time Allotted for the Realization of Particular Study Forms

The master studies in Biology Teaching are 1 year in duration (2 semesters).

Credit Values of Particular Courses

The number of ECTS allocated to the courses.

The number of ECTS awarded to each course is shown in tables.

Diploma Work

The study programme includes final thesis writing. The number of credits allocated to Master’s thesis equals 20 ECTS.

Prerequisites for the Registration for Particular Courses or Group of Courses

Prerequisites for certain courses or groups of courses are shown enclosed below.

Way of Choosing Courses from the Other Study Programmes

All elective courses are defined by the study programme and can be selected from the list of electives offered by the institution.

Transferring from Another Study Programme

Transfer from other study programmes to the master study programme in Biology Teaching can be achieved by transfering ECTS. The criteria and conditions for ECTS transfer are regulated by the general act of Faculty of Sciences in Novi Sad.

The total of ECTS credits awarded to master study programme in Biology Teaching minimally equals 63 ECTS.

The purpose of the study programme is to educate students within the field of biology. The study programme structure with its specialist courses, both scientifically-oriented and applicable, enables students to further improve their biology knowledge at academic level. The competences and skills acquired at this level serve as fundamentals for continuing the educational process at doctoral level in the field of biology and other closely related disciplines.

Specific purpose of Biology Teaching concentration study programme is to educate and train students for:

• teaching biology in primary and secondary education;
• professional education in all segments of informal biological education;
• working in educational institutions, professional and supervising pedagogical services as part of public administration.

The objective of Master’s study programme in Biology Teaching is to educate professionals in the field of biology. The specific objective of the study programme in Biology Teaching concentration is to educate prospective biology teachers capable of taking part in teaching process and other employment options within the educational system. This implies combining different scientific disciplines – general educational, theoretical, methodological, specialist and applicable disciplines which all enable students to apply interdisciplinary approach to modern teaching practice and educational sector in general.

General and Course-specific Competencies of Students

Students acquire the following general abilities and skills:

• logical thinking, formulating presumptions and drawing conclusions;
• disseminating and publishing scientific and subject-specific information; expressing opinions and exchanging ideas;
• individual and team work skills;
• designing and conducting experiments;
• scientifically-based interpretation of experiment results;
• efficient scientific communication;
• managing research teams;
• positive attitude towards lifelong learning.

Students acquire the following subject-specific skills and abilities:

• application and development of professional knowledge and values: subject-specific biological disciplines, pedagogical, psychological, didactic and methodological disciplines;
• planning, programming and conducting the teaching process;
• understanding research processes, methods and techniques relevant for teaching biology and general teaching practice;
• assessing and evaluating students’ progress;
• communicating and interacting with students, parents, fellow teachers and local community;
• planning and evaluating their continual professional development.

Description of the learning outcome

The learning outcome is a professional with advanced academic education who possesses considerably broadened knowledge in comparison to the knowledge obtained in Bachelor’s degree programme as well as integrated knowledge needed for comprehension of biological fundamentals. The acquired knowledge provides professional qualifications for work in biological laboratories and research centres.

Minimum learning outcomes:

• Understanding the importance of biological disciplines within the scope of modern science;
• Integrated knowledge of functional organisation of biological systems at the level of a molecule, tissue, organism and population;
• Acquired biological education ensures originality in development and application of ideas in research practice;
• Solving problems in new environment including a broader, multidisciplinary context;
• Independent search of information in professional publications;
• The application of successful laboratory practice principles in experiment planning, conducting and control.