Earth/Space Science Certificate and Master's
degree courses will be offered to cohorts of teachers in the following order:

886.632 Understanding and Teaching the Solar System is a three credit graduate course conducted in the spring semester of the first year, usually at JHU's Columbia Campus. Participants will be introduced to the history of solar system exploration; space observation methods and techniques; planetary scales and motions; survey of the planets and small bodies; the sun as a star; planetary atmospheres, surfaces, and interiors; the earth as a planet; and the search for life. Emphasis will be placed on giving participants a thorough understanding of the solar system and teaching methods, approaches, and sources .

886.631 Understanding and Teaching Earth Observations from Space is a three credit graduate course conducted in the summer of the first year. The course is scheduled for two weeks, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, usually in July. The first week, participants will meet at JHU's Columbia Center. The second week is residential and is held at Washington College, Chestertown, MD. Participants will learn about different designs, functions and orbital characteristics of Landsat, weather, global positioning and other types of satellites; examine how different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are used for communications and imaging; access and interpret space imagery; and examine applications such as hurricane tracking, land cover/land use and changes with time, chlorophyll and phytoplankton detection and monitoring, and other applications. The second week focuses on local and regional applications of remotely sensed data, as they relate to ecology of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Two field trips are included, one of which is on the Chesapeake Bay.

886.630 Understanding and Teaching Physical Geology is a three credit graduate course conducted in the fall semester of the first year. In this course participants integrate the content and instructional strategies necessary to teach effectively the basic concepts of physical geology. Topics include the geological history of the earth, plate tectonics, mineral identification, the rock cycle, and the dynamic activity that affects the earth's changes. Methods of applying geology concepts to the classroom are emphasized. Field trips and laboratory activities are scheduled.

886.634 Understanding and Teaching Earth's Weather and Climate is a three credit graduate course conducted in the spring of the second year, usually at the JHU Columbia Campus. Participants examine the content and methodology of teaching the basic concepts of meteorology. Content focus includes factors that create local, regional, and global weather phenomena. Special topics include climate change issues such as global warming, greenhouse effect, and El Nino. Inductive and inquiry approaches to instruction are used throughout the course to model experimentation and problem-solving for the earth/space science classroom.

886.811 Internship in Earth/Space Science is a research experience undertaken in the summer of the second year of the program at an environmental organization, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center or other government agency, industry, or academic institution under the direction of a mentor and/or staff from the sponsoring facility. During this experience, the intern is to engage in the work of an earth/space scientist.  The research conducted must be investigative in nature, or have a strong investigative component that relates to topics in earth/ space science.
 
This three-credit hour internship requires at least 75 hours of work at the facility in addition to the hours necesary for attendance at two required meetings and for preparation of written assignments (minimally, the internship proposal, a report on the internship, and a lesson plan in which the experiences of the internship are applied.)  Typically, the internship starts shortly after the school year ends ends and concludes sometime before the second week in August.

Students may suggest their own research sites or select from a list of approved sites that will be provided to students in the fall of the academic year preceding their scheduled summer internship. The Internship Committee, consisting of two JHU faculty; the Internship Coordinator; and the MDSGC Assistant Director, will approve the student's internship site. Once the site is approved, the start and completion dates will be worked out to meet each student’s unique summer schedule.

To ensure the best possible match between the student and the research site, students must submit a written proposal of their planned research experience to the Internship Committee for approval. The proposal must be completed and electronically e-mailed to the Internship Instructor by December 31 of the year preceding the summer internship. The proposal must include the following:

1) The nature of the research experience and the student’s contribution to the investigation. This section should contain a narrative that is detailed and thorough in nature.

2)The techniques and instruments the student will use during the investigation.

3)The exact time frame under which the internship will be accomplished and a timeline outlining the approximate time when tasks will be completed.

4)The name of the contact person and phone number of all of the individuals who will assist the student during the internship.

A formal Orientation will be held in the fall preceding the Internship at which time students will learn about the process of identifying an appropriate site; the purpose and nature of the internship experience; the responsibilities of the mentors; and the specific roles of the JHU Graduate Division, the Internship Coordinator and MDSGC. Interns will deliver a formal presentation on their summer research project at the last class meeting. All site representatives/mentors, students, and representatives of JHU will be invited to attend this presentation.

886.633 Understanding and Teaching Stars, Galaxies, and Beyond is a three credit graduate course conducted in the fall of the second year, usually at the JHU Homewood Campus. Participants explore the content and methods of teaching stellar and intergalactic astronomy. Topics include cosmology, galaxy classification and evolution, stellar classification and evolution, radiation theory, and the interstellar medium. Current results from the Hubble Space Telescope are explored. The course includes space observations. Applications, emphasizing the inquiry approach to instruction, are modeled and discussed.