Advance Your Chemistry Expertise, Elevate Your Pedagogy
Deepen your knowledge and discover relevant, evidence-based strategies to engage secondary or college students in chemistry education. With American College of Education’s (ACE) master’s in chemistry education, you’ll solve problems practically, learn collaborative strategies, discover new teaching approaches and more. You’ll grow your ability to effectively transform complex scientific concepts and diverse perspectives into real-world applications.
This program equips you with 18 hours of content courses that are often required to teach community college and/or dual credit. You’ll advance your expertise through evaluating theories, standards, principles and more within chemistry frameworks. Additionally, you’ll be positioned to lead in chemistry education and contribute to meaningful research as you develop essential leadership, decision-making and communication skills.
Whether your career goals are in the classroom or the field, take your chemistry expertise and career to the next level.
Empower your students and community, and take the next step toward a future full of possibility.
The M.Ed. in Chemistry Education program is designed for those teaching at the secondary or college level in the field of chemistry. This coursework promotes the development of scientific thinking and ways chemistry can be taught through different perspectives which encourage real-world applications, effective problem solving, and builds relationships through communication. Individuals consider ways to investigate scientific thought as an approach for examining the forces acting matter, from the properties at the atomic level to how molecules interact and combine to release energy or form new substances.
Here are the courses you’ll take when working towards this program. If no focus of study option is selected, you can choose any 3 courses from the study options below.
Visit the College Catalog to see all courses.
This foundations course describes historical and current issues and trends impacting chemistry in today's global society. Topics include atomic and molecular structure, properties of matter, chemical bonds, conservation of matter and stoichiometry, rates of reaction, organic chemistry, thermochemistry, biochemistry, the periodic table, interactions and reactions, and chemical and physical changes.
Systems exist from the contents of a beaker in a chemistry lab to the Amazon rainforests. This course explores the importance of systems and their surroundings to thermodynamics and thermochemistry. Theories guide the identification of characteristics found in repeatable patterns which predict interactions between systems and their surroundings. Topics include open, closed, and isolated systems and the relationships among energy, heat, and work as revealed in the study of systems.
Forces of attraction are at work in chemistry. Understanding the interactions resulting from intermolecular and intramolecular forces generates deeper awareness of the possibilities and limitations of the underlying systems. Topics include the impact of chemical forces on the states of matter, boiling and melting points, vapor pressures, and viscosities. The course also explores van der Waals's forces: dipole-dipole interactions, hydrogen bonding, and London dispersion.
The everyday task of candy making brings chemistry into the practical. Through the use of measurement and the interaction of energy, sources of candy are changed yielding predictable results. The ability to understand how energy and matter are related establishes a cause-and-effect relationship essential to understanding reactions and interactions. Using a model-based inquiry approach, learners investigate key terms and concepts related to candy making and chemistry.
This course addresses the fundamental concepts of energy and heat and their association with chemical processes. Beginning with a discussion of thermodynamics in general, the course moves to application specifically related to chemical changes. Topics include atomic structure and energy levels, different forms of energy, energy scales and units, and heat and work.
This course focuses on the environmental aspects of chemistry associated with the atmosphere, soil, groundwater, and surface waters. A major focus is how to fundamentally apply chemistry concepts to environmental issues occurring within social, political, and economic contexts. Learners determine the causes of such problems and recommend evidence-based changes that could potentially be made by individuals, industries, and governments. Ethical issues also serve as a source of discussion. Topics include atomic, molecular, ionic, and radical structures, stoichiometry, gas laws, acids and bases, equilibrium, and oxidation/reduction.
This course examines cognition, specifically the psychological processes of how individuals think and remember as applied to developing judgment and reasoning throughout the learning process. This course will also explore critical thinking as a process reflective of Bloom's Taxonomy incorporating active learning by formulating ideas, gaining knowledge and comprehension, making appropriate applications, and moving into higher levels of learning through analyzing, evaluating, and creating.
By creating new dimensions of thought to establish meaning and relevance, the ability to conceptualize promotes transferability. This course builds foundational understanding of practical approaches to teach conceptualization while also developing personal and professional knowledge and skills in interrelations, multiple perspectives, concept map development, generalizations and terminology across disciplines. A focus on synergistic effects moves learning across domains into multiple contexts for use in novel situations.
Students in this course will apply learning theories and instructional design principles across face-to-face, blended, and online environments. They adapt instruction to each setting including collaboration and assessments. Learners create products, set expectations, encourage interactions, select strategies and materials, and design evaluations.
Students in this course will design effective curricula within their professional fields. They apply principles of curriculum alignment and backward design to develop comprehensive curriculum maps. Topics include how to conduct needs assessments, plan curricula, and develop learning activities or resources for in-person, blended, and online learning environments.
The Capstone Experience is designed for candidates to demonstrate and document the impact of their knowledge and competencies gained throughout and as a result of studies related to the various Professional Education Studies programs.
This course prepares educators to become proficient consumers and practitioners of research in educational settings. They will learn to evaluate existing research, conduct action research, and apply scientific inquiry principles to address current educational challenges. Educators will develop skills in data-driven decision-making and learn to use research as a tool for continuous improvement in their organizations. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to integrate evidence-based practices into their work, enhancing their effectiveness as educational leaders.
We believe in full transparency with our total cost of attendance. No hidden fees. No surprises along the way.
Continuing your education is a big decision that involves an investment of your time and money. We recognize that, which is why we're committed to ensuring you experience a positive return on that investment.
You only pay the cost it takes for us to deliver your education, nothing more. By keeping our tuition low, we’ve helped our students see a $19.20 return in future higher earnings for every $1 they invested in their ACE education.1
Because of our low tuition and total program cost, 87% of our students graduate debt-free.2 Popular payment options include paying by course, paying by month or paying in full. Visit our payment options page to learn more.
You deserve a great return on your educational investment, and we deliver master's degrees at a total average cost of $10,000*. We also award over $1.2M in scholarships and grants each year.
Tuition & ROIWe are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our faculty work in the industries where you work and are committed to your success, contributing to our 84% graduation rate.3 Our curriculum equips you with practical strategies you can apply right away, as well as skills to help you advance your career.
Success StoriesOur virtual campus and convenient start dates provide you the flexibility you need to achieve your goals at a time and place that works with your busy schedule. Our student support services are available 24/7 and tutoring is included at no additional cost.
Support ServicesBecause we don’t have a physical campus, our students don’t need to pay infrastructure or facility fees. We also keep our operational costs low by not participating in Title IV federal funding. We pass all these savings along to our students.
Due to our engaging online format, you’ll connect and learn from industry peers worldwide. And even though you’re learning online, you won’t feel alone thanks to student discussion boards and online forums.
Learn strategies and skills you can apply immediately and leverage for future career advancement. Employers of ACE graduates report a 96% satisfaction rate,3 while 98% of our students felt their professional skills were stronger after graduation.3
Every course is created by our in-house curriculum and production team working in tandem with our academic leaders. Plus, all courses follow a consistent structure. No outdated coursework, no surprises.
*The application fee is valid for one year from date of submission.
**Additional evidence may be required to fulfill state requirements, including but not limited to verification of professional experience, test scores, or an interview.
All applicants must submit, to the Admissions Office, an official evaluation from a NACES-approved organization.
All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate competence in the English language as demonstrated in one of three ways:
2Internal research conducted November 2025
3Across all ACE Programs. See Student Right to Know. Accessed May 28, 2026
4Education Data Initiative. Accessed January 28, 2026
Our Enrollment Counselors are here to answer your questions and walk you through the enrollment process.