A Science Teacher’s Master’s Degree, and a Blueprint for Culturally Responsive STEM

On a recent afternoon at our Yale campus, Ms. Carol Musweswe, MS, stood at a table holding a beaker to the light. She asked her sixth graders what they noticed rather than telling them what to think. 

The question, simple but deliberate, mirrored the approach that carried her through a master’s degree earned entirely online: begin with students’ lived experiences, then build the science from there.

Ms. Musweswe joined the team here at MAS in July 2023 and now teaches sixth- and seventh-grade science. She completed her Master of Science in August of 2025 through University of the People, a nonprofit, tuition-free, accredited online institution. 

Her dissertation, entitled Culturally Responsive STEM Education: A Curriculum Management Plan for a Diverse Student Population, outlines concrete ways schools can align standards-based instruction with students’ cultural contexts in order that labs, projects, and assessments reflect the communities they serve.

“I chose University of the People because it’s self-paced and tuition-free,” she said. “It let me keep teaching full time while collaborating with classmates across the country.” The program was fully online; group work and peer review happened on screens, often late at night after lesson plans were set for the next day.

A University Built To Widen Access

Founded to open pathways into higher education, University of the People charges no tuition. Instead, students pay modest assessment fees per course, with scholarships available to cover those costs for learners with need. 

The university operates 100 percent online and is accredited by both the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) — a dual accreditation that underscores academic quality and transferability. Its model is sustained by a mix of student assessment fees, philanthropic support, and a large network of volunteer contributors and partners.

From Theory to Classroom Practice

Ms. Musweswe’s capstone work translates research into routines. It does this by using phenomena rooted in students’ communities to launch units; auditing materials for representation; building formative checks that honor multiple ways of showing understanding; and setting up teacher teams to adjust pacing and tasks for different learners. 

Culturally responsive doesn’t mean lowering the bar,” she said. “It means raising relevance so students see why the bar matters.”

Her future plans include a graduate certificate in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. She’s currently exploring options that include Grand Canyon University at the top of her list. But first, she’s taking a short breather before the next round of coursework. “A little downtime first,” she said with a smile.

Ms. Musweswe credits her perseverance to a quiet but sturdy support system. “My mother kept track of time, even from across the world, and reminded me about assignments,” she said. “And our school’s Founder & CEO, Ms. JoAnn Mitchell, gave me the chance to work with a diverse student population.” Those nudges, she added, were often what turned long evenings into finished chapters.

Why It Matters For MAS

For students in her classroom, the impact shows up in small shifts: a lab built around a neighborhood water issue, a data set drawn from local air-quality readings, a rubric that recognizes both technical vocabulary and community knowledge. “When students recognize themselves in the work, participation goes up, and so does persistence,” she said.

As MAS continues to prioritize rigorous, inclusive instruction, Ms. Musweswe’s work offers a ready-made playbook: plan backward, teach forward, and start with who’s in the room.

AT A GLANCE: MS. CAROL MUSWESWE, MS

Role at MAS: 6th and 7th Grade Science Teacher, MAS Yale campus (since July 2023)

Master’s Degree: University of the People (completed fully online; cohort collaboration virtually) 

Dissertation: Culturally Responsive STEM Education: A Curriculum Management Plan for a Diverse Student Population

Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Education in Science degree from the University of Pretoria (Pretoria, South Africa)

What’s Next: A Graduate Certificate in Curriculum,Instruction and Assessment