The Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Science program is designed to strengthen and update the knowledge and skills necessary to teach science at the elementary, middle school, or secondary level. The MAIS degree is intended to help prepare teachers who desire certification in science, teachers who may wish to expand their knowledge of specific science disciplines, or those who wish to update their knowledge in rapidly changing science disciplines. Traditional masters degrees focus on classes in a single science department and encourage mastery of material in a sub specialty within the discipline. A thesis involving scientific research in the area of specialization is usually encouraged. In contrast, the MAIS program allows students to explore two or three areas of interest, and the courses are designed to provide an overview of current knowledge in each field. Since this is not a research-oriented degree, no thesis is required.