Program Summary
Fall 2022
Spring 2023
Summer 2023
Credits & Costs
Jimmy Henning
Director of Graduate Studies
Extension Professor, UK Forage Extension
jimmy.henning@uky.eduProgram Summary
Fall 2022
Spring 2023
Summer 2023
Credits & Costs
Science improves lives.
Data and research are most meaningful when applied beyond labs and academic journals. Science must be understood by the public, and applied to real-life issues. Employers know this - from government agencies to private companies - and they seek employees with the skills to make it happen.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 median pay for technical writers was $72,850, and the ten-year job outlook outpaced the average career.
Convergence of the life sciences with fields including physical, chemical, mathematical, computational, engineering, and social sciences is a key strategy to tackle complex challenges and achieve new and innovative solutions.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
A degree designed for you.
Our curriculum delivers both foundational knowledge for transdiciplinary outreach and flexible options for your area(s) of interest. Science Translation and Outreach students complete 12 hours of core courses and 18 hours of elective courses.
You will create your individualized plan of study with the help of a faculty committee and culminate your degree with a real-world capstone outreach project.
STO 601 - Program Development & Evaluation
(3 hours) The purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of program evaluation processes, concepts, and theories and to develop expertise needed to design and conduct systematic evaluations of formal and non‐formal programs. The material to be covered is applicable to a wide range of topics and disciplines, including social welfare, youth development, family studies, agriculture and the environment, community/economic development, and other formal and non‐formal educational programs. Such programs have a common goal of achieving their desired objectives and being held accountable for the resources they obtain from agencies and stakeholders.
STO 602 - Science Literacy and Translation
(3 hours) Students will explore, translate and interpret scientific findings into application and policy, enhance their scientific literacy, and learn to evaluate the credibility of sources of scientific information.
STO 603 - Research Methods
(3 hours) This course provides students with foundational knowledge forscientific inquiry and the use of research to inform evidence‐based practice. It covers fundamentals ofunderstanding, analyzing, and critiquing research, through an exposure to science philosophy and techniques used to conduct scientific investigations. It covers aspects of the research process from developing a research question to writing the research report. Students will be introduced to qualitativeand quantitative research design, methodology, and ethical issues associated with conducting and evaluating research.
STO 650 - Capstone in Science Translation
(3 hours) Students in this course use principles of science translation and outreach to (1) Identify an issue of public concern; (2) Design an original, evidence‐based outreach program to address the concern; (3) Create a program implementation plan; and (4) Develop an evaluation plan for the program.
+ Elective Courses
In order to customize the degree to students' unique interests and career goals, STO students take 18 credit hours of elective courses. Within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, students may choose online courses within the following departments:
- Agricultural Economics
- Animal and Food Sciences
- Community and Leadership Development
- Dietetics and Human Nutrition
- Entomology
- Family Sciences
- Forestry
- Plant and Soil Sciences
- Plant Pathology
- Retailing and Tourism Management
Elective courses from other programs may be considered with the approval of a student's advisory committee and the STO Director of Graduate Studies.
To better understand the variety of potential electives, STO students have recently taken:
- BAE 532 Intro to Stream Restoration
- CLD 685 Community Development Theory & Practice
- DHN 597 Obesity and Food Insecurity Paradigm
- ENT 561 Insects Affecting Human & Animal Health
- FCS 620 Working with Diverse Familys in Culturally Sensitive Contexts
- HMT 570 Event Planning and Coordination
- PLS 640 Identificaiton of Plant Diseases
- PYD 620 Foundations of Positive Youth Development
- and many more
Required Application Materials:
- A one- to two-page resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
- Personal statement describing your background and interest in the program
- Transcript(s) for prior studies in higher education
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores are optional
For questions related to application materials, contact Dr. Paul Vincelli, Director of Graduate Studies for the Science Translation and Outreach master's program.
Materials
Per federal regulations and our State Authorization agreement, view Financial Aid information and University Refund Policies here.
STO Graduate HandbookWatch Dr. Paul Vincelli discuss his work in communicating the science behind controversial topics...
Contact
Jimmy Henning
Director of Graduate Studies
Extension Professor, UK Forage Extension
jimmy.henning@uky.eduCollege of Agriculture, Food & Environment
(859)257-2877
State Authorization & Licensure
If you plan to complete a University of Kentucky online program while living outside of Kentucky, you should check the Out-of-State Students page to determine if the University of Kentucky is authorized to provide this program in your state of residence. If you plan to use the degree to seek licensure, you should also determine if the degree meets the educational requirements for licensure in your state.