Explorations in STEM Education Certificate

Applicants for the Explorations in STEM Education Undergraduate Certificate will need to have completed at least one three-credit hour course with a grade of C or better in a STEM-related discipline or a closely related discipline, such as statistics, health sciences, nursing, and agriculture, to name a few. This course is required for admission and does not count into the certificate required hours for completion.

Current students at the university interested in the certificate should send to the Director of the Exploration of STEM Education Undergraduate Certificate (1) a completed application; and (2) a letter of recommendation from a current or past instructor of a college-level course.

Post-baccalaureate students interested in the undergraduate certificate should send to the certificate director (1) a completed application; (2) an official copy of their college transcript; and (3) a letter of recommendation from a current or past instructor of a college-level course.

Students earning the Explorations in STEM Education Undergraduate Certificate will maintain a grade of C or better in all certificate course work and will have completed field experience requirements included in respective STEM Education courses.

The Explorations in STEM Education Undergraduate Certificate includes one major course requirement, SEM 320 , Critical Issues in STEM Education. This course is designed to build students’ abilities to identify, critique, and develop STEM learning experiences with a deep focus on critical issues in the teaching and learning of STEM for all students. Specific focus will address the many challenges for underrepresented populations such as gaining access to STEM learning experiences and design principles for STEM activities to promote engagement and success for all students.

Required Course

SEM 320 - CRITICAL ISSUES IN STEM EDUCATION Credit(s): 3

STEM Education Guided Elective Courses

The Explorations in STEM Education Certificate Program requires nine guided electives. These include six credit hours in STEM Education and three credit hours in a STEM discipline (i.e., science, technology, engineering, mathematics) discipline or related applied discipline in STEM. Students will work with the certificate program director to select the guided electives.

(Choose two)

SEM 321 - EXPLORATIONS IN STEM EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
SEM 343 - INTRODUCTION TO GAMING IN STEM EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
SEM 504 - DESIGNING PROJECT-BASED ENVIRONMENTS IN STEM EDUCATION Credit(s): 3
STEM Elective Credit(s): 3

Note

Courses that meet the STEM guided electives requirement must be offered in a STEM field (e.g., science, technology/computer science, engineering, mathematics) or in an applied field of STEM, such as agriculture, health sciences, nursing, and other STEM related disciplines The three-credit hour requirement for the guided STEM elective can be met by completing (1) a three one-credit hour course, or (2) three one-hour credit courses, or (3) a combination one- and two-credit hour courses. Students will work with the certificate director to select the STEM course(s) that meets their goals and interests. Further, certificate director approval is required for guided STEM electives.