The STEM Teaching Program, BA prepares students to teach science, mathematics, or computer science at the middle school, junior high, or high school levels. To take the STEM Teaching Program, BA, students must also be enrolled in one of the approved majors listed below. To qualify for the Washington State Residency Teaching Certificate, students must, in addition to successfully completing the STEM Teaching Program, BA and their approved major degree, demonstrate proficiency in student learning outcomes through a program portfolio and pass the NES exam and the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) in their endorsement area. Certification eligibility is monitored by the Teacher Certification office in the School of Education. See the STEM Teaching Program, BA advisor as soon as possible for more information and to develop a course of study.
Approved major degrees:
Biology Major, BA or BS for endorsement in Biology (5-12)
Chemistry Major, BA or BS for endorsement in Chemistry (5-12)
Computer Science, BS for endorsement in Computer Science (K-12)
Environmental Sciences BS, Environmental Geology Specialization for endorsement in Earth and Space Science (5-12)
Geology Major, BA or BS for endorsement in Earth and Space Science (5-12)
Physics Major, BA or BS for endorsement in Physics (5-12)
Mathematics: Secondary Education, BA for endorsement in Mathematics (5-12)
Mathematics: BS for endorsement in Mathematics (5-12)
Mathematics: Middle Level Education, BA for endorsement in Middle Level Mathematics (4-9)
Science: Middle Level Education, BA for endorsement in Middle Level Science (4-9)
Admission Requirements
Full admittance to Teacher Certification is required to enroll in STP 304 (Classroom Interactions II).
Graduation Requirements
- No grade lower than a C in major, minor and STEM Teaching Program, BA courses
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 in major, minor and STEM Teaching Program, BA courses
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 for last 45 graded quarter credits (the total may exceed 45 if an entire quarter is needed to achieve the minimum 45) or overall CWU/transfer cumulative.
Program Requirements
- Fingerprint Clearance - Candidates must have valid WSP and FBI fingerprint clearance in order to complete any course that requires the candidate to be working with P-12th grade children on or off campus. The fingerprint clearance must be valid through the duration of the course. Fingerprint clearance must appear in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Fingerprinting Database to be accepted.
- Liability Insurance
- A minimum of 450 clinical practice hours: 100 hours must be completed before student teaching (EFC 480); the remaining 350 hours are completed during student teaching
Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, the students will be able to:
- Apply their knowledge of how students learn to plan effective teaching for students with different cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical learning needs.
- Apply their knowledge of student differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each student to meet high standards.
- Collaboratively plan learning environments that support individual and collaborative learning as well as positive social interaction, active engagement, and self motivation.
- Apply their content knowledge of the STEM discipline to plan learning experiences that make the concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of knowing accessible and meaningful for mastery of the content.
- Connect concepts and differing perspective to engage students in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
- Use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor the student’s progress, and to guide the teacher’s and student’s decision making.
- Plan instruction that supports all students meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, pedagogy, knowledge of students, and community.
- Use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students to develop a deep understanding of content knowledge, content connections, and skills to apply their knowledge in a meaningful ways.
- Engage in ongoing professional learning and use of teaching evidence to continually improve the impact that teaching practices has on others (students, families, educational professionals, and community) and meeting the learning needs of each student.
- Engage in appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsible for student learning, collaboration, and family engagement and colleague collaboration and advancement of their profession.