STEM Education Major

A result of a unique partnership between the schools of Education and Social Policy and Science and Engineering, the STEM education major is only open to education majors as a double-major towards licensure in early-childhood education, elementary education and/or moderate disabilities.

News Item: Merrimack Takes Lead in Regional STEM Initiative

What You’ll Learn

In the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education program, you will:

• Gain a foundation for teaching the beauty and logic of the natural world to primary-, elementary- and middle-school students or students with moderate disabilities
• Participate in key courses in both the School of Education and Social Policy and School of Science and Engineering.
• Deepen your understanding of the processes of scientific literacy and learn techniques to inspire your students.
• Make a real difference in developing the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

Hands-On Learning

Through hands-on learning opportunities, you’ll develop your education philosophy, create a portfolio and hone your classroom-management skills during your pre-practicum and practicum student-teaching. It’s your chance to take what you’ve learned at Merrimack and apply it at one of the primary, elementary, middle or junior high schools in the area.

Career Options

Upon successful completion of the STEM program, you’ll be well equipped to teach science, technology, engineering and math in the classroom. Positions may include:

• Early-childhood STEM teacher
• Elementary school STEM teacher
• Guidance counselor
• Moderate disabilities STEM teacher
• STEM program school administrator
• Tutor in one of the STEM disciplines

What You’ll Take

The following courses are required for licensure in STEM education per the regulations outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

Foundational Courses (complete six, as outlined below)

Complete both:

BIO 1028	Principles of Biology II
STM 1010	Foundations of STEM

Chose one:

CHM 1110	General Chemistry I
CHM 1210	Chemistry for Health Professionals

Choose one:

PHY 2201	General Physics I
PHY 2211	Physics I

Choose one:

MTH 1217	Calculus I
MTH 1314	Discrete Mathematics

Complete:

One course in Technology or Engineering

STEM Electives (complete three, as outlined below)

Choose two of the following:

EDU 2110	Foundations and Principles of Education
EDU 2210	Child and Adolescent Development
EDU 3210	Psychology of Learning and Assessment
EDU 3310	Teaching Reading and Language Arts
EDU 3340	Teaching Mathematics and Technology
EDU 3360	Teaching Science, Health and Physical Education
EDU 4220	Differentiation and Inclusion
EDU 4221	Strategies for Group Management
EDU 4320	Teaching Social Studies
EDU 4340	Children’s Literature
EDU 4500	Language Acquisition and Literacy Curriculum Development
EDU 2500	Pre-Practicum I (and seminar)
EDU 2510	Pre-Practicum II (and seminar)
EDU 4582	Sheltered English Instruction

Choose one of the following:

EDU 4900	Practicum: Moderate Disabilities Education and Seminar
EDU 4905	Practicum: Early Childhood Education and Seminar

Electives I (choose 12)

Tailor your academic experience by selecting three electives in each of the following four Science and Engineering departments:

Life Sciences (choose three)

BIO 1027	Principles of Biology I
BIO 2009	Environmental Science
BIO 1106	Human Biology
HSC 2300	Nutrition, Diet and Health
HSC 3302	Introduction to Public Health
SME 1104	Introduction to Physical Activity

 

Mathematics (choose three)

MTH 1111	Basic Statistics
MTH 1112	Adventures in Mathematics
MTH 1217	Calculus I
MTH 1218	Calculus II
MTH 1314 .	Discrete Mathematics

 

Physical Sciences (choose three total)

AST 1101

Introduction to Astronomy

Choose one:

CHM 1120	General Chemistry II
CHM 1220	Chemistry for the Health Professionals II

 

Choose one:

PHY 2202	General Physics II
PHY XXX	Physics II

 

Technology/Engineering (complete three)

CSC 1510	Introduction to Information Technology
CSC 2210	Introduction to Computational Science
One of the following:	EEN 1177 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EEN 1065 Introduction to Electricity and Electronics (for Non-Engineers)
GEN 1001	Introduction to Engineering

Electives II (choose six)

Personalize your experience by choosing Subject Matter Knowledge electives from the following categories:

American Civilization (choose one)

HIS 1106	U.S. History I (fulfills H in LS Core)
HIS 1107	U.S. History II (fulfills H in LS Core)
POL 1100	Politics of the United State (fulfills SOSC and X in LS Core)

Literature (choose one)

ENG 1500	Major British and World Authors (fulfills AL in LS Core)
ENG 1550	Major American Authors (fulfills AL in LS Core)
ENG 2050	Introduction to Literary Studies (fulfills AL in LS Core)

Math (take both)

MTE 1410	Foundations of Mathematics I (fulfills Q in LS Core)
MTH 1412	Foundations of Mathematics II (fulfills Q, STEM, and X in LS Core)

Science

Talk to your adviser about your choice of science electives.

World Civilization (choose one)

HIS 1119	Euro Experience: Antiquity to Reformation (fulfills H in LS Core)
HIS 1120	Euro Experience: Early Modern to Present (fulfills H in LS Core)
POL 1500	Comparative Politics (fulfills SOSC and D in LS Core)