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Department of Technology
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STEM Education and Leadership Graduate Certificate

Overview

The STEM Education and Leadership Certificate, three completely online courses, involves the study, principles, and practices of implementing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and leadership at the public school levels.

STEM education has been defined as "a standards-based, meta-discipline residing at the school level where all teachers, especially science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, teach an integrated approach to teaching and learning, where discipline-specific content is not divided, but addressed and treated as one dynamic, fluid study." (Merrill, 2009)

This certificate requires 9 credit hours for completion.

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Why Earn Your Certificate?

Graduate-level certificates are graduate courses of study approved by an academic unit. These certificates:

  • Provide professional development and career advancement
  • Broaden career options
  • Enhance your skills
  • Educate you as part of the process of lifelong learning

The certificate program is not a degree program, although courses completed as part of the certificate curriculum could be used in meeting degree requirements where appropriate.

Each certificate requires three specific courses totaling nine credit hours. Courses completed as a portion of the certificate program may also be counted toward the requirements of the Master of Science in Technology degree.

The Department of Technology graduate coordinator will advise students and confirm completion of certificate requirements.

Required Courses

The Illinois State University STEM Education and Leadership certificate courses are standards-based and aimed at preparing teachers in integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, while also emphasizing the leadership component necessary for implementing school change. Graduate students in these courses can anticipate a research-oriented, yet classroom-centered and hands-on approach to STEM education.

  • TEC 423: STEM Education Learning Theories — summer
  • TEC 424: STEM Education Integrated Curriculum — fall
  • TEC 425: STEM Education Leadership — spring

TEC 410 (STEM Education Foundations), which is used as a prerequisite course for both TEC 423 and TEC 424, does not count toward the certificate, but does count toward the Master of Science degree offered online during the summer.

To learn more about each course, the prerequisites, and any additional certificate requirements, review the Graduate Catalog.

Plan of Study

After admittance to a non-degree graduate certificate program, the student should complete the Plan of Study for the certificate.

Grade Point Average

In order to be awarded the certificate, all required courses must be completed with a "B" or better. All certificate required coursework must be completed in the Department of Technology at Illinois State.

Time Limit

All requirements for a graduate level certificate must be completed within six calendar years, beginning with the date the student first registers as a graduate level certificate student.