S.T.E.M: The New Courses for the Future

STEM is a program based on (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and is becoming a strong force at the collegiate level. Many colleges are looking for STEM students to enroll in their unique, diverse, and hands on programs. As our society switches to a more interactive world focused on the technology and science, more and more classes in these areas are becoming available at Universities. STEM opens up many more opportunities to students looking to be employed after they finish college. So what exactly is STEM?

STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. Rather than teach the four disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STEM integrates them into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications. Many students have strayed from these fields in recent years but the uptick in these programs has begun to rise. According to the Department of Education, “only 16 percent of high school students are interested in a STEM career and have proven a proficiency in mathematics. Currently, nearly 28 percent of high school freshmen declare an interest in a STEM-related field, says, but 57 percent of these students will lose interest by the time they graduate from high school”. So the question is why are these programs now becoming more interesting? More and more job opportunities in these fields are becoming open for prospective students. These programs are now being taught in Elementary school through High School to prepare these students for what comes ahead.

The most exciting part about the STEM program is the hands on interaction students received in their given field of choice. No more monotonous math courses, writing exercises, dreadful reading, and test taking. Interactive courses allow the student to become submersed in a field that makes them feel they are a part of something, not just a statistic. As more and more schools adopt the STEM program, more courses in these areas open up. Ever thought of becoming an IT Security advisor? Or how about a Marine Biologist? Math and Science doesn’t have to be boring anymore when applied to these hands on programs. Working on rockets, taking water samples, designing sports complexes engages the student with what was once boring material into a tactile, interactive experience.  

What these programs ultimately do is open up the doors to many more job opportunities in fields that once required intense schooling and higher degrees. Starting at the elementary level, these programs keep children engaged in these fields all the way through high school and into college where their aspirations can really soar. As our society becomes more technologically advanced, we will need people who understand, develop, trouble-shoot, and make decisions in these fields where other’s may not have that same experience. The goal of the STEM program is to get students involved in a field they may have not been interested in and to attempt to drive them towards a higher education in that field. Colleges are now beginning to see the wonders of these programs with incoming students already having a feel of what they want to do and how to do it. Check if your school or University has STEM programs and see where you can fit in. We can all make a difference in fields that were once felt uninteresting that are now becoming very necessary.