Wednesday, August 19, 2015

New U.Va. Dual-Degree Program Aims to Meet Demand for STEM Teachers

Begining this Fall 2015, a great opportunity awaits those interested in earning a degree in teaching! The University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Curry School of Education have joined forces to offer a five-year Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching program, responding to a nationwide demand for teachers with rich backgrounds in STEM fields.

Written by Aubree Breen with UVA Today.

Engineering School students will; in their second year, apply to the Curry School of Education and complete both schools requirements during their subsequent years finally earning both a bachelor's degree in engineering science, coupled with a Masters of Teaching degree. In addition to earning the dual degree's; graduates will receive a teaching license with an endorsement in either physics, chemistry or mathematics.

Faculty members from the Engineering and Curry schools have partnered for years on multiple projects. Many of those projects, combined, create the Curry School’s Engineering Design Initiative, which works to support the successful implementation of engineering design curricula in K-12 classes both through its teacher preparation program as well as collaborations with in-service teachers.

We are excited to partner with the Curry School on this new educational program. The world needs more engineers and scientists, and students should be introduced to the excitement and opportunity of engineering early on, said Craig Benson, dean of the Engineering School. We need teachers with engineering skills to meet this need, and our joint program will fill that need.