Abstract:

The College of Engineering and Applied Science established a new interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Education (BSEEd) in conjunction with the College of Education and the university UTeach program. The purpose of this program is to take the Math and Science curriculum preparation for highly qualified teachers and broaden that curriculum with Engineering and Technology exposure. In the state of Colorado, secondary education degree programs may reside in the disciplinary area, and this framework provides the flexibility to add value to the development of Math and Science teachers.

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Education represents a collaboration of several colleges on the campus, including coursework already offered by the College of Engineering and Applied Science as well as the program components offered through the university UTeach program, the campus’ partner affiliate of the UTeach national program in the United States. By leveraging existing resources, no new resources were required to start up this new degree program. The structure represents a highly integrated approach unlike programs in which STEM teaching is one of several emphasis areas an engineering student can select. It is important to note this distinction as the focus is on students who see their career path as a STEM educator.

The BSEEd degree offers a paradigm shift by preparing educators with a background in engineering as well as in education, math, and the traditional sciences. At the April 2010 American Society of Engineering Education Engineering Dean’s Institute it was stated: “Current STEM education and education policy do not reflect the natural, real-world interconnectedness of the four STEM components.” Earners of this new degree will be able to be licensed to teach in the state of Colorado in both math and science, and will be able to address this real-world interconnectedness.

The mission of the BSEEd program can be summarized as:
• Produce graduates licensed to teach in STEM fields at the 7th – 12th grade level and who have an understanding of the practical, technical applications of both science and mathematics
• Produce teachers steeped in the logical and structured approach to problem solving emblematic to engineering as a discipline
• Focus on students that show a strong interest in teaching as a profession rather than working as a professional engineer

Our presentation will focus on the development of our BSEEd degree and lessons learned for others who may be interested in creating a similar program.

Keywords:

STEM education, Engineering, Math, Science, teachers, interdisciplinary, secondary education.