STEM Instructional Leader (SIL) Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Overview

Program Coordinator: Dr. Sharon Bowers

Program Delivery Format: Online (Hybrid delivery, mix of online and in-person, is available for School Partnership cohorts), 8-week sessions.

Total Credits: 18

Average Completion Time: 18 months

Admission: Fall, Spring and Summer (two admission options each semester, six entry points a year)

For more information contact:

Graduate Admissions: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management
cperry@mcdaniel.edu
(410) 857-2516

McDaniel Graduate and Professional Studies - gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu or 410.857.2500.

The STEM Instructional Leader Program prepares educators for STEM leadership roles by developing a practical and foundational understanding of STEM education content and practices. All work is job-embedded, building to the development and implementation of authentic, integrated inquiry- and design-based STEM learning experiences.

Certification Information:

This program was developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrative STEM Education and meets the educational requirements for students to seek Maryland Department of Education endorsement as a STEM Instructional Leader.  

The program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.  This program does not lead to initial teacher certification and may not meet educational requirements for STEM certification in other states. While reciprocity is often granted by other states, students are encouraged to consult their state certification offices about additional requirements such as teaching experience, testing or specific course completion.  Students who plan to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Maryland should contact gps@mcdaniel.edu and the appropriate licensing board associated with your program of interest for additional information and guidance.

Admissions Requirements

Candidates must submit:

• Application for graduate study (online) - https://admission.mcdaniel.edu/apply/
• Official transcripts conferring bachelor’s degree (minimum of 3.00 GPA*) from an accredited institution; graduate transcripts if applicable.
• Copy of a Teaching Certificate - Maryland State Department of Education Standard Professional Certificate (SPC I or SPC II). Students with Professional Eligibility Certification (PEC) or evidence of completion of teacher preparation program and passing Praxis II scores can be accepted in lieu of teacher certification.  Teachers who hold a license or certification from states outside of Maryland must also provide a copy of their teaching certificate.  Students holding provisional or conditional teacher certification would not be eligible for this program.

Please note: Students who have a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA may be admitted provisionally and will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis for provisional admission but may be required to provide additional documentation and/or participate in an interview. Admission may also come with additional conditions.

Courses

To earn the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate and MSDE Instructional Leader: STEM (PreK-6) endorsement, students must complete all six courses listed below:

• STM 501 - Integrative STEM Teaching & Learning
• STM 502 - STEM Education Foundations
• STM 503 - Integrative STEM Education: Issues & Trends
• STM 504 - Integrative STEM Strategies & Materials
• STM 505 - Delivering STEM-Centric Professional Learning
• STM 506 - STEM-Centric Practicum & Portfolio

Total Credit Hours: 18

State Authorization

McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc.sara.org.

SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.

For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution

Professional Licensure

Requirements for professional licensure in fields such as accounting, education, counseling, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs listed below are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.

For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement.