Overview
Program Coordinator: Dr. Sharon Bowers
Program Delivery Format: Online, 8-week sessions.
Total Credits: 18
Average Completion Time: 18 months
Admission Cycle: Fall, Spring and Summer (two admission options each semester, six entry points a year)
Admissions Contact: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)
GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 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.
This program was developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrative STEM Education and is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and meets the educational requirements for the MSDE STEM Instructional Leadership specialist license.
McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in STEM Instructional Leader program has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the program must:
- Complete an application for graduate study
- Submit official transcripts conferring a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.00 GPA* from an accredited institution; graduate transcripts if applicable.
- Provide a copy of teacher certification or certification eligibility (graduate of an approved teacher preparation program and passing Praxis II contnet test scores)
*Please note: Students who have a 2.75-2.99 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 may 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.
International Students:
This program is delivered primarily online and as a result does not meet the federal regulations for international students to study in the US. If you are a US citizen living outside of the US, you should contact gps@mcdaniel.edu to discuss your eligibility for admission to this program.
Courses
To earn the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate and to seek MSDE STEM Instructional Leader licensure, students must complete all six courses listed below:
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, nursing, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs 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 College’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.
For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure webpage.
Students who complete this program and are seeking certification in the state of Maryland must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland approved program. The requirements may include but are not limited to the following:
- Holding a valid teaching license
- Additional coursework
- Teaching experience
- Payment of application or processing fees
More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/areas/Instructional-Leader-STEM-Grades-PreK-6.aspx
