Pennsylvania STEM Letter of Endorsement

Dr. Matt Treese, Faculty of Practice/Program Coordinator

This 12-credit letter of endorsement program provides the tools teachers need to plan, design and incorporate STEM strategies into everyday learning. Upon successful completion, Pennsylvania educators can apply to add the STEM endorsement to their teaching certificate.

The STEM Letter of Endorsement is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The endorsement consists of 12 credits and includes 20 hours of field experience. Candidates must hold a valid Pennsylvania Instructional I or II teaching certificate.

Program Learning Outcomes:

The student will use project-based learning and inquiry-based learning to link content standards to career, community and real-world experiences.
The student will demonstrate a transdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning that integrates STEM across the curriculum.
The student will create authentic assessments that reinforce student-centered learning and provide appropriate differentiation to accommodate all students.
The student will utilize collaboration, leadership, and advocacy to promote a shift in culture and dispositions related to STEM education.

Endorsement Requirements

The requirements for this 12-credit endorsement are:

EDIM 502 - Project Based Learning
EDIM 513 - Inquiry Based Learning
EDIM 517 - Practices and Implementation of STEM Education (10 hours of field experience)
EDIM 518 - Creating A Stem Culture Through Application (10 hours of field experience)
In order to take EDIM 518, the other three pre-requisites courses must be completed first.

Total Credits: 12

PA certification and endorsement candidates will be recommended for certification upon successful completion of the required certification coursework, fieldwork, and internship. Candidates must self-register and pass the certification test, if required. Some certifications require verification of experience. In those cases, the candidate will need to have input from their school district verifying that they have satisfactory met professional school experience required. Application for certification and Endorsement is made by the candidate through the PDE Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) found on the PDE portal.