To help meet that need and inspire curiosity and confidence in students, Cal Poly Humboldt is launching its Master of Arts in STEM Education this fall. The new program is a flexible, two-year hybrid program that allows candidates to earn both a master’s degree and a teaching credential simultaneously.
Designed to prepare the next generation of STEM educators, it blends online coursework with hands-on, in-person experiences. Students gain practical training through fieldwork, research, and community-based projects.
“This program was designed to be accessible and flexible, while still maintaining strong, hands-on preparation,” says Tristan Gleason, program lead and professor in the School of Education. “This program helps future educators step into classrooms ready to make an immediate impact.”
In their first year, candidates either earn a Preliminary Teaching Credential through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing or focus on interdisciplinary educational research. The second year emphasizes pedagogical and curricular development.
The program offers access to a teaching lab and three areas of emphasis: elementary education, secondary education, and self-designed studies. These three pathways prepare graduates for roles as K-12 STEM teachers, or in curriculum development, instructional coordination, and education research.
As part of the capstone experience, students complete an action research project aimed at improving their teaching practice and their communities.
Rooted in Cal Poly Humboldt’s polytechnic model, the program emphasizes social and environmental responsibility and culturally responsive teaching practices. Future educators will learn to connect STEM concepts to their students’ lived experiences through place-based learning and lessons that reflect their diverse backgrounds.
“STEM education isn’t just about content—it’s about connection,” says Gleason. “We are preparing educators to think critically about how STEM is taught and who it serves. That includes building classrooms where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum.”
Applications for the program open this fall. For more information, visit the School of Education at humboldt.edu/education or reach out to program lead Dr. Tristan Gleason at tgg20@humboldt.edu.