The Teaching and Learning Department in Peabody College announced on March 27 the launch of a new STEM education minor for fall 2025. The minor is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and foundations for pursuing a career in teaching STEM subjects. 

The minor is intended for students already on the STEM track who are interested in teaching related subjects in primary and secondary schools. It is also meant to benefit students interested in graduate school in STEM subjects or for pre-medical students who are considering teaching as a profession after completing medical school. 

Jessica Watkins, assistant professor of science education, shared her view on the value of the minor.

“The program is for anyone who wants to study theories of learning in STEM education and to reflect on pedagogy and different pedagogical practices,” Watkins said.

Watkins also described how the minor will be applicable to a variety of future career paths. The program will emphasize the combination of both STEM knowledge accumulation and accredited teaching methods through coursework and advising sessions with program leaders.

“This [minor] allows students to think deeply about what it means to learn,” Watkins said. “Teaching is really about supporting learning, so [we can ask ourselves] what it means to learn and how we can support that learning.” 

Sophomore Brinnan Smith, who is double-majoring in secondary education and chemistry, expressed enthusiasm when asked about the addition of the minor and what it could mean for a new generation of educators.

“So few professors have much, if any, formal training [in education], so this minor is a great way for those looking to pursue a doctorate or become a professor to take some amazing education and science communication classes to further their abilities as a future educator,” Smith said.

Existing classes in the chemistry, physics and biology departments and math and science courses under the Department of Teaching and Learning will count toward the minor. Students are required to complete 15 credit hours to qualify for the minor, broken up between STEM-specific courses and teaching and development coursework. 

Students looking to declare the minor are encouraged to register for classes MTED 3320 “Introduction to Literacies in Mathematics” or SCED 3320 “Introduction to Literacies in Science.” Students are advised to reach out to Watkins with any questions or to declare the minor.

“We plan on creating flyers to advertise [the minor] at different undergraduate departments that people that might be interested in and we will also advertise it through the Learning Assistant Program and the Course Assistant Program, and will have some social media to share,” Watkins said. 

First-year Isabelle Droll, a math and education double major, expressed appreciation for how the minor will provide an opportunity for students to pursue their interests in both STEM and teaching. 

“For people who only have a major in STEM and nothing in education, but think they may want to teach down the road or just learn about how students learn in STEM classes, [the minor] is a great opportunity [to do so] without having to change or add a major,” Droll said. 

First-year Ezra Franseth, who is double majoring in secondary education and math, said he is excited about the opportunity the minor provides to dive deeper into his appreciation for STEM.

“I think that education goes beyond just the typical history, English and science stuff,” Franseth said. “Having more specialized teachers who are focused on a specific work force, especially with all the new STEM jobs that are coming out, would help better prepare us for the future.”