STEM
Scientists investigate our world and try to solve its problems by asking questions, collecting information, examining that information, and then explaining their conclusions. If you are curious about the world around you and are excited by the act and process of discovery, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field may be a wise choice for you. Because STEM is such a broad term and comprises so many different fields, many of our CSTEP students choose an area such as biology, chemistry, physics, or earth and environmental science to study.
Once you begin your undergraduate program, you will develop your skills as an investigator by learning the basics of your discipline and testing the validity of what you learn. You will take a wide variety of science classes, including biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as math classes in calculus and statistics. You will also learn about conducting research and the ethics involved in doing so.
In addition to your course work, you should begin to look at the kinds of research projects that our faculty is involved in, here on campus. By working in faculty labs, the exploratory aspect of science becomes more real and you will begin to work on something that you can become passionate about. This, in addition to research opportunities off campus, provides valuable hands-on learning. You will investigate and explore a variety of areas in science in a more tangible way and in a real-world setting. Very often, research placement will help you solidify your planned path of study or it may open up an entirely new branch you hadn't considered before. Our students can choose either a B.S. or a B.A path in biology, chemistry, physics, or earth science in addition to psychology/neuropsychology.
