Are you currently majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field?

Have you ever considered becoming a teacher after you graduate?

We can help you make that happen through the

NSF Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Program!!

What is the NSF Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Program?

In the Fall of 2008, the Center for University School and Community Partnerships (CUSP) located in University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of Education, Public Policy and Civic Engagement (SEPPCE) was awarded $749,596 from the National Science Foundation/Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to implement the NSF Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Program, also known as The Noyce Scholars Program. As a result, UMass Dartmouth will play a key role in increasing the number of highly qualified grades 5-12 teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This program offers scholarships and summer internships to undergraduates majoring in a STEM-content area (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Medical Laboratory Science**) and who are interested in becoming a middle or high school math or science teacher in a high needs school.

** Medical Laboratory Science majors must be concentrated in biotechnology or cytotechnology in order to be eligible for this program.

NSF Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Program supports:

• UMass-Dartmouth undergraduates majoring in STEM-content areas who enroll as NSF Noyce Scholars in UMD's Master's of Arts in Teaching - Initial License (MAT-I) degree program leading to initial teacher licensure in mathematics or science.

• UMass-Dartmouth undergraduates majoring in STEM-content areas with STEM-education enriched, paid summer internship opportunities.  Our internship sites include UMD's Kaput Center for Research & Innovation in STEM Education, Sea Lab Marine Science Education Center and the Ocean Explorium at New Bedford Seaport.

In return for receiving the scholarship, NSF Noyce Scholars agree to fulfill a commitment by teaching in a "high-needs" school for either two or four years (depending upon the number of years of scholarship received).  In the southcoast area of Massachusetts, the following school districts qualify as "high-needs" schools (according to the National Science Foundation definition):

• Brockton Public Schools
• Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School
• Fall River Public Schools
• Global Learning Charter Public School
• Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School
• New Bedford Public Schools
• Plymouth Public Schools
• Taunton Public Schools
• Wareham Public Schools
• as well as many others....see the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory for a list of schools in Massachusetts (and NATIONALLY) that may qualify

As an undergraduate at UMass - Dartmouth, what are my options with the NSF Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Program?

If you are currently a SENIOR and plan to graduate in May 2012 you can choose to apply to one of three UMass-Dartmouth programs to earn your initial license: 

1.  NSF TEACH! SouthCoast  (an accelerated year-long, cohort model licensure program, off-site in Fairhaven)

2.  TEACH! UrbanSouth  (an accelerated, year-long cohort model licensure program, off-site in Brockton)

3.  Teaching & Learning Department  (a 15-18 month program, on campus)

If you are currently a JUNIOR and plan to graduate in May 2013, you can choose to apply to one of three UMass-Dartmouth programs to earn your initial license:

1.  Dual Degree program (begin taking EDU courses towards initial license while an undergraduate on campus)

2.  TEACH! UrbanSouth  (an accelerated, year-long, cohort model licensure program, off-site in Brockton)

3.  Teaching & Learning Department  (a 15-18 month program, on campus)

If you are currently a SOPHOMORE or FRESHMAN, you can choose to apply to one of three UMass-Dartmouth programs to earn your initial license:

1.  Dual Degree program (apply your JUNIOR year and begin taking EDU courses towards initial license while an undergraduate on campus)

2.  TEACH! UrbanSouth  (an accelerated, year-long, cohort model licensure program, off-site in Brockton)

3.  Teaching & Learning Department  (a 15-18 month program, on campus)

Current SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS are also eligible to apply to the NSF Robert Noyce Summer Internship Program. 

As an NSF Noyce Scholar, which classes would I be taking in order to earn my initial teaching license and Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT-I)?

NSF Noyce Scholars will take their Initial Licensure and MAT courses in phases with experienced UMass Dartmouth faculty members - both full-time professors from the main campus, as well as adjunct faculty members who may include school- and district-based practitioners.  In order to earn an Initial License in grades 5-8, 8-12 or 5-12 (middle or high school level), teacher-candidates at UMass Dartmouth are required to earn a total of 18 graduate credits by taking the following six courses:

• EDU 500 Fundamentals of Teaching & Learning
• EDU 511 Contemporary Instruction
• EDU 512 Teaching & Managing Inclusive Classrooms, K-12
• Content Methods course - One methods course in LICENSURE subject area
  • MTE 502 (Middle School Math)
  • MTE 503 (High School Math)
  • SCI 541 (General Science)
  • SCI 551 (Biology)
  • SCI 561 (Chemistry)
  • PHY 530 (Physics)
• EDU 525 Integrated Reading Literacy and Content Methods Middle/Secondary 
• EDU 532 Teaching Practicum or Teaching Practicum Equivalent - Middle/Secondary

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree program leading to the Initial License (MAT-I) requires a total of 30 graduate credits.  University students who complete their 18 graduate credits in the licensure-specific courses above are then eligible to continue earning the additional 12 graduate credits required for the degree.  NSF Noyce Scholars have three tracks to choose from to earn their MAT-I:

#1 General MAT-I degree, with a focus on:

• Pedagogy and Research
  • MAT 513 (required course)
  • MAT 511, 610, 612 or 614 (choose three of these courses)

OR

• Subject Matter Knowledge*
  • MAT 513 (required course)
  • MAT 511, 610, 612 or 614 (choose one of these courses)
  • Graduate-level courses in your specific CONTENT AREA (choose two of these courses)

* Pending the results of your comprehensive transcript review at the time of application, you may be advised to apply for and matriculate into Option B in order to have an opportunity to strengthen your subject matter knowledge and subsequently demonstrate proficiency / mastery of the content area in which you are teaching.

 #2  MAT-I degree, leading to an "add-on" license in Moderate Disabilities Grades 5-12** (Special Education)

• MAT 513 (required course)
• MAT 511, 610, 612 or 614 (choose one of these courses)
• EDU 548 and EDU 549 (advanced topics in Special Education)

#3 MAT-I+P Initial plus Professional License

• Graduate-level courses in your specific CONTENT AREA (choose four of these courses), thereby fulfilling the content area requirements (12 graduate credits) for the Professional License issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)