freshman and sophomore students work with science master teachers and recent
teachHOUSTONgraduates in the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science
Camp (EMBHSSC) and receive a $2700 stipend. The EMBHSSC is a two-week,
academic, residential camp organized to provide activities, experiments, projects,
andfield experiences for underserved students entering middle school (Grades 6–
8). The camp encourages underrepresented youth to pursue mathematics and
science in high school and to set goals and follow their dreams to enter higher
education institutions and engage in STEM-related careers. The camp increases
students’mathematics and science skills, introduces them to college life and
stimulates their interest in science and engineering as a potential career path.
Each day, campers attend classes that include problem solving, research and
communication skills incorporated with biology, chemistry, physics, environ-
mental sciences, earth sciences, engineering and design concepts, andfield
excursions. Interns help plan physics and chemistry lessons before the start of the
camp and then assist in teaching these lessons with science master teachers
during camp operation. Additionally, interns serve as camp counselors and
interact with campers daily. Upon completion of the camp, the interns review and
improve the science modules and make suggestions for modules to use for future
camps. The summer internship program introduces students to teaching early in
their academic careers and serves as a recruitment tool because the interns are
eligible to be future candidates for the Noyce Scholarship Program.- Compact, time-sensitive degree plansthat allow most students to graduate
within four years with a bachelor’s degree in math or scienceandteacher
certification. Two tracts, a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Arts
(BA) degree with ateachHOUSTONoptions have been developed for biology,
chemistry, physics, and mathematics majors. The BS degree programs include
the prescribed courses for a typical math or science degree with many of the
University required core courses scheduled to be taken over the summer ses-
sions. Typically, a BA degree is pursued by students who intend to teach in the
7 – 12 arena; therefore, the designed BA degree plan with ateachHOUSTON
option is a viable alternative for students entering the program. It offers a less
rigorous major course plan than does the BS degree with ateachHOUSTON
option. It includes the major courses necessary for adequate preparation of
mathematics and science teachers; however, it eliminates some of the advance
specialty major courses that are not required for teaching at the 7–12 level.
30.6 Required Coursework forteachHOUSTON
Certification
EightteachHOUSTONcourses are required for teacher certification including Step
1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching; Step 2: Inquiry-Based Lesson Design;
Knowing & Learning in Mathematics and Science; Classroom Interactions (CI);
30 Attracting, Preparing, and Retaining Teachers in High Need Areas... 463