UCSD is the hottest place in the country to study science. As a public institution and one that has an obligation to the state, there is a great concern over the future of science and math related industries because of the lack of qualified math and science K-12 educators.

UCSD is poised to impact the need to increase the pipeline of K-12 science and math educators, by encouraging UCSD students to explore careers in science and math teaching. This is a joint effort with UCSD Educational Studies. All UC Schools, as well as Cal State Schools are involved in the program. In addition numerous companies are supporters of this program like local entities Qualcomm, Invitrogen, and Amylin.

• Only 4% of California 9th graders go onto complete a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree, leaving a workforce deficit for the science and math related industries.
• In the next five years the County of San Diego will need close to 600 math teachers and the public colleges and universities in San Diego County will only generate a little more than 200 math teachers.
• Nationwide, 50% of college students planning to major in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics either change majors or drop out. This program encourages students to stay in their STEM discipline with the hope that they will become a teacher, but even if they do not, UCSD will have retained students in a STEM program. These student could then later go into STEM related industry.

Best case scenario, some of the nation’s best and brightest math and science undergraduate students go onto become math and science K-12 educators. Worst case scenario, UCSD keeps a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics student in their science or math related program, which is a blessing since nationwide 50% of these students change into non-science or non-math majors or drop out of school.

In California, huge percentages of K-12 science and math classes are taught by teachers not credentialed in science or math or are under qualified/under prepared to teach science and mathematics. The effect of this is evident in California, as California ranks poorly against other states in science and math performance of its students. Not good news to science and math related industries that rely on a skilled workforce. Currently over 200 UCSD students are enrolled in the California Teach program.

The Science Mathematics Initiative (SMI) at UC San Diego is intended to recruit and prepare increasing numbers of our science, mathematics, and engineering undergraduates to pursue teaching credentials as highly qualified teachers of mathematics or science.

In response to the national concern over the decline in US scientists and mathematicians, the University of California has launched an ambitious, system-wide effort, California Teach, to increase the quantity and quality of mathematics and science teachers developed by the University. One integral aspect of the Cal Teach program is the link between teaching and learning in a student’s subject matter from the earliest part of the university career.

The strategy is to attract science, technology, engineering, and mathematical sciences students to careers in education by offering streamlined pathways to educator certification.

In addition, as part of the Science and Math Initiative, the Division of Physical Sciences continues to emphasize ways in which to engage K-12 students through numerous outreach programs like the Math Club, Honors Math and Honors Statistics Contest, the UCSD-SAIC-NDIA Team Defend Competition, the Kyoto Symposium High School program, American Chemical Society Student Affiliates Outreach Program, and opportunities for high school students to visit campus, tour labs, and interact with UCSD Division of Physical Sciences Faculty.

For more information on the Science and Math Education Program click here >>