How STEM Core Works

STEM Core aims to assist students who are interested in a STEM major or career path and who need to take Algebra and Trigonometry as prerequisites to Calculus.

Students may begin participating in STEM Core with College Algebra (Math 1x or Math 1) or Trigonometry (Math D). (Note: if students need to take Intermediate Algebra prior to their STEM Core year, they should enroll in MATH C during the summer term or in the year preceding their STEM Core year.)

In short, students join a cohort of other students in math classes that will prepare students for Calculus and advanced STEM classes in one academic year or less. STEM Core Scholars receive additional help from a dedicated math tutor and the Student Support Specialist who can assist with a variety of challenges.

During this academic year, students are strongly encouraged to take Introduction to Engineering (EGR 10) and/or Python Programming (CIS 7), along with English 1A or 1B, to be ready to apply for a paid summer internship.

Program Benefits

• Free use of course textbooks for all STEM Core mathematics courses
• Extra tutoring resources for STEM Core courses (both within and outside of the classroom)
• Workshops
  • Career speakers
  • Resume/Interview techniques
  • Professional development
  • College transfer
• Site visits to local tech companies/industry partners/transfer institutions. Some of these sites are are introduced via web presentations.
• Opportunities to compete for exclusive PAID summer internships at NASA Ames, Lockheed Martin, SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator), CalTrans, and other employers in Silicon Valley.  (In order to apply for summer internships, students must complete the STEM Core sequence of courses with a 3.0 g.p.a.) The current internship payment is $6000 for 10 weeks of full-time work. Subsequently, there may be the opportunity to continue working part-time during the academic year.

Eligibility

Math classes: Monday - Thursday

MAT 1x or MAT 1 (College Algebra) and MAT D (Trigonometry) will be offered in the 2022 spring term. Students who wish to join STEM Core this year are expected to take both classes.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, students are expected to complete Intermediate Algebra prior to beginning their STEM Core year. Math 1x and Math D will be offered, one course per semester, with the entire cohort in class together.

Other classes: Monday - Thursday

Students in STEM Core are encouraged to take at least one engineering or programming course during their STEM Core year. Course possibilities include

• EGR 10 Introduction to Engineering
• CIS 007 Python Programming
• CIS 040 C++ Programming
• CIS 043 Software Development with Java Programming

The courses above are helpful for those who will compete for PAID summer internships. They are great introductory courses, but you are not limited to them. During the year you will also want to take English 1A (or, perhaps, English 1B) and other general education requirements or other science courses to complete your major.

Friday mornings

Please keep Friday mornings available for possible workshops and site visits.