S.T.E.M. in Community College

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This post is going to be a little different than the normal post which are strictly oriented towards astronomy. Today I want to discuss the need of prioritizing STEM research and cirriculum within a community college setting.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), in my opinion should be the number one stressed field of study within all community colleges; and should have a seperate method, in which to study, learn, and understand science and mathematics.

For some, community college is a cheaper route towards earning your core requirements. For others, it may be their only remaining option due to a lack of preparation in high school. For myself, it is the beginning of a new adventure and an exciting career. Researching the top 10 majors most desired by hiring job firms, top 10 highest earning occupations, or the top 10 highest growth potential professions – you will come to notice that the majority (if not all) of the careers mentioned, involved some sort of career in STEM.

Following high school back in 2003, at the age of 17, I immediately enlisted in the United States Army to help my country fight a war against an enemy who meant to harm our way of life. It was supposed to be a four-year contract, yet, became a twelve-year career. I have now recently been medically discharged, and pursuing a new career in physics and engineering.

To have any hopes in completing this passion, furthering my education, and contributing to the future of tomorrow – the need for a new set of skills greatly increases. These skills involve a high level of math and science, along with a completely new approach to thinking and problem solving.

In today's community college cirriculum, any science course or any math course is yet another class to check the box so that students are able to receive their associates degree and/or transfer to a four-year university. Students are required to take basic science courses along with one or two math classes. Yet, for the students who want to major in STEM, there are additional math and science courses, but are structured in the same manner as a non STEM majored student.

For the students who major in STEM, I feel that those individuals should have their math taught to them by science professors, applying that math to their science lessons and research. It knocks out two birds with one stone, giving the student majoring in STEM a better understanding of what the math is used for instead of just factoring out numbers from an equation. Science involves a new approach to thinking and problem solving and I feel this could solve multple problems.