MSU professor's program to prepare students for technical careers

MSU professor's program to prepare students for technical careers

Barbara Schneider, education professor at Michigan State University, has received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation which she plans to use to create a program designed to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and math courses (STEM).

As the vast majority of new jobs in the next several years will require technical skills, educators around the country are calling for more funds to support STEM education in an effort to boost the percentage of high school students who go on to pursue traditional or online degrees in these fields.

"The [program] design allows for the inclusion of students who may not have identified with a career in STEM due to lack of information and exposure," says Schneider.

"Research shows that low-income and underrepresented groups tend to be unfamiliar with STEM job opportunities and the educational requirements needed to attain that goal," she adds.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in the field of biomedical and environmental engineering will exceed 20 percent during the next several years. Online college degrees may prepare interested candidates to enter advanced programs in these and related technical fields.