Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program?

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and professionals to become K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The program provides funds to institutions of higher education to support scholarships, stipends, and academic programs for undergraduate STEM majors and post-baccalaureate students holding STEM degrees who commit to teaching in high-need K-12 school districts. At Mississippi State University, these scholarships and stipends are awarded through the Noyce STEM Teachers Scholars Program.

What is a "STEM" professional?

A STEM professional is a person who has an earned degree in a STEM field and who has been working in industry for a number of years.

How long is the program?

Undergraduate students can receive scholarship support for up to three years. Graduate students can receive financial support for one year.

What courses will I be required to take if I am a STEM professional?

The MAT-S program is designed to provide students with a strong knowledge base and practical understanding of science and math in secondary schools. The curriculum of the MAT-S degree will include courses in classroom management, assessment, technology, curriculum organization, and instructional methodology, reading/writing across the curriculum, teaching exceptionalities, and a teaching internship.

What courses will I be required to take if I am an undergraduate?

To ensure that undergraduate candidates are provided ample opportunities to attain the requisite knowledge needed to become highly effective mathematics teachers, 36 of the 124 semester hours required to complete the MAED program at MSU are mathematics courses. Courses include the calculus sequence, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra and Modern Algebra, Probability, Foundation of Math, Foundations of Geometry, History of Math, and Inferential Statistics. In addition to the mathematics courses, undergraduate candidates are required to complete six hours of Calculus-based Physics/Chemistry and three hours of a computer programming course.

The undergraduate science education programs and the MAT-S science education program are designed to provide teacher education candidates with a strong knowledge base and practical understanding of teaching the sciences. Each of the degree programs in science education, Secondary Biology, Secondary Chemistry, and Secondary Physics require undergraduate students to complete 124 hours and master's level students to complete 36 hours.

For undergraduates, a significant number of these hours, 54 content hours are required to complete the degree. Included in these 54 content hours for secondary biology majors are upper division biology course (human anatomy, human physiology, cell biology, genetics, ecology, microbiology, evolutionary biology) chemistry courses (chemistry I, chemistry II, organic chemistry), a course in biochemistry, a writing for biologists course, and biology electives. Included in the secondary chemistry curriculum are chemistry I and II, organic chemistry I and II, physical chemistry I and II, analytical chemistry I and II, and inorganic chemistry I and II. Also these students take calculus III, physics I, II, and III, a biochemistry course, and a writing course. Included in the secondary physics curriculum are about 14 physics courses beginning with a course in descriptive astronomy, physics I-III, modern physics, astrophysics, electronic circuits, modern and intermediate laboratory, mechanics, electromagnetic fields, thermal physics, intermediate optics and quantitative mechanics.

Also, these majors are required to take calculus III and IV and chemistry I and II. Secondary science education students also get practical, hands-on experience through 70 hours of field experience during their coursework in addition to full immersion in teaching during the 16-week teaching internship.

What are the eligibility requirements for undergraduates?

Scholarships are available for undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing a double major in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, engineering and mathematics education or science education. Qualifying undergraduate students will receive up to $10,000 each year for a maximum of three years for pursuing a double major in mathematics education or science education and a STEM field.

To eligible to be considered for scholarships - An undergraduate student MUST have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, be a U.S. citizen interested in pursuing a double major, provide documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of work with children, and complete the application process.

What are the eligibility requirements for STEM professional?

To be eligible to be considered for stipends - A STEM professional MUST hold at least a bachelor degree in a STEM field from a regionally/nationally accredited institution, be a U.S. citizen, have a minimum GPA of 2.75/4.00, provide current GRE scores, meet minimum requirements on the Praxis I and Praxis II examinations, provide documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of work with children, and complete the application process.

What expenses does the scholarship/stipend cover?

The amount of scholarships ($10,000), which will be divided over the academic year and the summer sessions, is less than the cost of attendance but covers tuition, fees, books, and supplies. The $10,000 a year scholarship for undergraduates should allow students to focus on their studies without having to work a part-time job. Also, when necessary, financial aid packages for those participants whose financial aid packages may include loans will be repackaged to delete the loans and instead include the Noyce scholarship.

The $15,000 stipend for STEM professionals should assist in offsetting financial commitment needed to complete a graduate program as full-time students. The STEM professionals will receive one year of funding to pursue the Master's of Arts in Teaching (MAT-S) degree. This amount is competitive with graduate assistantships.

What are the obligations for scholarship/stipend recipients?

Scholarship/Stipend recipients are required to complete two years of teaching math or science in a high-need Mississippi school district for each year of support received. Service must be completed within eight years after graduation from the degree program for which the scholarship/stipend was awarded.

At what grade levels and in what subjects does the program prepare candidates to teach?

The Noyce STEM Teachers Scholars program aims to increase the number of highly qualified and effective mathematics and science teachers prepared at MSU by offering undergraduate students majoring in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, and mathematics and STEM professionals the opportunity to obtain certification as mathematics and science teachers for grades 7-12.

What should the application for STEM professionals include?

Applications for STEM professional should include the following: a completed application form, Two recommendations from professional(preferably former teachers) knowledgeable about applicant's academic background and abilities, a 500-750 word essay describing applicant's interest in teaching math or science in grades 7-12, experiences relating to teaching practice, and interest in the Noyce scholarship program, documentation of a minimum of 40 hours of work with children, current transcripts, current GRE scores(within the last six years), Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test Scores AND Praxis II-Specialty Area Test Scores.

What should the application for undergraduates include?

All students interested in the Noyce STEM Teachers Scholars scholarships or stipends will be required to complete a written application and meet academic requirements. As a part of the application process, interested students will be asked to complete a short essay of 500-750 words describing their interest in teaching mathematics or science, why they are interested in the Noyce STEM Teachers Scholars program, the characteristics of an effective teacher, and their willingness to teach in a high-need school district.

Additionally, students must submit two letters of recommendation written by their former teachers and show evidence of having spent at least forty hours working in a formal or informal educational environment. Generally, a minimum GPA average requirement is 3.0 or higher; however, students with GPA's that range between a 2.75 -3.0may appeal on a case-by-case basis.

Can I complete and submit the application online?

Applications can be completed online; however, you will need to print the application once completed and turn in all corresponding material to the office and individual noted.

From where and who can I receive more information and obtain an application packet?

For more information and application packet, please see Dr. Linda T. Coats, Department of Leadership and Foundations, P.O. Box 6037, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Please direct all questions to LCoats@colled.msstate.edu or 662.325.2416.

Where and to whom should the applications be sent?

The completed application along with all materials requested should be mailed to Dr. Linda T. Coats, Department of Leadership and Foundations, P.O. Box 6037, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Please direct all questions to LCoats@colled.msstate.edu or 662.325.2416

When is the deadline to have all forms and application materials submitted?

All application forms and materials are due by March 1, 2011.

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