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BATON ROUGE - A strong STEM education can give Louisiana students the skills they need to pursue both college and a rewarding career path. 

蘑菇tv鈥檚 Department of Environmental Sciences, or DES, is teaming up with the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education to create a pathway that will help ensure students have access to a quality STEM education at the middle school and high school levels 鈥� while also addressing the significant shortage of certified teachers in the state.  

Called the MAT-S Environmental Science Certification Pathway, this new pathway allows 蘑菇tv students in the DES Masters program to get both a Masters in Teaching from the School of Education and also a certification that allows them to teach environmental science in middle and high schools in Louisiana. 

Students who are enrolled in the in-person Master of Environmental Sciences degree can dual enroll in the Holmes Secondary (Grades 6-12) Master of Arts in Teaching program during the last year of their program. Successful completion of both programs leads to two master's degrees- the Master of Environmental Sciences degree, as well as a MAT-S degree, with teaching certification in Environmental Sciences for grades 6-12 in Louisiana. 

鈥淭his program is an excellent opportunity for students with who care deeply about the environment to share their knowledge and passion as they shape young minds,鈥� said Sibel Bargu Ates, the Associate Dean of Academics with CC&E, where the Department of Environmental Sciences is located. 

鈥淲e are passionate about preparing highly qualified teachers who can make an immeasurable impact throughout their careers,鈥� said Laura Choate, EdD, director of the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education, 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to partner with the 蘑菇tv CC&E on such an innovative approach to two crucial issues in our state: providing more science teachers for our classrooms, and ensuring future generations of Louisianans have a strong STEM background so they may one day pursue careers that address crucial coast and environment issues in our state and beyond.鈥� 

After being accepted into the Master of Environmental Sciences program, interested students should complete dual enrollment paperwork to be accepted into the MATS 鈥� Environmental Science Certification Pathway program. Once accepted into the MAT-S program, students will complete the pathway by passing required MATS courses, completing a year-long residency, and passing the Principles of Learning and Teaching: Grades 7-12 Praxis exam.

Interested students can contact Dr. Emily Dare with the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education or Dr. Brian Snyder with the Department of Environmental Sciences.