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 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 licenses for online math course materials and textbooks
• 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: Tuesday and Thursday

MAT 1 (College Algebra) will be offered in the 2022 fall term and MAT D (Trigonometry) will be offered in the 2023 spring term. Students who wish to join STEM Core are expected to take both classes unless they have already completed one of the courses. (Students must complete Intermediate Algebra prior to beginning their STEM Core year.)

Fall 2022: College Algebra
   Math 1 (section 71819) with Max Sklar
      Tuesday/Thursday: 9:15 to 11:20am
   and
   Math 901x (section 71820) with Max Sklar
      Tuesday/Thursday: 11:30am to 12:30pm
      [additional instructional/mentoring time]

NOTE: MAT-001 must be taken with co-requisite MAT-901X (CRT 71820). The Math 901x section is part of the STEM Core Program. 

Spring 2023: Trigonometry (tentative schedule)
   Math D with Max Sklar
       Tuesday/Thursday: 10:50 to 12:20pm

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.