Los Medanos College - STEM

 

STEM Logo

What is STEM?

 

STEM simply refers to the collection of disciplines that fall into one of the following categories:


Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics

 

Here at Los Medanos, many STEM disciplines exist throughout several departments.

 

What are STEM disciplines like?

Often students attempt to gauge their interest in STEM based upon their interest in the various STEM subjects taught in school. The problem with this is that STEM is so incredibly broad. In order to judge interest in STEM, it has been found more helpful to ask:

 

Do you like

        • Interesting (potentially complex) problems?
        • Games?
        • Strategy?
        • Figuring out how things work?
        • Making/Building things?
        • Puzzles?

Often people involved in STEM careers are more stimulated by these attributes of STEM disciplines than by specific elements of the subject matter.

 

Why study a STEM discipline?

Not only are STEM jobs often interesting, motivating, and stimulating, statistically they often pay more as well. You can see for yourself using websites like Payscale to compare.

 

Not all STEM jobs mean automatic employment with more money. Check out this article HERE or click on the STEM Careers tab for more information on some of the fast growing and high paying career options today.

 

What should STEM students be doing?

If you are a STEM student or are interested in becoming a STEM student, there are many resources available to you, and you should utilize as many of them as possible.

        • Make an Counseling Appointment with a Counselor and discuss available STEM educational pathways.
        • Visit the MESA center or check out the MESA Website to see the large number of opportunities that are available through this STEM specific program.
        • Talk to STEM faculty and staff about what their programs are up to. Perhaps even tour some of our labs to see what other STEM students are doing. A list of STEM departments is below for your convenience.
        • Use the wide range of tutoring help that is available for STEM students in the MESA center, the math lab, and the CORE.

Finally, work hard in your math classes. While enjoying math is not necessary for students to enjoy STEM fields, completing your math sequence is almost always the most significant indicator of success for STEM students. Study hard, but remember you are not alone.

 

 

STEM Departments

 

Below is a list of departments and links to their webpages.