Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics Certificate online
Develop practical STEAM teaching strategies you can apply immediately to create engaging, inclusive learning environments.
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Program Overview
Add STEAM skills to your teaching toolkit
$11,634
Total Tuition
As few as 12 months
Duration
21*
Credit Hours
The online graduate certificate in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) from William Paterson University prepares educators to create engaging, interdisciplinary learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and student success. Through coursework focused on STEAM lesson design, emerging technologies, and culturally responsive pedagogy, the online STEAM Certificate helps you develop practical teaching strategies.
Designed for educators seeking to enhance their teaching and leadership skills, this 21-credit graduate certificate also provides a pathway to continued graduate study, with all credits applicable toward the online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Concentration in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics program. Graduate ready to lead innovative instruction and expand meaningful STEAM opportunities for diverse learners.
Upon completion of this education certificate program, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of STEAM education principles and practices and their application in K–8 learning environments
- Design interdisciplinary STEAM curricula and learning experiences that meaningfully integrate science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
- Implement culturally responsive, inquiry-based, and project-based instructional strategies that engage diverse learners in authentic STEAM learning
- Integrate artistic disciplines, including visual arts, music, drama, and movement, into STEAM instruction to enhance creativity, engagement, and understanding
- Develop and apply assessment strategies to evaluate student learning, creativity, problem-solving, and achievement in STEAM environments
- Use educational technologies and digital tools to support innovative STEAM teaching and learning
- Create inclusive STEAM learning environments that promote equity, access, and participation for students from diverse cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and ability backgrounds
- Exhibit leadership in STEAM education by supporting colleagues, facilitating curriculum innovation, and advocating for effective STEAM practices within schools and districts
- Demonstrate knowledge of STEAM education principles and practices and their application in K–8 learning environments
- Design interdisciplinary STEAM curricula and learning experiences that meaningfully integrate science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics
- Implement culturally responsive, inquiry-based, and project-based instructional strategies that engage diverse learners in authentic STEAM learning
- Integrate artistic disciplines, including visual arts, music, drama, and movement, into STEAM instruction to enhance creativity, engagement, and understanding
- Develop and apply assessment strategies to evaluate student learning, creativity, problem-solving, and achievement in STEAM environments
- Use educational technologies and digital tools to support innovative STEAM teaching and learning
- Create inclusive STEAM learning environments that promote equity, access, and participation for students from diverse cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, and ability backgrounds
- Exhibit leadership in STEAM education by supporting colleagues, facilitating curriculum innovation, and advocating for effective STEAM practices within schools and districts
Also available:
WP Online offers a diverse range of teacher preparation and education programs. Explore all of our online education programs.
$11,634
Total Tuition
As few as 12 months
Duration
21
Credit Hours
William Paterson University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The educator preparation programs at William Paterson University have been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through June 30, 2032. Full accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and have demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.
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Tuition
Online STEAM Certificate program tuition information
Online education programs from William Paterson University offer affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEAM Certificate | $554 | $1,663.20 | $11,634 |
Tuition breakdown:
$11,634
Total Tuition
$554
Per Credit Hour
Calendar
Note these important dates for the online STEAM Certificate program
William Paterson University online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring I | 1/25/27 | 1/3/27 | 1/7/27 | 1/15/27 | 1/20/27 | 3/14/27 | 7 weeks |
| Spring II | 3/22/27 | 2/28/27 | 3/3/27 | 3/12/27 | 3/17/27 | 5/9/27 | 7 weeks |
Now enrolling:
1/3/27
Apply Date
1/25/27
Class Starts
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Admissions
Admission details for the online STEAM Certificate program
At William Paterson University, we've streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the STEAM Certificate online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.
The requirements include:
- CEAS or standard teaching license in any level or content area
- No GRE required for admission
- Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended
You must meet the following requirements for admission to this online certificate program:
- Submit online application and $50 application fee
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may supplement their application with additional evidence in support of their academic potential for successful completion of the program
- CEAS or standard teaching license
Official transcripts and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to:
Email address: [email protected]
Mail address:
Office of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Services
William Paterson University
Morrison Hall 102
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Courses
Check out the online STEAM Certificate courses
For the STEAM Certificate online program, you must complete a total of 21 credit hours of core courses.
Core Courses
ELCL 6450: Programming, Robotics, and Engineering
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on basic programming and engineering concepts, robotics, and linkages among engineering, technology, science, and society. Through engaging programming activities with the Scratch software program, candidates are introduced to the basic concepts of programming, while creating animations, interactive stories, and games. Candidates are subsequently introduced to robotics applications such as Lego WeDo and/or Lego Mindstorms, by building and programming. Additionally, candidates are introduced to the following concepts: elements and principles of design, engineering design processes, and collaborative problem solving. They then employ engineering and scientific concepts in order to solve engineering design problems. Candidates will also be introduced to methods to document their work and communicate their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community. All of the hands-on activities are structured to integrate science, mathematics, technology, and the arts.
ELCL6230: Teaching Earth and Space and Life Sciences with the STEAM approach
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on STEAM curricula (specifically Life Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards), and arts integrated instructional and assessment practices. Candidates will explore how to create meaningful connections between Earth & Space and Life Sciences that are conducive for gaining conceptual understanding of science concepts as well as the arts. Developing ways to increase learners’ curiosity, motivation, and engagement for learning science through arts integration will also be introduced. Candidates will further discuss STEAM lesson implementation methods in K-12 science classrooms, while sharing best practices around STEAM instruction. Lastly, candidates will investigate classroom practices that contribute to historical and contemporary inequities in learning outcomes and career pursuits in science and discuss whether and how arts integrated teaching of science may advance and empower all students and promote and advance equity as inclusive teaching practices.
ELCL 6270: Teaching Physical Science with the STEAM approach
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on a STEAM curriculum aligned with the Physical Sciences Disciplinary Core Idea in the the Next Generation Science Standards, and arts integrated instructional and assessment practices. Candidates will explore how to create meaningful connections between physical sciences that are conducive for gaining conceptual understanding of science concepts and the arts, as well as the implementation frameworks for STEAM lessons. Developing ways to increase learners’ curiosity, motivation, and engagement for learning physical science through arts integration will also be introduced. Candidates will further discuss how to design the activities that emphasize providing students with a shared mental model for physical science concepts through immersive and interactive coding and culturally responsive teaching strategies, leading to greater learning outcomes and motivation to learn physical science. Lastly, candidates will discuss ways to increase student interest and help foster potential careers in the STEM fields.
ELCL 6070: Exploration of Number and Geometry
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to provide an inquiry-based experience with geometry that is appropriate for elementary and middle school teachers. The course will offer opportunities to use basic relationships and facts to solve problems and make sense of situations. The problems in the course will offer experiences with geometry that help anchor and stabilize personal understanding and stimulate individuals to create connections and bridges between basic geometric ideas. Students will explore, observe, describe and conjecture about relationships that appear in models and examples. The topics presented include points and lines in triangle properties of circles, colinearity, concurrence, transformations, arithmetic and geometric means, isoperimetric theorems and reflections principle. Moreover, this course is the study of geometry as an axiomatic system, which includes the study of postulates, theorems, and formal proofs, rules of congruence, angle measurements, similarity, parallelism, and perpendicularity. Furthermore, topics in the research of how students learn geometry and effective teaching methods of geometry will be studied.
ELET 6005: Artificial Intelligence in Education
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the role and potential uses, as well as drawbacks of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to effectively engage in this evolving field. Candidates will gain insights into theoretical frameworks and models for proper AI integration across subjects in formal and informal learning settings. In addition, they will obtain technical, pedagogical, and strategic knowledge and skills pertaining to the uses of AI technology in education. Specific AI-based educational applications and solutions to challenges, problems, and barriers will be explored. Ethical and policy considerations when using AI technology will also be examined.
ELCL 6140: Multiple Representations of Mathematics Across the Curriculum
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course presents an in-depth analysis of multiple forms of representation of concepts and procedures in major strands of K-8 mathematics curriculum. Emphasis is on making connections between symbolic and concrete representations, adapting similar forms of representations to a variety of topics, and developing forms of assessment that are consistent with the representational models of instruction. The theoretical underpinnings of manipulative materials are explored through readings and hands-on experiences. Students are expected to develop projects that can be piloted and evaluated during the semester. This course is offered as a core course for elementary and middle school mathematics teachers. It provides an essential component for understanding contemporary mathematics education consistent with professional and state curriculum standards in the field. This course meets 3 credits toward the supervisor’s endorsement for candidates who complete the master’s program.
ELCL 6150: Exploration of Number and Algebra
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course prepares teachers to present algebra, as a meaningful and tangible area of mathematics in grades K-8. The course focuses on developing algebraic thinking, which includes studying patterns and functions, understanding the structure of the number system, using symbolism meaningfully, and using mathematical modeling to solve problems. A constructivist approach and manipulatives will be used to enhance the teaching and learning of algebra and related concepts. Students will examine and model the NCTM standards pertaining to these areas of mathematics. There will be a focus on the study of functions and their role in problem solving. Topics include graphing, the linear, quadratic and exponential families of functions, and inverse functions. Students will be required to solve applied problems and communicate their findings effectively.
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