Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

The STEM division supports the mission of HCCC by providing high-quality accessible and affordable programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics that will lead either to gainful employment or transfer to a four-year college or university. A student who successfully completes a STEM program will be able to:

• Apply the scientific method or the engineering design process to real-world problems with appropriate rigor, accuracy, and precision.
• Incorporate the scientific and mathematical knowledge they have acquired into their understanding of the world.
• Successfully complete hands-on tasks safely in a laboratory environment.
• Work effectively on a team and ethically within a scientific community.
• Present scientific findings with clarity and confidence in both oral and written formats.
• Think critically about science, its methods, and its role in society.

A student who successfully completes a STEM general education course will be able to:

• Understand and apply the scientific method to practical problems.
• Incorporate the scientific or mathematical literacy they have acquired into their larger understanding of world.
• Think critically about science, its methods, and its role in society.

STEM faculty foster student success by

• Creating a learning-centered environment that leads to student engagement.
• Clearly articulating student learning objectives, providing learning experiences that embody those objectives, and assessing how well students meet objectives.
• Inspiring and guiding students toward STEM careers and further STEM education.
• Providing a hands-on environment that educates the body and the senses as well as the mind.
• Encouraging and facilitating student research and internship opportunities.
• Advising students about transfer and employment opportunities and assisting students to select an appropriate pathway.
• Partnering with high schools, transfer partners, and industry to develop and shape pathways for students.
• Encouraging and fostering critical thinking about science and its place in the world.