Math & Science Teacher Initiative
MSTI

The Math & Science Teacher Initiative (MSTI) is an innovative support program funded by the CSU Chancellor’s Office that focuses on preparing undergraduate students to become the most qualified teachers by providing academic, financial, and instructional support. The goal of MSTI is to recruit, prepare, support, and retain highly qualified elementary, middle and high school teachers to work within the communities served by CSUDH, especially in high-need schools.

MSTI offers two pathways to teaching: 

Pathway 1: Single Subject Preliminary Credential

Pathway 2: Multiple Subject Preliminary Credential coupled with an Introductory Subject Matter Authorization (ISMA) or Foundational Level Credential. This gives future elementary teachers the option to expand teaching capacity to teach mathematics or science in classes where the curriculum level is twelfth-grade and below.

With both options, MSTI students have the opportunity to begin teaching in real-world classrooms even before they graduate with a paid Teaching Assistant position. Students may also choose to pursue their credential through one of our unique CSI³ credential programs.
Whichever path you choose, CSUDH’s CSI³ faculty and staff will help you select the appropriate pathway and coursework to reach your career goals.

Guided Pathways for STEM
GPS

The Guided Pathways for STEM (GPS) program, funded by the DOEs Hispanic Serving Institute, is a partnership between CSU Dominguez Hills and Compton College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Southwest College and West Los Angeles College. GPS is dedicated to helping students achieve academic success and preparing scholars for future STEM careers. The two major goals of the program are to increase the number of Hispanic or low-income students attaining degrees from CSUDH in the STEM fields and to improve transfer and articulation agreements between CSUDH and GPS partner community colleges. Through this project we will recruit 150 freshmen entering CSUDH, and 160 transfer students from the four community colleges.

Transfer to Success
TTS

CSUDH will create Transfer to Success (TTS) to provide transfer students, particularly Hispanic and low-income transfer students, with support services that assist them in earning a degree more quickly and moving into graduate school, a teaching credential program or career. TTS has established three goals that align with the CSUDH Strategic Plan.
Goal 1
Increase the number of Hispanic students attaining bachelor’s degrees.

Goal 2 
Increase the percentage of Hispanic students receiving master’s degrees and post baccalaureate teacher credentials.

Goal 3 
Increase collaboration with community colleges to facilitate transfers and prepare students to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

TTS will improve graduation and persistence for CSUDH’s largely underrepresented transfer students; increase graduate degrees and post baccalaureate teaching credentials earned by Hispanic students; and increase the number of students who transfer to CSUDH from three community colleges. Read more about this exciting project here.

STEM SCHOLARS

The Hispanic Serving Institute - STEM Scholars project is a partnership between CSUDH and El Camino, West L.A. and L.A. Harbor community colleges to improve students services, academic, and financial support for Hispanic and low-income STEM majors. The purpose is to increase student academic achievement in STEM and retention in college, and to decrease the time it takes students to earn a degree. STEM Scholars has recruited 220 total incoming freshmen, transfer juniors and CSUDH juniors to participate, as well as Second Chance students who were STEM majors but left CSUDH and are no longer enrolled in higher education.

POST-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS

(TEACHER PATHWAYS)

Residency For Equity Through Action And Learning
REAL 

The REAL Project will recruit, prepare, place and retain highly qualified math, science, and English teachers to meet critical staffing needs in Green Dot CA’s high-need middle and high schools. This program is ideal for recent college graduates and mid-career professionals or paraprofessionals with a background in math, english and science (but no teaching experience).The project encompasses the core components of the model residency programs and builds on the success of CSUDH’s STAR residency program. CSUDH’s unique demographics will enable REAL to produce home-grown teachers from the neighborhoods where they will teach.  Highly qualified REAL teachers will increase student achievement in math, science and English.

REAL features a year-long residency, integrated curriculum, extensive clinical practice, substantial support and an innovative induction program for new teachers. Novel aspects include lab schools, new supervision model, CSUDH induction program, and optional micro-credentials, including one in computer science, that will improve teachers’ skills and be widely available to L.A. County teachers after the grant.

Accelerated Preparation Program for Leaders in Education
APPLE

The Accelerated Preparation Program for Leaders in Education (APPLE) is a partnership better  LAUSD - Local District South and Local District East to recruit, train, prepare, place and retain highly qualified elementary teachers who demonstrate math or science content knowledge. This program is ideal for recent college graduates and mid-career professionals or paraprofessionals with some background in mathematics or science (but no teaching experience). Through APPLE, participants will teach full-time as interns (earning full salary and benefits) while completing their preliminary teaching credential. APPLE features an accelerated curriculum (credential in one year!), substantial support and an innovative induction program for new teachers. APPLE teachers will also earn a supplementary authorization or a single subject foundational credential in math or science to teach grades 7-8.  APPLE will promote equity in education by preparing highly qualified new teachers and increasing STEM teaching skills for educators in partner schools.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
NGSS

The CISE Team of experts specifically designated this intensive training for eligible teachers to introduce a framework for implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Through this training, teachers become well-versed in NGSS, are able to implement NGSS-based curricula, and will serve as NGSS teacher leaders at their school site and district. Our NGSS training merges NGSS and Lesson Study into a unique and innovative training for teachers.

PBL

PBL enhances problem-solving skills, promotes group collaboration, improves communication skills, and links students to the world around them. Through this training, teachers will learn the importance and elements of PBL and will develop expertise in project-based instruction to engage students in learning and encourage self-reliant learning. Teachers will develop expertise in prepar- ing standards- and project-based lessons and units. Ultimately, their students will acquire content knowledge and develop conceptual understanding as they conduct investigations in response to authentic challenges or complex questions.

FAB LAB CERTIFICATION

Through this training, teachers will acquire expertise in fabrication technology using 3-D printers and vinyl cutters and will learn the basic fabrication software. Teachers will utilize fabrication technology through the Engineering Design Process to tackle challenges (prototyping and manufacturing). Teachers completing this training will create a unit of study that incorporates the use of fabrication technology.

COMPUTER SCIENCE AUTHORIZATION

Computer Science is increasingly critical for student success in college and career. Through the CS authorization, teachers can expand their knowledge in computer programming, computer networking, software design, social issues in computing, and CS teaching methods. Teachers will complete 10 (ten) university course credits, which can be used for salary points. No experience is required.

STEAM INITIATIVES

Innovating Education Through Fabrication!

The Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE) at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) is shaping the future of STEM education. We believe that in collaboration with teachers, we can inspire our students to become STEM Leaders!

We aim to provide K - 16 students with tangible Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) applications to investigate and solve real-world challenges; instill 21st-century skills through Project-Based Learning (PBL); promote equity within the Southern California region, and be a model for sustainable innovation in K-16 STEM education. The Fabrication Laboratories provide students, teachers, and families access to high-tech fabrication equipment, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, CNC mills, 3D modeling software, and an electronics lab. With step-by-step training, our Fab Lab technicians (CSUDH STEM students) exceed capacities to help anyone master the skills needed to create almost anything in our Mobile Fabrication Laboratories.

STEM EXPLORATION DAY AT CSUDH
STEAM EXPERIENCE
STEAM MAX
STEAM WEEK
STEAM LAB SCHOOL

TORO TUTORS

Both Compton Unified School District (CUSD) and Centinela Valley Union High School District (CVUHSD) have developed a partnership with CSU Dominguez Hills in order to impact student achievement in the primary grades and secondary configurations of middle school and high school. CSUDH recruits, trains, places, and supports tutors and mentors  to be placed within partner school settings. The goal of the partnership is two-fold; to provide a firm foundation for students learning in the primary grades and establish a strong foundation for students at the secondary level to capitalize on college and career readiness opportunities through the use of qualified tutors.

CSUDH Toro Tutors are academic support leaders and will be significant contributors to Compton Unified School District and Centinela Valley Union High School District. Toro Tutors will provide motivation for learning and act as role models to their students. They will also work with students on an individual basis and in small group classroom settings.

PROJECT REACH (CUSD)
PROJECT RISE (CUSD)
PROJECT SELF (CUSD)
CV LEARNS (CVUHSD)

TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYONE (T4E1)

The goal of TECH4EVERY1 is to design and implement a collaborative and transformative student success pathways program across community partners so that students can thrive in an ambiguous world with resiliency, adaptability, and self-efficacy. This initiative will lead students to greater academic success and career equity, increasing upward mobility and economic capital for themselves, their families, and Los Angeles. The partnership will be guided by its Theory of Change:

TECH4EVERY1 Partners will design and implement a collaborative and transformative student success pathways program.

SO THAT 
We build a cadre of educators across our systems to teach students coding by engaging their creativity to solve real world problems 

SO THAT 
Students have the computational skills necessary to code in any language and learn coding as a literacy, enabling them to collaborate across disciplines and tasks 

SO THAT 
Students will be able to use creativity and problem solving to identify and solve challenges in their lives and in their communities

SO THAT 
Students can thrive in an ambiguous world with resiliency, adaptability, and self-efficacy.

This will lead students to greater academic and career equity and success, increasing upward mobility and economic capital for themselves, their families, and Los Angeles.

Established in 2020, the TECH4EVERY1 seeks to develop educational pathways from K12-Workforce in Los Angeles County’s historically underserved communities of color that foster interest in, and skills pertinent to, STEM fields. Members will further Computer Science instruction through coordinated efforts to recruit and train educators. We will do this with support from Apple Community Education Initiatives that delivers coding, creativity, and community connected learning opportunities to schools across the country.

CODING CLUB

CISE SCHOLARS