CMST: An Overview

What is CMST? CMST is the California Math and Science Teacher program (formerly the Community Teaching Fellowship in Math and Science - CTFMS), a University of California public service program. CMST was designed to provide undergraduate students with experiences in middle and high school mathematics and science classrooms. Selected mathematics and science students will observe and participate in secondary school classrooms on a weekly basis, receive a stipend, and take a set of required courses at UCSC.

APPLICATION AND PLACEMENT:

During the fall quarter, UCSC junior and senior students submit an application packet. Selected students are placed in local secondary classrooms to observe and assist during the winter and spring quarters. Each student spends approximately eight hours per week in a mathematics or science classroom.

All CMST members are required to:

• Spend approximately 8 hours per week in a middle or high school mathematics or science classroom.
  
• Register for and participate in the weekly CMST Seminar in both winter and spring quarters (EDUC 119F for Math Members and EDUC 119G for Science Members).
  
• Take one required Education course (EDUC 185B for Math Members, EDUC 185C for Science Members) during the year that they are CMST Members.
  
• Complete all work in the required seminars and courses in a satisfactory manner.

COURSEWORK:

CMST participants are required to enroll in three Education Department courses during their year as members. Once the students are selected as members, the CMST coordinator will support students in planning their schedules.

Mathematics Members

• Take EDUC 119F (Math) in both winter and spring quarters. These are weekly seminars where CMST students share written reflections on their classroom observations, discuss their classroom experiences, and analyze related readings.
  
• Take EDUC 185B, Introduction to Teaching Mathematics. This class introduces students to research and issues in teaching and learning mathematics.

Note: Taking EDUC 185B and two quarters of EDUC 119F will satisfy two of the requirements for the Single Subject Matter Waiver in Mathematics.

Science Members

• Take EDUC 119G (Science) in both winter and spring quarters. These are weekly seminars where CMST students share written reflections on their classroom observations, discuss their classroom experiences, and analyze related readings.
  
• Take EDUC 185C, Introduction to Teaching Science. This class introduces students to research and issues in teaching and learning science.

Please note: EDUC 185B and EDUC 185C are not CMST courses, that is, they are scheduled by the Education Department and are open to students who are not CMST Members. Scheduling of EDUC 185B and EDUC 185C is at the discretion of the Education Department, not CMST, so these courses may be taught in the fall, before CMST Members are selected. When that is the case, the CMST coordinator will inform individual Fellows who are in that situation of an alternative Education course they can use to fulfill that course requirement.

STIPEND:

You may be asking, "how can a college student afford to spend that much time in observation and taking classes?" The good news is that CMST students are paid! Each student earns a stipend.

For more information, take a closer look.

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