Development of a Leadership, Policy, and Change Course for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Graduate Students

Abstract

This paper describes a graduate level engineering education course, “Leadership, Policy, and Change in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education.” Offered for the first time in 2007, the course integrated the perspectives of three instructors representing disciplines of engineering, education, and engineering education. Included within this paper is justification for creating such a course for STEM graduate students, information about current efforts to integrate leadership and policy in engineering programs, descriptions of the course units and course deliverables, and lessons learned by course instructors. Authors acknowledge the difficulties of co-teaching such a course and of introducing students within technical disciplines to social sciences content and educational practices. Positive aspects of course development include opportunities to engage students in conversations about STEM policy and to create new literature integrating STEM concepts and leadership, policy, and change principles. Suggestions for creating a course at other universities are provided.