Our Commitment to STEM/STEAM
Discover. Uncover. Innovate. Create.
Science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics — building blocks to innovation, inspiration and driving positive change into the 21 st century. It’s an exciting time to be in these fields collectively known as STEM, or STEAM, which includes art.
William Woods University is home to a number of areas of study in the world of STEM/STEAM — whether you’re an undergraduate student looking to start a career in an exciting, emerging space, or a graduate student, eager to add an understanding of STEAM into your repertoire. Our dedicated faculty, community and staff is committed to growing your opportunities in STEAM — preparing you to flourish in any innovative field.
What happens when you mix science, technology, engineering, art and math with firm grounding in the liberal arts? You uncover innovation. You bring context and creativity to discovery, and create a better world.
"To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science." — Albert Einstein
Career Opportunities in STEM
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations grew by 10.5 percent, or 817,260 jobs, between May 2009 and May 2015, compared with 5.2 percent net growth in non-STEM occupations. Ninety-three out of 100 STEM occupations had wages above the national average.
The STEM group that is projected to grow fastest from 2014 to 2024 is the mathematical science occupations group at 28.2 percent, compared with the average projected growth for all occupations of 6.5 percent. This group includes occupations such as statisticians and mathematicians. Others among the fastest growth areas include STEM-related postsecondary teachers, computer occupations, and management.
These are jobs in computer science and systems, engineering, life science, technicians, architects, industrial designers and more — some are jobs that don’t exist yet. Some are jobs with more openings than workers.
Undergraduate Programs in STEAM Fields
Majors
- Bachelor's Degrees in Biology (BS or BA)
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology Education
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Middle-Level Education (Concentrations in Math and Science)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio Art
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Exercise Science
Minors
- Minor in Art
- Minor in Biology
- Minor in Chemistry
- Minor in Exercise Science
- Minor in Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Minor in Mathematics
- Minor in Physics
Graduate Programs in STEAM Fields
STEAM Facilities and opportunities at William Woods University
William Woods University is home to unique laboratories, centers and incubators for creative ideas.
Here are a few ways to discover STEAM at William Woods:
- Explore diagnostics, treatment, therapies and learn from real case-studies happening right on campus with our full-time, on-site veterinarian at the Center for Equine Medicine
- Participate in the Genomics Education Partnership; a classroom based research experience in our dedicated DNA sequencing and genetics lab.
- Develop skills in our Usability Testing lab by analyzing website navigation and make improvement suggestions to clients through SWAT
- Present your artwork in the on-campus Cox Gallery Senior Art Show, or in local shows, and have your portfolio reviewed by faculty and professionals in the art field, offering feedback, guidance, and mentorship to any budding artist
- Present at conferences and publish work with faculty
- For example, one student recently worked collaboratively in plant genotyping for a National Science Foundation-funded research project
Get Involved
Spend time with passionate peers and mentors in honors societies and involvement organizations devoted to STEAM.
- Beta Beta Beta, national biology honors society
- Kappa Mu Epsilon, national Mathematics honor society
- Student Website Advancement Team (SWAT), a student-managed business on campus, working with real clients to create, manage and revise websites
- Biology Club
- Pre-Medicine Club
- Pre-Veterinary Club
- Thriving Artists Group
Perspectives
Being a math major at William Woods was a great experience for me. The class sizes were small, which made it feel more personal, and it was easy for us to get a lot of one-on-one help from professors. These small classes also prepared me for my graduate studies by allowing me ample time and opportunity to grasp the information.
—Kyle Proebsting, mathematics graduate and Maryville University graduate student in actuarial science