Applications are NOT being accepted for Summer 2025 admissions. The next STEMS² Cohort will begin in Summer 2026. Please complete the Request More Info form to receive updates, invitations to program events, and to receive a notification once applications re-open for Summer 2026.
The MEd CS, Interdisciplinary Education STEMS² track is designed for educators who want to be transformative, connect with community, engage students in place and experiential learning, transcend disciplinary boundaries, and gain leadership skills that emphasize respect and collaboration. This 13 month track is housed in the department of Curriculum Studies at the University of Hawai’i – Manoa, College of Education. It focuses on real-world problem solving via project-based and place-based learning within a social context that integrate science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the social sciences while focusing on youths’ development in relation to their sense of self as local and global citizens. Teaching from a STEMS² perspective entails place-based, project-based learning where students emulate the processes of professionals in are variety of fields (i.e., historians, engineers, etc.) to design solutions to real world problems in their local and global communities.
Graduates go into a diverse array of professional fields related to education. Upon completion of STEMS² many are offered and take school leadership positions in public, private and charter schools as well as community, state and private informal education spaces. For a list of careers and current alumni activities please contact the program directly.
Must have graduated from an accredited, four-year institution of higher education recognized by the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), prior to beginning the MEd, Curriculum Studies: STEMS2 program.
An Undergraduate Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A transcript from each post-secondary institution attended.
A written statement of objectives as part of your application.
Your resumé or CV.
Three (3) letters of recommendation
Applicants who are not native English speakers may need to take the TOEFL or IELTS, or Duolingo (Academic) tests.
For more information view the Graduate Division website.
International students that have been admitted are required to submit a copy of their Identification documents (i.e. Passport or Identification Card)
International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses
*Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and on a rolling basis beginning December 1. Review will continue until a cohort fills (20 people) on or before the February 15th deadline. It is recommended that you apply before the deadline.
The track offers students stipends to assist with costs associated with Learning Journeys. The amount of the stipends is based on individual student’s geographical location and situation (e.g. students who are UH employees using tuition waivers cannot receive stipends).
UH Student Scholarships: Search for scholarships through STAR by searching for your best fit scholarship, going through an advanced scholarship search, search through keyword(s), and tracking your scholarship applications.
Kamehameha Schools, Nakupuna Foundation Partnership: Detailed application information provided once STEMS² program application is completed. Email stems2@hawaii.edu for more information.
Native Hawaiian Scholarship Information
Hawai‘i Community Foundation: Search under “Graduate” Degree and “Education” Major for an extensive list of scholarships
The MEd CS, Interdisciplinary Education STEMS² track is a unique hybrid program meeting fully online in the Fall and Spring semesters bookended by two three week intensive in-person experiential summer learning sessions. Summer learning sessions take place on Oahu (2 weeks) and Hawai‘i Island (1 week) in summer 1 and Maui (1 week) and Oahu (2 weeks). Cohorts begin annually during Summer. Each cohort will span 13 months (Summer 1, Fall, Spring, Summer 2).
During the two book end summers, participants experience STEMS² via a series of “Learning Journeys” that engage learners in place and culture-based integrated experience/service learning experiences. Travel, accommodations and some food costs are subsidized by the program.
STEMS² alum Jerrik Feliciano discusses the flexibility of the STEMS² schedule.
The MEd CS, Interdisciplinary Education STEMS² track consists of the following:
4 core courses (12 credits) – EDCS 622G Curriculum Leadership: K–14 (3), EDCS 606 Introduction to Research in Curriculum and Teaching (3), EDCS 632 Qualitative Research Methods (3), and EDCS 667G Seminar in Curriculum (3)
