The MonarchTeach program at Old Dominion University is a joint collaboration between the College of Education and the College of Sciences. It provides a crucial pathway for students who are majoring in STEM fields to pursue both their B.S. degree in their chosen field as well as simultaneously earning their teaching licensure for either secondary education (grades 7-12) or specifically for middle school science.

This program is modeled after the nationally acclaimed UTeach program developed by the University of Texas at Austin, and it incorporates early and frequent field teaching experiences with hands-on experiences for students starting in their first semester of the program. Students are guided to develop challenging but appropriate interactive lesson plans grounded in project-based and inquiry-based instructional methods. In addition, students in MonarchTeach take courses in classroom interactions and developmentally guided knowing and learning to support their roles as teachers.

Throughout the program, MonarchTeach students support local school districts by participating in science fairs, summer camps, local internships at STEM-related institutions, and more.

A culminating one-semester student teaching experience is fully supported in students’ final semester before graduation. MonarchTeach students are highly skilled, competent teachers who are often in high demand with local school systems and have significant, positive impacts on their schools.