Mentoring
Computer Science Teachers
MSTI Computer Science Liaison
California State University, Northridge Professor Steven Stepanek has served as chair of the CSUN Computer Science Department since 1999 and professor since 1993. He has held multiple positions at the University since 1972, including academic consultant, operating systems analyst, lecturer and assistant, associate and full professor.
A member of the CSUN Faculty Senate since 1994, Stepanek was elected to its executive committee for most of those years and served as the Faculty President from 2010 to 2013. In addition, he has spent the past eight years as a member of the CSU Academic Senate and has served on numerous campus and statewide committees involved with technology, curriculum, admissions, and course transfer issues in higher education.
As the MSTI Computer Science Liaison, he represents the College of Engineering and Computer Science in the MSTI project. The liaison works with the the Department of Computer Science and College of Engineering and Computer Science to ensure that the program for supplementary credentials in computer science are approved and offered.
Steven Stepanek, Professor of Computer Science, CSU Trustee emeritus
Computer Science Supplementary Credential Program Development Team
Prof. Steven Stepanek, Dr. Li Liu, Professor of Computer Science; Dr. Ani Nahapetian, Professor of Computer Science
This team is commissioned with crediting a program whereby current students and returning teachers can earn a supplementary credential in computer science. This will be funded by the MSTI STEM Challenge project.
Mentoring Future Computer Science Teachers
The new supplementary credential program in computer science will be open to undergraduates, graduate students, and community members who desire to add a supplementary authorization in computer science to their elementary or secondary teaching credential. MSTI personnel will advertise and recruit individuals into this program using targeted emailing, personal counseling, and website advertising.
Pathway to earn a supplementary authorization (SA) in computer science - MSTI faculty in the Department of Computer Science will develop a program of coursework including computer programming, data structures, algorithms, digital devices, systems and networks, software design, and impacts of computing to meet the content requirements of the California Supplementary Authorization in Computer Science.
Advisement for supplementary authorization (SA) in computer science program - The new supplementary credential program in computer science will be open to undergraduates, graduate students, and community members who desire to add a supplementary authorization in computer science to their elementary or secondary teaching credential. MSTI personnel will advertise and recruit individuals into this program using targeted emailing, personal counseling, and website advertising.
Preparing prospective math teachers to teach computer science. All teachers who hold California mathematics credentials are authorized to teach mathematics, however few have sufficient content knowledge to teach computer science. The CSUN MSTI Mathematics team will encourage future math educators to complete the new supplementary authorization program so that they will have sufficient knowledge to teach computer science.