Program Description

SEPT 2015 is scheduled for the week of June 21st: Sunday, 6/21 - Saturday, 6/27

For 25 years, the MIT Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT) has been engaging and enlightening teachers from around the world. With a heavy dose of the latest and greatest science and engineering research delivered by MIT researchers and lecturers, the program has reached teachers in a unique way through a drink of knowledge from the MIT "firehose." The program has managed to capture a snapshot of MIT and deliver it to teachers for one week every summer.

Over these 25 years, the landscape of both teaching and research has changed dramatically. Lectures are now available online, the demands of the classroom have increased, and much research takes place not only in wet labs and wind tunnels, but also through the art and science of simulation. With this in mind, in 2010 we relaunched SEPT in the form of SEPT 2.0. This new version of SEPT aims to capture the unique experience of learning about the latest in cutting-edge research and provide a more in-depth, hands-on experience - to inspire curriculum for in- and after- school implementation.

Check out the website from 2014 for an idea of a SEPT schedule, which always includes:

Daily lectures from MIT scientists on new frontiers in science and engineering research
Hands-on workshops with Lego DNA, computer games and simulations, and technology developed at MIT
Tours of labs and demonstrations led by MIT scientists
Additional exposure to MIT K-12 initiatives for students and teachers
Community-building among the outstanding group of teachers for which SEPT is known

It has always been a goal of SEPT to keep each year's class size small to ensure that each participant gets the most out of his or her experience. SEPT offers a high faculty-student ratio, with a class size between 25 and 30 teachers.

Registration Fee

The tuition for the week is $1,100.00 per participant. Course registration covers:

Lodging on campus in double-occupancy MIT dormitory housing
Three meals each day from restaurants on campus
Course handouts and all other materials related to the program

Funding and Method of Payment

It is the participant's responsibility to seek funding. If a participant is sponsored, she or he must indicate the sponsor's name, organization, and contact information on the application.

Professional Development Credits

For completion of the 40-hour program, participants will receive equivalent professional credit in the form of 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or 40 Professional Development Points (PDPs) from MIT. The program is not graded, therefore graduate credit is not offered.

Upon Completion

A certificate of completion will be provided at the end of the week for successful participation in the program. Teachers will also be welcomed to become members of our active SEPT alumni network, the Network of Educators in Science and Technology (NEST).