Humanity's understanding of the natural world and society is
growing at a rate that makes textbooks obsolete within years of
their publication. Consequently, a college education must be less
about memorizing factual knowledge than it is about learning
concepts and how to acquire future knowledge. Hands-on learning
through research-based experience gives young people exactly the
tools they will need in life after college, and Truman State
University's SPECTRA program is providing such experiences to
new students through the study of science and mathematics.
The Scientists Prepared and Enriched Through Research-based
Activities (SPECTRA) program will provide a group of
incoming first-year students learning experiences that will prepare
them for modern careers and opportunities involving the sciences or
mathematics.
Participants will be selected from the pool of incoming first-year
students through a competitive application process. Applicants need
not be committed to pursuing a major in science or mathematics, but
should show some aptitude and interest for the subject(s).
Benefits to you of participation include:
- a $1400 scholarship with the possibility of renewal1,
- first priority for enrollment in a pre-college program that
includes a summer science or mathematics course, room & board,
and a stipend,
- an orientation to the study of science and mathematics in a
way that highlights the interdependence of the these fields and
prepares you to conduct faculty-mentored research,
- free and personalized tutoring for science and mathematics
courses in your first two years,
opportunities to conduct faculty-mentored research during your second year, and
- participation in career and internship awareness activities.
Upon completion of the SPECTRA program after your second year,
you will have the background and preparation to compete for summer
internships in science or mathematics, to complete a science or
mathematics degree, and to pursue a rewarding career in an area that
relates to science and mathematics in some way.
1Scholarships
are renewed contingent on participation in program activities and on
an individual's continued enrollment in science and mathematics
courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree in science or
mathematics.
This
program is made possible by National Science Foundation Proactive
Recruitment in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) Award #0928013. Any
opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in
this material are those of Truman State University, and do not
necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.