The shortage of STEAM teachers in South Florida disproportionately impacts poor and BIPOC students, preventing them from accessing some education opportunities with high financial returns.
The University of Miami Department of Interactive Media provides an annual scholarship to an M.F.A. student who commits to remaining in South Florida and teaching in a community college or in the public school system for a minimum of three years after graduation. Students receiving the scholarship will receive a 100 percent tuition award and an additional stipend of $18,725 a year from working as a graduate assistant.
Recipient Requirements
Recipients must:
- Remain enrolled as full-time students and complete their MFA degree in two years.
- Maintain the minimum GPA of 3.0 required by the School of Communication and the University.
- Work the assigned graduate assistant hours and follow the agreed-upon schedule agreed provided by the graduate assistantship supervisor (usually 15 hours).
- Take courses in Interactive Media or electives approved by the graduate program director.
- Commit to an apprenticeship by teaching two undergraduate courses as an adjunct at the University of Miami Department of Interactive Media before graduating.
- Commit to teaching in a South Florida community college or in the public school system for a minimum of three years after graduation.
TO APPLY, CANDIDATES MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:
- MFA Application
- An additional essay (2–3 pages): Why are you passionate about STEAM? Describe why you would like to pursue this track and also what you plan to do to “pay it forward” to help develop students.
- The supplemental essay should be submitted to the M.F.A. Program Director l.grace@miami.edu by February 1st, 2022.