Welcome to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Interest Area. This page has been tailored to this specific interest area and its industry-related opportunities for students and alumni. Explore relevant blog posts, videos, events, and career resources.
People who are interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) may be interested in careers that research and analyze the world around us to solve everyday problems. Those who pursue careers in STEM are problem solvers, detail-oriented, and intellectually curious.
To discuss career opportunities and how to prepare for roles in this interest area, schedule an appointment with a career advisor through Handshake.
Career Pathways
Common career pathways associated with the STEM interest area include but are not limited to:
- chemistry
- mechanical engineering
- web development
- actuarial science
- data science
- geographic information systems
Visit the Career Outcomes page to learn about post-graduation outcomes of MSU students who have received a bachelor’s degree. Search by major to find a sampling of employers, employment locations, and names of graduate/professional schools.
Majors at MSU
While major does not often equal career, it is helpful to have an understanding of majors that are commonly associated with each interest area. Review the list of majors at MSU that are associated with the STEM Interest Area and learn more about majors, degrees, and program requirements by visiting the Admissions website.
Gain Experience
Gaining experience outside of your degree program helps you to become career ready. Employers are looking for evidence of transferable skills, and like candidates who have work experience – whether paid or unpaid. Experiences help you to build confidence, explore interests, test out organizations and positions, and build skills while expanding your professional network.
There are a lot of great ways to gain experiences and skills. Many opportunities are available for you right at MSU. Consider the following:
- Volunteer/Community Service
- Internships – such as at the Kellogg Biological Station
- Academic Projects/Undergraduate Research
- Part-time jobs
- Education Abroad
- Student Organizations – Related to STEM
- Consider Living in Residential Programs – CoRe (first-year Engineering), Lyman Briggs (Science), RISE – Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment
Industry-Related Opportunities
To find organizations and positions of interest within STEM you can utilize:
- Job Listing and Professional Resource Sites – Review industry-specific search engines.
- Handshake – More than 60,000 job postings are posted on Handshake for MSU students each year. Use a search agent to receive alerts for new employment opportunities that match your specific interests. Follow employers of interest to be updated on their events and job postings.
- Networking – The Department of Labor estimates that up to 80% of positions are filled without employer advertising. Learn more under Network and Connect.
- Professional Organizations – Join organizations related to STEM and get recommendations from faculty or alumni on best fit groups.
- Social Media – Follow organizations of interest for up-to-date information on their activity. Popular outlets include LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram.
