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ESTEP 2.0 Online Courses
Our online, mostly asynchronous, FREE graduate courses are available for any MN 3-12 science teachers in any discipline!
3-8 grade teachers! Dive in and improve your content and pedagogy knowledge in earth and environmental science areas! Our courses are designed for TEACHERS and will be invaluable as you continue to develop your science classes, and develop your student sense-making approach!
High School Teachers! ESTEP 2.0 is for teachers of all disciplines! We have many courses that are intentionally interdisciplinary so be sure to look at our ESTEP 2.0 LIST of 2019 Academic Standards and Benchmarks Course Bundles to see which benchmarks from life, earth and space, chemistry and physics will be covered in each course! There is something for every Minnesota science teacher in this new series of courses!
Do you want to pick up a 9-12 Earth and Space Science License? New legislation states that all students must complete one credit of Earth and Space science in high school to graduate. These courses will help deepen your understanding of the key content areas and 3-dimensional pedagogy. Along with our summer bootcamps, these courses will help those of you working toward passing the required content MTLE exam to add additional licensure in 9-12 Earth and Space Science.
Fall 2025 - Summer 2027 ESTEP 2.0 Courses
Our courses are offered through the Continuing Studies Department at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Each 3-credit, graduate level course is facilitated by expert instructors who are leaders in their fields and based in Minnesota at NO COST to you!
Please note that these are 3 credit, graduate level courses, and while mostly asynchronous, each require approximately 4-8 hours of work per week, per course.
CONTENT COURSES
Each content course ALSO requires your attendance at a 3 hour, Saturday morning, synchronous virtual meeting, and the completion of a required Final Pedagogy assignment in all content courses.
PEDAGOGY (TEACHING) COURSES
Pedagogy (Teaching) courses require up to 3 synchronous meetings, set by the instructor.
*If you are enrolled in a pedagogy course AND a content course in the same semester, you do NOT have to adhere to the above CONTENT COURSES requirements for synchronous meeting and final pedagogy project.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
ALL online courses are designated as blended. This means that the courses are offered in an asynchronous style, with scheduled assignment turn in dates and assessments. Professors will be available for questions, etc via office hours or scheduled appointments. In order to earn a passing grade and credit for the course, participants MUST commit to both asynchronous AND synchronous requirements. A final pedagogy assignment is also required for all content courses.
Questions? Email Dana Smith at estep@mnsta.org
Tentative Course Offerings
(NOTE: Some courses will have prerequisites)
More details coming SOON!
CONTENT COURSES
Astronomy
Cosmology
Introduction to Our Atmosphere
Severe Weather/ Natural Disasters
Rocks and Natural Resources
Earth’s (MN) Geologic History
CONTENT/PEDAGOGY BLENDED COURSES
Earth Science Essentials
Earth Science Essentials 2
PEDAGOGY COURSES
Teaching and Learning ES in 3D
Teaching and Learning ES in 3D II
Traditional Environmental Science
MnSTA/ESTEP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement
We are committed to reflecting the diversity of Minnesota educators that participate in our programs. We are especially focused on teachers of BIPOC and underrepresented populations, alternatively licensed educators, and educational assistants working toward licensure.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR)
Minnesota science teachers should know about:
