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FALL 2026 ESTEP ONLINE COURSE REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Interested in earning an MS in Curriculum and Instruction using ESTEP credits?
Check out our NEW partnership with MN State Moorhead!
ESTEP 2.0 Online Courses
Our online, mostly asynchronous, FREE graduate courses are available for any MN 3-12 science teachers in any discipline!
Elementary and Middle School 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 syllabi 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 2026 ESTEP 2.0 Online Courses
Fall term: August 24 - December 16
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 6-10 hours of work per week, per course, and some require a few synchronous meetings.
FALL 2026 COURSES
Meteorology - Dr. Rachel Humphrey (REQUIRED synchronous Zoom meeting: October 10 OR Nov 14 from 9:00 am - 12)
Syllabus (note: Syllabus from a previous semester. Logistical changes will be amended for fall course.)
Teaching and Learning Earth (Env) Science in 3D - Marlene Schoeneck (REQUIRED synchronous Zoom meetings; dates/times determined with instructor)
Syllabus (note: Syllabus from a previous semester. Logistical changes will be amended for fall course.)
Traditional Environmental Science - Dr. Hillary Barron (REQUIRED synchronous Zoom meetings; dates/times determined with instructor)
Syllabus (note: Syllabus from a previous semester. Logistical changes will be amended for fall course.)
MN Rocks and Natural Resources - Dr. Kate Pound (REQUIRED synchronous Zoom meeting: October 10 OR Nov 14 from 9:00 am - 12)
Syllabus (note: Syllabus from a previous semester. Logistical changes will be amended for fall course.)
- 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.
- These courses are part of the ESTEP project of the Minnesota Science Teachers Association (MnSTA), paid for by a grant from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund. We partner with Minnesota State University - Moorhead (MSUM), so that our participants can earn graduate credit, paid for by the grant. ESTEP instructors are independent contractors of MnSTA, and are not employees of MSUM. Please direct any questions or concerns regarding this course, or any ESTEP programming to Dana Smith, ESTEP Coordinator at estep@mnsta.org
Tentative Future Course Offerings
Please note these are tentative and are subject to change.
Spring 2027
Severe Weather/ Natural Disasters - Dr. Rachel Humphrey (prerequisite: Meteorology)
Teaching and Learning Earth (Env) Science in 3D II - Marlene Schoeneck (prerequisite: Teaching and Learning Earth (Env) Science in 3D I)
Traditional Environmental Science - Dr. Hillary Barron
Introduction to Geoscience - Dr. Bryce Hoppie
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:
