The acronym STEM represents a degree involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The STEM fields are those academic and professional disciplines that fall under the umbrella areas represented by the the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
According to both the United States National Research Council and the National Science Foundation, the fields are collectively considered core technological underpinnings of an advanced society. In many forums (including political/governmental and academic) the strength of the STEM workforce is viewed as an indicator of a nation’s ability to sustain itself.
A Pre-STEM program is a course of study at any two-year college that prepares a student to transfer to a four-year school to earn a baccalaureate degree in a STEM field.