Applications for STEM Saturdays are now closed. 

The STEM Saturdays program provides an opportunity for students who have little to no exposure to STEM extracurricular programs, in order to support students in generating a positive STEM identity of themselves and their skillsets within various STEM strands. Within each class, students are immersed in project-based learning environments that develop their design thinking, problem-based learning, and critical thinking skills. The STEM Saturdays application for the 2026-27 academic year will open in August 2026. 

Below are the STEM Saturdays courses offered during the 2025-26 academic year:

3D Printing Meets Wearable Tech & Design

FALL 2025 COURSE DATES: 8 WEEKS—10/18/2025, 10/25/2025, 11/01/2025, 11/08/2025, 11/15/2025, 11/22/2025, 12/06/2025, 12/13/2025 FINAL PRESENTATION & SHOWCASE, EXCLUDING: 11/29/2025

Students will explore the fundamentals of 3D printing through the design and creation of functional, wearable accessories. The class emphasizes how digital modeling transforms into expressive, purposeful objects. Students will experiment with materials, fit, and fabrication techniques while gaining experience with industry-relevant tools.

Applications are now closed.  

We Need Your Help!  Mechanics & Electronics for Emergency Response—What If Your Invention Could Help Save Lives in Our City?

FALL 2025 COURSE DATES: 8 WEEKS—10/18/2025, 10/25/2025, 11/01/2025, 11/08/2025, 11/15/2025, 11/22/2025, 12/06/2025, 12/13/2025 FINAL PRESENTATION & SHOWCASE, EXCLUDING: 11/29/2025

In this hands-on program, students become engineers for social good, tackling real-world emergencies in NYC like subway fires and flash floods. Working in teams, they’ll learn to identify everyday urban problems and design low-cost prototypes using beginner-friendly tools like Arduino, sensors, cardboard, and 3D printing.

Applications are now closed.  

Swift in Motion: App Development Essentials

FALL 2025 THROUGH SPRING 2026 COURSE DATES: 14 WEEKS—10/18/2025, 10/25/2025, 11/01/2025, 11/08/2025, 11/15/2025, 11/22/2025, 12/06/2025, 12/13/2025, 1/17/2026, 1/24/2026, 1/31/2026, 2/07/2026, 2/28/2026, 3/07/2026, 3/14/2026 FINAL PRESENTATION & SHOWCASE, EXCLUDING: 11/29/2026, 12/27/ 2025, 12/20/2025 THRU 1/10/2026, 2/14/2026, 2/21/2026

This 15-week beginner-to-intermediate course introduces students to Swift programming and iOS app development using Xcode. Through hands-on projects, students will learn coding fundamentals such as variables, functions, control flow, and interface design to build and publish their own apps.

Applications are now closed.  

The Shape of Sound: Instrument Design

WINTER 2026 COURSE DATES: 7 WEEKS—1/17/2025,1/24/2026,1/31/2026, 2/07/2026, 2/28/2026, 3/07/2026, CONCLUDING ON 3/14/2026 FINAL PRESENTATION & SHOWCASE, EXCLUDING: 2/14/2026 & 2/21/2026

Ever wondered what makes a guitar sound different from a violin, or how an electric circuit works inside of an effect pedal? In this 6-week course, you’ll explore the science behind sound as you design and take innovative approaches to your own functional musical instruments.

In this 7-week course, students build their own functional musical instruments. Beginning with acoustic instruments, students then experiment with electronics, adding circuits, amplifiers, and contact microphones.  You’ll construct acoustic instruments from plywood and acrylic, then bring them into the electronic realm by building circuits on breadboards, adding amplifiers, and making contact microphones to expand your instrument’s sonic possibilities. Whether you're into music or engineering, this course allows you to explore how art and science converge to create the sounds that move us.

Student Outcomes
    • Gain an understanding of how physical properties such as size, shape, and material directly          impact sound quality and tone.
    • Be able to apply basic acoustic principles, including vibration, resonance, and frequency, to           instrument design decisions.
    • Learn how to build electronic circuits and use components such as breadboards, resistors,           and transistors.
    • Work collaboratively in a hands-on Makerspace environment.

Applications are now closed.

• Classes meet in person on Saturdays, 10:00am-4:00pm
• Classes are held at The Cooper Union's School of Engineering, 41 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003. 

Eligible students who can apply to our STEM Saturdays program are those who: 

• Live in New York City, within the 5 boroughs
• Are currently in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade
• Are low or moderate income (See 2025 NYC Area Median Income). Students of low or moderate income may be eligible for a fee waiver.
• Are from households above the NYC Median income 

Priority admission is given to students with no prior experience in Engineering or Computer Science, and no access to Engineering or Computer Science at their school.

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND STEM SATURDAYS FOR FREE IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME FALLS BELOW THE CURRENT NYC MEDIAN INCOME. Note that you must submit your most recent tax returns and/or evidence of income, in order to be considered for financial aid. 

The cost of our courses during the 2025-26 academic year are:

• 3D Printing Meets Wearable Tech & Design - $2,000
• We Need Your Help! Mechanics & Electronics For Emergency Response — What If Your Invention Could Help Save Lives in Our City? - $2,000
• Swift in Motion: App Development Essentials - $3,000
• The Shape of Sound: Instrument Design - $2,000

• Students are required to attend all class meetings.
• Students who miss more than one class for any reason, including illness, may be withdrawn, or will be transferred to another future program, depending upon the circumstances.
• All materials fees are included in the costs of the courses.

Read the STEM Program FAQs to learn more about the STEM Saturdays program.
To receive updates on our upcoming programs, please complete our interest form.
Still have questions about STEM Satudays?  Email stem@cooper.edu