Abstract: The empowerment of High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) is very important in preparing graduates to participate in the globally competitive, entering the work face, and encountering the new industrial revolution 4.0 era. This study aims to (1) Determine the effectiveness of the STEM approach in empowering the HOTS of Students; (2) Determine the effect of STEM approach on the HOTS of pre-service students in the nutritional sciences learning at the higher education level.