Mathematics for Certified Elementary and Middle School Teachers M.S.
Program Rationale:
The Master of Science in Mathematics provides certified elementary and middle school teachers with additional content and pedagogical knowledge that will make them effective elementary or middle school teachers. (Note: There are two tracks in this program, one focusing on elementary grades and the other on middle grades.)
Program Learning Outcomes:
Students in this program will be expected to:
- deepen their comprehension of mathematics by re-examining, in detail, the mathematics topics taught in elementary or middle school, using topics introduced in the undergraduate program as a basis to build an increased understanding of the underlying mathematical structure;
- develop as reflective practitioners and self-motivated life-long learners who strive for continual improvement in their teaching and seek to facilitate deep student learning;
- understand emerging research on the psychological and intellectual development of children and adolescents and develop their understanding of current research on the teaching and learning of mathematics, trends and issues in mathematics curriculum, and the effective use of technology, data gathering and hands-on methods in the teaching of mathematics;
- acquire skills necessary to conduct research in mathematics education; and
- acquire skills necessary to make creative contributions to the field, such as writing, collecting data, and developing their own curriculum activities.
Course and Capstone Requirements:
(Plans A and C are offered as options. No more than nine credits at the 400 level may be counted toward the degree.)
Professional Education
One of the following:
| EDF 500 | Contemporary Educational Issues | 3 |
| EDF 516 | School and Society | 3 |
| EDF 524 | Foundations of Contemporary Theories of Curriculum | 3 |
| EDF 525 | History of American Education | 3 |
| EDF 538 | The Politics of Education | 3 |
| EDF 583 | Sociological Foundations of Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Elementary/ Middle School Mathematics Education Core
Elementary school track:
| MATH 506 | Teaching Number Concepts in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| MATH 507 | Teaching Geometry & Measurement in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| MATH 508 | Teaching Probability & Statistics in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| MATH 509 | Teaching Algebraic Thinking in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| or | |
Middle school track:
| MATH 536 | Teaching Number Concepts in the Middle Grades | 3 |
| MATH 537 | Teaching Geometry & Measurement in the Middle Grades | 3 |
| MATH 538 | Teaching Probability & Statistics in the Middle Grades | 3 |
| MATH 539 | Teaching Algebraic Thinking in the Middle Grades | 3 |
Mathematics Electives
Choose two courses from
| MATH 449 | Mathematics Laboratory for Elementary School | 3 |
| MATH 504 | Topics in Mathematics | 1 TO 3 |
| MATH 534 | Techniques in Diagnosis and Remediation for the Teaching of Mathematics - K-12 | 3 |
| MATH 580 | Directed Study in Mathematics | 1 TO 3 |
| STAT 453 | Applied Statistical Inference | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
General Electives
Courses chosen from the electives listed above, graduate education courses and MATH 531, as approved by faculty advisor.
Research
| MATH 598 | Research in Mathematics Education | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Capstone:
Plan A:
33 credits consisting of 30 credits from the above listings plus MATH 599 (3 credit Thesis).
Plan C:
33 credits consisting of 30 credits from the listings above plus MATH 590 Special Project in Mathematics (3 credits).
Note: Once a graduate student has elected one of the two plans, A or C, any change to the other plan must be made prior to the completion of 21 graduate credits and requires the approval of the student's advisor and the dean, School of Graduate Studies.