Mathematics
and Computer Science
Department | Mathematics
Program | Computer Science
Program | Mathematics Courses | Computer
Science Courses
B.A. Degree
with a Major in Mathematics Education with Secondary Teaching
Certification, Grades 8-12
The major in Mathematics Education with Secondary Teaching Certification, Grades 8-12, is designed to meet the needs of Mathematics majors who seek to become certified to teach mathematics at the secondary-school level. Students must meet all requirements for admission to and completion of the Teacher Education Program, including admission to Student Teaching and recommendation for certification, as well as the required admission and exit portfolios, as described below.
In addition, a major in Mathematics Education requires a minimum of 8-1/4 MAT courses at or above the 210 level, plus a collateral CSC course and EDS course work as follows, in addition to the General Education and electives required
for a degree:
Required Core Courses—MAT 135, 214, 225, 308, 315, and 330.
For each course waived based on test scores, an additional course above MAT 210 must be completed satisfactorily.
Required Capstone Course—MAT 492 (a 1/4-credit course)
Required Distribution Courses—At least one (1) MAT course must be chosen from each of the following four groups, with MAT 321, 311, and 438 being strongly recommended in groups 1, 2, and 4, respectively, for Mathematics Education majors. (Courses may satisfy more than one category.)
- Theoretical: MAT 321, 432, 434, and 436
- Applied: MAT 311, 312, 433, and 438
- Analysis: MAT 433, 434, 435, and 437
- Nonanalysis: MAT 311, 312, 321, 432, 436, and 438
Required Collateral Course—One (1) course chosen from the following: CSC 125, 126, 226, or 236
Required Senior-level Courses—At least two (2) courses chosen from MAT 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, and 438. Each of these courses also may satisfy a distribution requirement as described above.
Required EDS Courses—EDS 150, 228, 349, 355, 479, 480, 481, and 482
Exploring the Major—Students considering this major should begin exploring the discipline through some of the required core courses as soon as possible. If they wait until sophomore year, it will be difficult to be accepted into the Mathematics Education program. An example of a good start in the major would be to complete or waive MAT 110 or MAT 125 and MAT 135 during their first year and then to complete or waive MAT 225, MAT 330, MAT 315 and, if time allows, MAT 214, by the end of sophomore year. Also see Teacher Education Program below.
Admission to the Major—Each applicant to the major will receive careful consideration of her or his overall performance in the Department. See the “Requirements for Admission to the Teacher Education Program” under Education Studies for that program’s admission requirements, including the minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within nine terms)—Because upper-level course offerings alternate by term and by year, students who complete the required core courses prior to the start of their junior year will have greater flexibility in the design of their programs. Also see Teacher Education Program sequencing recommendations below.
Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major—Mathematics majors must have a minimum 2.0 GPA calculated on the MAT courses at or above the 210 level. In addition to the required courses, students must work satisfactorily in at least a 5-hour labor position during one term in the Developmental Math Program, and will receive a positive letter of recommendation from the Department for acceptance to the Teacher Education Program as well as Student Teaching. Students also must demonstrate appropriate qualities of judgment, disposition, and temperament in classroom and field settings.
Admission to and Completion of the Teacher Education Program—Mathematics Education majors are encouraged strongly to take EDS 150 in the second term of the first year, but no later than the first term of sophomore year. (Multiple sections of EDS 150 are offered each Fall and Spring term.) Those students past their first year (including transfers) will be given priority for registration in EDS 150. Prior to the first day of the EDS 150 class, students must have completed a state criminal records clearance, which takes 6-8 weeks to be processed. Students will learn about this procedure during pre-registration. While taking EDS 150, students will be assigned an Education Adviser. MAT 308 must be completed either prior to or in the eighth term. EDS 228, 349, and 355 (or approved alternative) must be completed prior to the eighth term. EDS 479 and 480, together with a school practicum of 3-4 hours daily, must be taken in the eighth term. Up to two additional courses may be taken in the eighth term. Only EDS 481 (1 credit) and 482 (3 credits) may be taken in the ninth term. Throughout their preparation, students seeking teacher certification are expected to seek out rich and substantive experiences with students of the ages they plan to teach beyond those associated with EDS courses. Such activities include SFA-related service work (e.g., One-on-One Tutoring), working with after-school programs, summer camp experiences, and the like. Completion of teacher certification requires nine terms. For further information about the Teacher Education Program, Student Teaching, and Recommendation for Certification, see Requirements for all Students Seeking Certification under the Education Studies section of this Catalog.
Other Considerations or Recommendations—In addition to the major requirements described above, it is strongly recommended that majors elect courses from another discipline in which mathematics currently is applied. These electives and the program of study within the Mathematics and Computer Science Department should be determined in consultation with the Department’s Education Adviser according to the student’s interests and professional and educational intentions.
Curriculum Guide
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