Mathematics Education, M.Ed.

OSRHE Program Code: 138
CIP Code: 131311
Major Code: 7710

Purpose

The program enables K-12 teachers to become highly qualified teachers of mathematics.  The program requirements meet the needs of teachers who hold bachelor degrees in secondary mathematics, a science or engineering discipline, elementary education, early childhood education, or special education, and teachers who hold alternative certification. The Master of Education in Mathematics Education program is administered through the Gregg Wadley College of Science and Health Professions. Note: This degree is not structured for the purpose of initial teacher certification.

Specialty Accreditation

NSU’s educator preparation programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org, (1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023, 202-223-0077), and/or the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (840 Research Parkway, Suite 455, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-522-5399), www.ok.gov/oeqa

Credential Requirements

As a prerequisite for program admission, candidates must hold or be eligible to hold a standard teaching certificate or teaching license or be eligible for an alternative certification program with a plan of study for certification on file with NSU’s Office of Teacher Certification and the Graduate College. Courses included do not represent all courses needed for a Mathematics teaching certificate for the State of Oklahoma.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Have an in-depth conceptual knowledge of the content that they teach.
2. Have an in-depth understanding of their field and of the theories related to pedagogy and learning. Select and use a broad range of instructional strategies that promote student learning and are able to clearly explain the choices they make in their practice.
3. Build upon and extend their knowledge and experiences to improve their own teaching and student learning in the classroom. Develop their knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions to support the propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards [NBPTS] for the advanced certification of teachers.
4. Participate in experiences that require candidates to apply course work in classroom settings, analyze P-12 student learning, and reflect on their practice in the context of theories on teaching and learning. These experiences may include but are not limited to those which focus on students with exceptionalities and students from diverse ethnic/ racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic groups.
5. Have a thorough understanding of the major concepts and theories related to assessing student learning and regularly apply these in their practice. Candidates analyze student, classroom, and school performance data and make data-driven decisions about strategies for teaching and learning so that all students learn. They are aware of and utilize school and community resources that support student learning.
6. Awareness of current research and policies related to schooling, teaching, learning, and best practices. Candidates are able to analyze educational research and policies and can explain the implications for their own practice and for the profession.

Admission, Retention, and Graduation

Admission. Beyond admission requirements for the Graduate College, admission to the M.Ed. in Mathematics Education program requires:

1. Hold or be eligible for a standard teaching certificate or teaching license or be eligible for an alternative certification program with a plan of study for certification on file with NSU’s Office of Teacher Certification and the Graduate College.
2. Earned grade point average of at least 3.0 based on a 4.0 system for the last 60 hours of coursework attempted at either the undergraduate or graduate level; or attain a raw score of 383 or more on the Miller Analogies Test; or attain a score of 288 (verbal plus quantitative) or more on the Graduate Record Examination.
3. Submit an essay addressing the individual’s personal and professional goals.

Admission decisions are based upon evaluation of all application materials submitted by the individual.

Conditional Admission. An applicant who has not met admission requirements may be admitted for one semester on a conditional basis. An applicant may continue in the program beyond the first enrollment only if admission requirements are met. Otherwise, any coursework completed may not apply in the program.

Advisement. The Graduate College assigns students an advisor upon admission to graduate studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make an appointment with the advisor prior to enrollment to discuss policies and procedures relevant to the degree program. Conferring with the student, the advisor develops the plan of study, assists in the selection of classes, and counsels the student. The advisor will assess teacher knowledge and skills in consultation with the teacher and determine the remaining coursework for the degree plan.   Below are two sample courses of study. One is for an Elementary Education major who is a middle school mathematics teacher and the other is for a high school mathematics teacher who has a strong mathematics background.

Middle School Mathematics Teacher with Elementary Education Degree

In most cases the teacher, unless he or she has taken additional mathematics courses, would benefit from additional mathematics content. A typical degree plan would include 18 hours of additional mathematics content, nine hours from the Mathematics Content Core and nine hours from the Guided Electives. These courses include Algebra and Functions, Technology in Mathematics, Geometry and Measurement, Data Analysis and Probability, Number Systems, and Rate of Change and teach the competencies in the Framework for the Middle Level/ Intermediate Mathematics Oklahoma Subject Area Test using reform based methods. Note that this plan would also be appropriate for elementary teachers who wish to become mathematics specialists.

High School Mathematics Teacher with Strong Mathematics Background

Students with strong mathematics backgrounds may choose nine hours of coursework from Mathematics Content Core designed to provide more rigorous math content course experiences.  These courses may include: Modern Algebra: Groups, Elementary Number Theory, Statistical Inference, Vector Analysis, and History of Mathematics. They will also choose nine hours of additional coursework from the Guided Electives list with the approval of their advisor.

Candidacy. Students are advised to meet candidacy requirements within the first 16 semester hours of their program. These requirements must be met within the first 24 semester hours. In any event, 16 semester hours toward the Master of Education degrees must be completed after being admitted to candidacy. Students are eligible to be admitted to candidacy if they have:

1. Completed all requirements for admission to the Graduate College.
2. Been formally admitted to the Masters of Education Degree in Mathematics Education.
3. Completed a minimum of 12 semester hours, or a maximum of 18 hours of the degrees as described by the plans of study.
4. Satisfactorily completed EDUC 5103 Educational Research.
5. Maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all graduate coursework taken prior to candidacy.
6. Completed academic requirements for a standard teaching certificate.
7. Filed a plan of study (degree plan) approved by the advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
8. Filed a Statement of Understanding, signed by the student and advisor, with the Graduate College.

Retention and Graduation. Candidates for the Master of Education Degree in Mathematics Education must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Students must continue to meet the Graduate College’s Retention Standards to be retained in the program. See the Academic Information page for more information.
2. Students are encouraged to monitor degree progress using the degree audit system in the goNSU portal.
3. Students must meet Graduate College policies detailed in Academic Information and Master’s Degree Requirements regarding GPA, minimum grades, coursework age, residency and institutional / state regulations governing degree conferral.