The Master of Arts program includes 36 semester hours of coursework and one semester hour of field experience.
Required courses in mathematics: 21 semester
hours
MTH5010 Numbers and Mathematical Thinking (3)
MTH5020 Statistics and Probability (3)
MTH5030 Understanding and Teaching Algebra (3)
MTH5040 Understanding and Teaching Geometry (3)
MTH6010 Calculus Concepts and Applications I (3)
MTH6060
Calculus Concepts and Applications II (3)
MTH6030
Applications in STEM (3)
Elective courses: Choose six semester hours from the following
MTH6020
Mathematical Connections (3)
MTH6040 Technology in Mathematics Classrooms (3)
MTH6080
Selected Topics in Mathematics (3)
MTH6090
Selected Topics in Mathematics Education (3)
Required courses in mathematics and science
education: 10 semester hours
NSM5100
Curriculum Development and Assessment in Mathematics and Science (3)
NSM5900 Field Experience in STEM (1)
NSM6100
Educational Research in Mathematics and Science I (3)
NSM6200 Educational Research in Mathematics and Science II (3)
Course Descriptions
MTH5010 Numbers and Mathematical Thinking
This course will integrate the common core standards in a review
of various introductory mathematics topics to build the participants'
foundational knowledge in numbers and operations. It will focus on further
developing the participants' mathematical thinking, conceptual understanding of the real and complex number
systems, and link that to vector and matrix quantities, number theory and
modern algebra concepts. Students will reason quantitatively, use modeling,
problem-solving, and other mathematical
practices to accomplish these goals.
MTH5020 Statistics and Probability
This
course will deepen student understanding of critical concepts in statistics and
probability related to core standards. They will gain the ability to collect and analyze data related to
educational research. The course provides students with the requisite
background in descriptive and inferential statistics to interpret categorical
and quantitative data, make inferences, and draw conclusions. Conditional
probability and decision making using probability will be a part of the
modeling in this course.
MTH5030 Understanding and Teaching
Algebra
This course will reinforce basic algebra concepts, present participants with
advanced algebra topics, and present algebra as a modeling and a problem
solving technique. The course will
emphasize the understanding of the structure of algebra, polynomials, rational
functions, and creating reasoning with equations and inequalities. Students
will investigate how these topics connect to the algebra that is taught in the
middle and high school grades. The course will integrate seamlessly concepts
and methods of teaching algebra. After
researching best practices, students will present a lesson on one of these topics. A discussion of the best practices and
biggest challenges of teaching such a topic will be discussed by the group as
they critique each lesson. Every student in the class will be expected to
present and evaluate the work of their peers.
MTH5040 Understanding and Teaching Geometry
The course will primarily be a presentation of advanced geometry topics and
will include connections to methods of teaching geometry. The majority of the
class will be devoted to discussion of Euclidian and modern geometry topics
that will deepen students' understanding of basic and advanced geometry
concepts. Topics such as congruence, similarity, right triangles and
trigonometry, circles, coordinate geometry, geometric measurements, and
transformations will be presented. Students will be asked to prepare and
present lessons. Following the
presentation, a discussion of the best practices and biggest challenges of
teaching such a topic will be discussed by the group as they critique each
lesson. Every student in the class will be expected to present and evaluate the
work of their peers. The course will
emphasize the use of geometry software such as Geometry Sketchpad, Geogebra,
Cabri, etc.
MTH6010 Calculus Concepts and Applications I
This course presents opportunities for students to expand and deepen their
knowledge and understanding of calculus concepts and application. Basic
concepts such as limits derivatives and integrals will be covered. The course includes examples of teaching
approaches as applied to the teaching and learning of calculus. It will also
focus on solving applications of calculus in STEM fields.
MTH6060 Calculus Concepts and Applications II
This course is a continuation of the first calculus course and focuses on
techniques and applications. Integration
and series will be emphasized. The
course includes examples of teaching approaches as applied to the teaching and
learning of calculus. It will focus also on solving applications of calculus in
STEM fields.
Prerequisites: MTH6010
MTH6020 Mathematical Connections
The course will present students with
topics that relate different mathematics branches to each other. Analytic
geometry can be used as a platform to show how algebra, geometry, calculus,
etc. are interconnected. The course will emphasize problem solving as a
technique to establish these connections and use mathematics as a tool to solve
problems.
Prerequisites: MTH5030 and MTH5040.
MTH6030 Applications in STEM
The
course follows a problem-based model of inquiry that will emphasize all
mathematical practices. Students will explore the interdisciplinary nature of
STEM, and investigate problems and projects from the physical sciences, life
sciences, space science, technology and engineering. They will analyze,
research, and find the appropriate mathematical tools to model and solve these
problems.
Prerequisites: MTH6010.
MTH
6040 Technology in Mathematics Classrooms
This
course will present and evaluate methods and strategies for employing
technology as a regular part of instruction and assessment, including
discussion of educational foundations. Students will research a relevant use of
technology that could be used in their curriculum and share it with their
classmates. Peer evaluation will provide
helpful feedback.
Prerequisites: MTH5030 and MTH5040.
MTH6080 Selected Topics in
Mathematics
Advanced
topics
in mathematics will be introduced in this course. The course will expand the
breadth and depth of the students’ content knowledge in mathematics and science.
MTH6090 Selected Topics in
Mathematics Education
Current
topics
in mathematics education will be introduced in this course. Recent article and
research publication will be shared and discussed. Students will review and
implement latest research in mathematics and science education.
NSM5100 Curriculum Development and
Assessment in Mathematics and Science
The
course will focus on curriculum goals and implementation, a mix of theoretical
research-based foundations and classroom reform based perspectives on
assessment and evaluation in schools, recent developments in math and science
curriculum, core standards, learning research; alternate modes of presentation.
No prerequisites
NSM5900 Field Experience in STEM
The field experience is designed to
connect participants to real world applications of math and to professions that
use these applications. Professional connections will be developed with
scientists and engineers and the experience will help participants connect
their classroom to career exploration in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) fields. Each candidate is expected to take part in a
flexible field experience at a community partners’ site. The goal is to give each participant an
opportunity to either work with a leader on a project or play a teacher leader
role during this experience. The participants will be given the
flexibility to choose an experience that is most beneficial to them and will
help them grow professionally.
NSM6100
Educational Research in Mathematics and Science I
This course has the dual purpose of providing an educational research
background in the STEM field as well as the quantitative knowledge necessary to
conduct such research. The course investigates recent developments and relevant
research in STEM education and initiates a professional conversation about the
major issues in teaching mathematics and science. Emphasis will be placed on
methods of critically reading and analyzing research reports and the
development of a STEM research proposal. Topics include reading and evaluation
of original research, issues of validity and reliability in research,
assembling research writing components, and an introduction to statistical
inference.
NSM6200 Educational Research in Math
and Science II
This course is a continuation of Educational
Research in Math and Science I. The teacher will analyze data
collected from the implementation of a previously identified STEM research
project. Participants will complete their projects, submit a written report of
their research, and present their findings to other program participants and at
local and/or national conferences.
Prerequisite:
NSM6100
