Mathematics Education: Elementary/Middle School Option (B.S.)

Mathematics Education: Elementary/Middle School Option (B.S.)

Elementary students working in notebooks in classroom

What is the elementary/middle school option in mathematics education?

This program is tailored to students who want to teach mathematics at the elementary or middle school level. It provides a strong foundation in mathematics with current pedagogical approaches and insightful study of student learning. Mathematics education students have the advantage of working directly within the mathematics department and coordinating with the education department to obtain New Hampshire teacher certification.  

Why study mathematics education at UNH?

You’ll work alongside accomplished mathematicians, statisticians, and educators who are professionally active. You’ll gain an understanding of higher level mathematics, the mathematics taught in elementary and middle school classrooms, and the process of teaching mathematics.  You’ll have the opportunity to pursue an accelerated master’s degree leading to teacher certification in just five years. You’ll enjoy many small, specialized classes and a variety of field-based experiences. Our professors have won prestigious honors, including a Grammy Award and a MacArthur “genius” grant. This department has produced many winners of the prestigious Department of Defense SMART Scholarship.

Potential careers

  • Curriculum supervisor/developer
  • Educational software developer
  • Mathematics education consultant
  • Mathematics educator in government/research/academia
  • Mathematics teacher
  • Mathematics textbook writer/editor/publisher

Contact

  • Meet a Wildcat in Mathematics Education
    Watch Grace Morelli ’22G discuss her favorite things about attending the University of New Hampshire and advice for those considering UNH.
    Meet a Wildcat in Mathematics Education
    Watch Grace Morelli ’22G discuss her favorite things about attending the University of New Hampshire and advice for those considering UNH.

Curriculum & Requirements

Beginning in the 2022/23 academic year, the Math Education Major: Elementary/Middle School Education K-8 option will no longer be accepting new students. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.

This professional degree program prepares students for teaching mathematics at the elementary and/or middle school level. The program is coordinated with the education department's teacher certification programs. For the elementary option, full certification requires the five-year program. Students may complete the degree requirements for middle school option with full teacher certification in either four or five years.

Students electing the four-year option leading to middle school certification must plan for one semester of student teaching in their senior year; this requires careful planning with your program adviser to accommodate the scheduling of required MATH courses.

The five-year program for either option includes a year-long teaching internship in the fifth year. The internship requires admission into a UNH Department of Education graduate program that leads to certification. See Education, College of Liberal Arts.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
MATH 425 Calculus I 4
PHYS 406 Introduction to Modern Astronomy 4
Discovery Course 4
Inquiry Course 4
MATH 400 Freshman Seminar 1
 Credits17
Spring
MATH 426 Calculus II 4
MATH 445
or CS 410P
or CS 410C
Mathematics and Applications with MATLAB
or Introduction to Scientific Programming/Python
or Introduction to Scientific Programming/C
4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
MATH 539 Introduction to Statistical Analysis 4
MATH 621 Number Systems for Teachers 4
EDUC 500 Exploring Teaching 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
MATH 531 Mathematical Proof 4
MATH 545
or MATH 645
Introduction to Linear Algebra
or Linear Algebra for Applications
4
MATH 622 Geometry for Teachers 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
MATH 623 Probability and Statistics for Teachers 4
MATH 700 Introduction to Mathematics Education 4
MATH 760 Geometry 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
MATH #625 Functions and Algebra for Teachers 4
MATH 703
or MATH 709
Teaching of Mathematics in Grades K-5
or Teaching of Mathematics in Grades 6-12
4
MATH 790 Historical Foundations of Mathematics 4
Discovery Course 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
MATH 797
or MATH 799
Senior Seminar
or Senior Thesis
4
EDUC 605 Educational Perspectives in Critical Times 4
Writing Intensive Course 4
Elective Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
EDUC 701 Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives 4
Writing Intensive Course 4
Elective Course 4
Elective Course 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits129

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

In all courses used to satisfy the requirements for its major programs, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics requires that a student earn a grade of C- or better and have an overall grade-point average of at least 2.00 in these courses.

For teacher licensure a grade of B- or better is required in all Education courses.

Requirements for admission to student teaching include receiving credit for EDUC 500 and a minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA.

Required MATH Courses
MATH 425Calculus I4
MATH 426Calculus II4
MATH 445Mathematics and Applications with MATLAB4
or CS 410P Introduction to Scientific Programming/Python
or CS 410C Introduction to Scientific Programming/C
MATH 531Mathematical Proof4
MATH 539Introduction to Statistical Analysis4
MATH 545Introduction to Linear Algebra4
or MATH 645 Linear Algebra for Applications
MATH 621Number Systems for Teachers4
MATH 622Geometry for Teachers4
MATH 623Probability and Statistics for Teachers4
MATH #625Functions and Algebra for Teachers4
MATH 700Introduction to Mathematics Education4
MATH 703Teaching of Mathematics in Grades K-54
or MATH 709 Teaching of Mathematics in Grades 6-12
MATH 760Geometry4
MATH 790Historical Foundations of Mathematics4
Capstone: Select one of the following
MATH 797Senior Seminar4
MATH 799Senior Thesis2 or 4
Other Required Courses
PHYS 406Introduction to Modern Astronomy4
EDUC 500Exploring Teaching4
EDUC 605Educational Perspectives in Critical Times4
EDUC 701Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives4
Total Credits78-80

Note: EDUC 703F Teaching Elementary School ScienceEDUC 703M Teaching Elementary Social StudiesEDUC 706 Teaching & Learning Literacy in the Elementary Classroom, and EDUC 751A Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners are requirements for K-6 or K-8 certification.


EDUC 706 Teaching & Learning Literacy in the Elementary Classroom must be completed prior to the Internship (EDUC 900A Internship and Seminar in Teaching and EDUC 901A Internship and Seminar in Teaching). 

Mathematics Concepts, Practices, and Curriculum. Well-prepared beginning teachers of mathematics:

  • Demonstrate robust knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts that underlie what they encounter in teaching of K-8 or secondary mathematics.
  • Engage in appropriate mathematical and statistical practices, and use technological tools to solve mathematical problems, and incorporate educational technology in their teaching.
  • Analyze and interpret mathematical curricula, assessments, and standards documents.
  • Analyze and interpret students’ mathematical work.

Pedagogical Knowledge and Practices for Teaching Mathematics. Well-prepared beginning teachers of mathematics:

  • Demonstrate strong foundations of pedagogical knowledge, and effective and equitable mathematics teaching practices.
  • Construct instructional explanations, develop tasks, lesson plans and unit plans, that advance students’ mathematical understanding.
  • Recognize common patterns of student thinking related to particular mathematical topics, and articulate ways of supporting students’ mathematical thinking.

Productive dispositions. Well-prepared beginning teachers:

  • Demonstrate positive and productive dispositions toward mathematics as a discipline, towards students as learners of mathematics and towards teaching mathematics in ways that support students’ sense making, understanding, and reasoning.

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