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.
Phone: (603) 862-2320
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 (EDUC 694 Courses in Supervised Teaching) in their senior year; this requires careful planning with your program adviser to accommodate the scheduling of required MATH courses. Requirements for admission to student teaching include receiving credit for EDUC 500 and a minimum cumulative 2.8 GPA.
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.
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required MATH Courses | ||
| MATH 425 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 426 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 445 | Mathematics and Applications with MATLAB | 4 |
| or CS 410 | Introduction to Scientific Programming | |
| MATH 531 | Mathematical Proof | 4 |
| MATH 539 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 4 |
| MATH 545 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 4 |
| or MATH 645 | Linear Algebra for Applications | |
| MATH 621 | Number Systems for Teachers | 4 |
| MATH 622 | Geometry for Teachers | 4 |
| MATH 623 | Probability and Statistics for Teachers | 4 |
| MATH 625 | Functions and Algebra for Teachers | 4 |
| MATH 700 | Introduction to Mathematics Education | 4 |
| MATH 708 | Teaching Mathematics in Grades K-8 | 4 |
| MATH 760 | Geometry | 4 |
| MATH 790 | Historical Foundations of Mathematics | 4 |
| Capstone | 4 | |
MATH 797 | Senior Seminar | |
or MATH 799 | Senior Thesis | |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| PHYS 406 | Introduction to Modern Astronomy | 4 |
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
| EDUC 700 | Educational Structure and Change | 4 |
| EDUC 701 | Human Development and Learning: Educational Psychology | 4 |
| EDUC 705 | Contemporary Educational Perspectives | 4 |
| Total Credits | 80 | |
Note: EDUC 703F Teaching Elementary School Science, EDUC 703M Teaching Elementary Social Studies, EDUC 706 Introduction to Reading in the Elementary School, and EDUC 751A Educating Exceptional Learners: Elementary are requirements for certification and may be taken as an undergraduate.
EDUC 751A Educating Exceptional Learners: Elementary or EDUC 751B Educating Exceptional Learners: Secondary are required for middle school certification (grades 5 - 8 only) and may be taken as an undergraduate.
