A Master's Degree Designed For Current Mathematics Teachers
The Mathematics Master of Arts – Teaching Emphasis degree is designed to prepare teachers to be curricular, instructional and assessment experts in their own classroom. Upon finishing this program you will be highly skilled in secondary and higher education mathematics content teaching and be able to assume leadership roles in mathematics curriculum within your school. Coursework emphasizes topics aligned with the Common Core State Standards of Mathematics.
The program can be completed in two years and is delivered mostly online (see Course of Study tab for additional details). This master's degree will:
- Prepare you as a secondary mathematics teacher who is prepared for the standards and curricular reforms of the next decade.
- Develop your teaching practice with a focus on problem-solving, cooperative learning groups, and alternative means of assessment.
- Integrate you into a regional network of educators committed to the improvement of mathematics education that builds lasting partnerships between secondary school teachers, administrators, community college faculty, university faculty, and state education administrators.
Teach Dual Enrollment & College-Level Math
In addition to developing advanced practice in high school teaching, this program can help you meet the requirements (master's degree and content expertise) for instructors of college-level Mathematics courses. If you take 18 credits of MATH coursework in this master's degree program, you will be eligible to teach college and university courses in the field – including concurrent/dual enrollment courses (in which students earn both high school and college credit in the same course).
If you are not already a licensed / certified math teacher:
Please note that this program does not lead to an initial K-12 teaching license or an added endorsement in Mathematics Grades 7-12 (secondary math teaching). However, if you have a mathematics coursework background, this program can qualify you for community college teaching opportunities.
Also Available as a Graduate Certificate
If you already have a master's degree and only need the minimum graduate math credits, learn more about our Mathematics Graduate Certificate
This degree is offered mostly online, with scheduled online sessions, plus four days of Summer coursework on campus (Greeley, Colorado) in June each year.
- Fall and Spring term courses are completely online. These will include weekly synchronous (scheduled) course sessions, where instructors and students "meet" online at the same time. These will be held on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. mountain time.
- You will be able to take up to three Summer courses, which overlap so that you only
take two courses at a time. Between the three courses, you will attend...
- Online the 1st week of June (including synchronous sessions Mon-Thurs mornings);
- On-campus the 2nd week of June (with class Mon-Thurs morning and afternoon); and
- Online with Mon-Thurs synchronous sessions (morning and some afternoon sessions from the 3rd week of June through mid-July, then morning sessions only until the end of July).
Coursework (30 Credit Hours)
For an example of upcoming courses, visit the Current Students page.
Required Courses (9 Credit Hours)
- MATH 534 Continuous Mathematics (3)
- MATH 543 Modern Geometry (3)
- MED 600 Introduction to Research in Mathematics Education (3)
Group A - Math Courses (12+ Hours)
Students must take at least 12 credit hours from the following:
- MATH 520 Functions and Equations (3)
- MATH 528 Discrete Mathematics (3)
- MATH 529 Mathematical Problem Solving (3)
- MATH 537 Mathematical Modeling (3)
- MATH 550 Applied Probability and Statistics (3)
- MATH 591 Abstract Algebra and Number Theory (3)
- MATH 599 Mathematics Action Research Project Seminar (3)
Group B - Math Education Courses (6+ Hours)
Students must take at least six credit hours from the following:
- MED 555 Teaching Secondary math for Understanding (3)
- MED 560 Culture in the Math Classroom (3)
- MED 565 Quantitative Reasoning in Secondary Mathematics (3)
- MED 595 Teaching Advanced Topics in Secondary School Mathematics (2)
- MED 599 Action Research Project Seminar (3)
Action Research Project (3 Credit Hours)
Instead of a comprehensive exam, you must take one of the following courses (also listed above in groups A & B) to guide you in selecting a problem, creating a literature review, and devising a plan for an Action Research Project: MATH 599 Mathematics Action Research Project Seminar (3) or MED 599 Action Research Project Seminar (3).
For full details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
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Additional Resources
- Visit the School of Mathematical Sciences page for this program.