Mathematics Education - BA, BS

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College of Science

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

About This Degree

The mathematics education major is designed to prepare teachers of mathematics at the middle and high school levels. USU’s math education program is recognized as the largest and the best in the state, with 100% of its graduates receiving teaching positions in school districts upon graduation.

Students in the program learn much higher math than they will ever teach in middle school or high school, making them experts in their subject area. They also take methods courses where they learn how to teach the material to students and have early experience in actual classrooms, making them more familiar and comfortable with these settings before they begin their student teaching.

Students receive a by completing all required courses in the major. To receive a BA, students must also gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages.

For more information about Mathematics Education, see the website.
Admitted and current students must meet with an advisor - Linda Skabelund.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken through USU: 30
Total major required credits taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU must have a 3.0 GPA; ACT scores of 21 composite or 20 verbal/English and 19 mathematics/quantitative.

In addition to Utah State University’s admissions requirements, the mathematics education program has additional requirements:

New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to this major. A 3.0 GPA, ACT scores of 21 composite and 20 verbal/English and 19 mathematics/quantitative and 30 credits of coursework are required for admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP). Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional admission criteria.

Transfer students from other institutions or other USU majors need a 3.0 GPA, ACT scores of 21 composite and 20 verbal/English and 19 mathematics/quantitative to be admitted to the major. They also need 30 credits of coursework to be admitted to the STEP. Students should contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) for information on additional admission criteria.

Major Requirements (35 credits)

MATH 1210 - Calculus I (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 1220 - Calculus II (QL) 4 credit(s)
MATH 2210 - Multivariable Calculus (QI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 2270 - Linear Algebra (QI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 2280 - Ordinary Differential Equations (QI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 3110 - Modern Geometry 3 credit(s)
MATH 3310 - Discrete Mathematics 3 credit(s)
MATH 4200 - Foundations of Analysis (CI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 4310 - Introduction to Algebraic Structures (CI) 3 credit(s)
STAT 3000 - Statistics for Scientists (QI) 3 credit(s)
MATH 4400 - Mathematics and Its History 3 credit(s) or
MATH 3010 - Pedagogical Foundations of Algebra 3 credit(s)

Clinicals (13 credits)

Must be taken after students are admitted into the SCED program and within the year before student teaching.

MATH 4300 - School Laboratory for Mathematics Teachers Level II 1 credit(s)
MATH 4500 - Methods of Secondary School Mathematics Teaching 3 credit(s)
MATH 5010 - Technology for Teaching Mathematics 3 credit(s)
MATH 5020 - Mathematical Cognition and Assessment of Mathematical Achievement 3 credit(s)
STAT 4010 - Probability and Statistics for Teachers 3 credit(s)

Mathematics Secondary Teaching Requirements (24 credits)

SCED 3210 - Educational and Multicultural Foundations (CI/DSS) 3 credit(s)
SCED 5100 - Motivation and Classroom Management 3 credit(s)
SCED 5200 - Language, Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (CI) 3 credit(s)
SCED 5500 - Student Teaching Seminar 2 credit(s)
SCED 5630 - Student Teaching in Secondary Schools 10 credit(s)
SPED 4000 - Education of Students with Disabilities 3 credit(s)

College of Science Sequence (6-8 credits)

Choose one of the following sequences:

BIOL 1610 - Biology I 3 credit(s) and
BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS) 3 credit(s)
or
CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 credit(s) and
CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II (BPS) 4 credit(s)
or
GEO 1110 - Physical Geology (BPS) 3 credit(s) and
GEO 1115 - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 credit(s) and
GEO 2200 - The Earth Through Time 3 credit(s)
or
PHYS 2110 - General Physics - Life Sciences I 4 credit(s) and
PHYS 2120 - General Physics - Life Sciences II (BPS) 4 credit(s)
or
PHYS 2210 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s) and
PHYS 2220 - Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (BPS/QI) 4 credit(s)
or
CS 1400 - Introduction to Computer Science–CS 1 4 credit(s) and either
CS 1410 - Introduction to Computer Science–CS 2 (QI) 3 credit(s) or
CS 1440 - Software Engineering Fundamentals 3 credit(s)

Licensure Notification

This program typically leads to licensure and was designed to meet licensing qualifications in the state of Utah. If students wish to work in another state within the United States, they should review the qualifications for that state and the Education Licensure Compliance Table provided by School of Teacher Education and Leadership.

For more information, please contact the School of Teacher Education and Leadership at https://cehs.usu.edu/teal/

Additional Information

In order to obtain a secondary teaching license for grades 6-12, students must complete the 35-credit Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP), which includes one semester of student teaching in a public school. This program is administered by USU’s School of Teacher Education and Leadership (TEAL) within the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services. Student must apply to the School of TEAL the semester before taking STEP courses. This is usually the fall of their junior year. Students learn subject content through the Mathematics and Statistics Department, and spend the last year or two studying education techniques through the STEP program.

A grade of C or better is required in all courses taken for the major. Program coursework may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, except MATH 4300 and SCED 5630 . A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to be recommended for graduation.

Students must complete the General Education Requirements .

Students must also complete the University Studies Requirements :

Two courses having the CI designation (such as MATH 4200, MATH 4310, MATH 5580, and STAT 5100) will meet the Communications Intensive (CI) requirement.
One course having the QI designation (such as MATH 2210, MATH 2250, MATH 2270, MATH 2280, STAT 2000, and STAT 3000) will meet the Quantitative Intensive (QI) requirement.
Complete at least 2 credits in approved 3000-level or above courses from each of the following two categories: Depth Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) and Depth Social Sciences (DSS) .

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

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