Master's Program in Mathematics

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Rolling admissions, but students are encouraged to apply by May 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.


SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHER CERTIFICATION
The certification program in secondary school mathematics is designed to accommodate a wide range of professionals. Depending upon their background, candidates in this program complete a sequence of mathematics and professional courses which will include a student teaching practicum. Courses in this program are offered each fall and
spring semester in the late afternoon or evening and during the summer.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please refer to the section on “Admission to Teacher Certification Programs” in the beginning of this catalog. Candidates must (1) hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university including 39 semester hours of liberal arts courses, and (2) must have a knowledge of precalculus mathematics: college algebra and trigonometry. This latter requirement can be met by taking appropriate courses or can be waived by achieving a satisfactory score on the University Placement Examination.

Required Courses (minimum 30 credits)
MAT 150 — Calculus I
MAT 151 — Calculus II
MAT 250 — Foundations of Mathematics: An Introduction
MAT 405 — Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint
MAT 508 — Technology Enriched Mathematics Instruction I
MAT 525 — Probability and Statistics
MAT 530 — Foundations of Geometry
MAT 573 — Algebraic Structures I

One additional mathematics course selected in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. Candidates who have an undergraduate degree in mathematics must take at least two mathematics courses beyond calculus, selected in consultation with the graduate adviser. In addition, all candidates will need the following courses:

PSY 370 — Educational Psychology
HIS 110 or 112 — U.S. History
EDU 492 — Mathematics (Secondary School)
EDU 452 — Secondary School Student Teaching (8 credits)
EDU 453 — Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit)
EDF 520-526 — Education Foundations Elective (3 credits)
SED 482 — Teaching Exceptional Students in the Secondary Education Classroom
SHE 203 — School Health


MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN MATHEMATICAL EDUCATION
The Master of Science degree in mathematical education is designed primarily for certified mathematics teachers, allowing for the scholarly study of mathematics as well as the development of skills that aid in teaching. Each applicant must complete core requirements of 21 credit hours.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have had a minimum of 18 semester hours of undergraduate mathematics including calculus, geometry, linear and abstract algebra, probability and statistics. Deficiencies may be overcome by taking appropriate courses under advisement. A personal interview by the Mathematics Department graduate admissions committee is required.

Required Courses
MAT 508 — Technology Enriched Mathematics Instruction I
MAT 514 — Teaching Mathematics to Accelerated Students and Low Achievers
MAT 526 — Probability and Applied Statistics II
MAT 530 — Foundations of Geometry
MAT 541 — Topics in Real Analysis (4 credits)
MAT 574 — Algebraic Structures II
MAT 595 — Seminar in Mathematics Education (2 credits)

Upon completing the 21 credit-hours of core requirements, students choose one of the following plans:

Master’s Thesis
Thesis Seminar (MAT 590) and Thesis — 6 credits plus 3 credits of electives for a total of 30 credits.

Comprehensive Examination
The student completes the 30 credit-hour degree program by electing 9 credits under advisement and must pass a comprehensive oral examination.

Special Project
The student completes a special project plus 15 credits of electives for a total of 36 credits.


MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN MATHEMATICAL EDUCATION WITH
CERTIFICATION
Applicants who are not certified teachers may simultaneously enroll in a planned master’s degree program leading to certification to teach mathematics, grades 7-12. Candidates in this program first complete the certification requirements described above and then continue with the master’s degree requirements. In order for initial certification to be elevated to professional certification, the State of Connecticut requires 30 additional credit hours of graduate study.