ETSU's Concentration in Precollegiate Mathematics
Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences
(Subject to TBR Approval)
Contact person:
Dr. Anant Godbole
Department Chair and Program Coordinator
312 Gilbreath Hall
ETSU, Box 70663
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423)439-5359
godbolea@etsu.edu
Faculty:
Robert Gardner, Anant Godbole, Teresa Haynes, Michel Helfgott,
Lyndell Kerley, Debra Knisley, Jeff Knisley, Rick Norwood, George
Poole, Robert Price, Edith Seier, Daryl Stephens.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a concentration in Precollegiate Mathematics. The precollegiate mathematics concentration is designed for in-service teachers and consists of an eight-course sequence with two tracks - a K-8 mathematics track and a 7-12 track - with the aim of producing an in-depth , profound understanding of the mathematics taught in elementary, middle, and high school. In addition, there are six hours of independent study and thesis research.
The courses for this degree are offered as part of a cohort. All who enroll in the program will proceed through the entire sequence as a group.
Program Admission Requirements
For admission to the program a student must:
- Have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university,
- Submit three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with applicant's academic performance, addressing likelihood of success in the School of Graduate Studies, and
- Complete all of the admission requirements of the graduate school.
Incoming students lacking certain prerequisites may be required to make up these deficiencies. However, graduate credit will not be given for this coursework.
Minimum Degree Requirements
The courses to be taken are listed below. All students in the
program will take the same 21 hours of core courses. The other nine
hours taken depend on whether the student is an elementary/middle
or middle/secondary teacher.
Core Courses (21 hours):
MATH 5015 Probability and Statistics for K-12 Teachers
MATH 5025 Foundations and Structure of Mathematics I
MATH 5026 Foundations and Structure of Mathematics II
MATH 5040 Reasoning in Mathematics
MATH 5900 Independent Study
MATH 5960 Thesis
CUAI 5910 Assessment Techniques in the Classroom
Elementary Track (9 hours):
MATH 5010 Patterns and Problem Solving for Elementary and Middle
School Teachers
CUAI 5199 Teaching in a Diverse Society
CUAI 5113 Instructional Excellence in Mathematics K-8
Secondary Track (9 hours):
MATH 5050 Analysis for Teachers
MATH 5060 Algebra for Teachers
MATH 5417 Teaching for Secondary Mathematics
Thesis: No later than the time when a student
completes 18 hours of approved work, a committee will be appointed
for the student. The chair of the student's committee will
ordinarily direct the research and preparation of the thesis. After
selecting a topic, the student, in consideration with the student's
committee, must prepare a tentative outline. This outline must be
kept current during the preparation of the thesis and contained in
the student's graduate folder.
Some Disclaimers
This degree will not license you to teach math (you need BS with Math Education concentration or the MAT in Secondary math).
This degree will not give you an add-on math licensure (you need 21 hours of math classes at the undergraduate level as specified by the College of Education).
This degree is intended primarily for in-service teachers.
This program will be offered, at least for the first few years, as a cohort program. Check with Anant Godbole (godbolea@etsu.edu) to see when the next cohort will start.
Graduates of the secondary program will have enough math hours to be highly qualified as teachers of mathematics under No Child Left Behind; graduates of the elementary program who have at least 3 undergraduate hours of mathematics prior to this degree will also be highly qualified as teachers of mathematics under No Child Left Behind.
Graduates of this program will not be qualified to teach college level math at a community college or four year college. Persons intending to pursue a career in collegiate teaching should enroll in the regular MS in Mathematical Sciences.