Overview & Purpose

The Mathematics Department masters degree program offers a specialization^§ for mathematics educators. This specialization serves current and prospective mathematics educators and collaborative users of core mathematics in both educational and industrial settings.

The goal is to raise the mathematical formation of students and to enhance their ability to communicate mathematics at a level sought by public and private sector employers and advanced academic programs. Career opportunities for graduates include doctoral programs in mathematics education,leadership positions of school districts (such as school or district administrators, mathematics professional development positions, etc), as teaching faculty positions in community colleges, as well as employment in the private sector in jobs that require the communication of modern mathematics.

Find below basic information about the curriculum of the program, prerequisites, and support. For further information about admission, contact Denise Witcher at dwitcher@math.ohio-state.edu or Thomas Kerlerat kerler@math.ohio-state.edu

If you have further questions about the curriculum or content of courses please contactHerb Clemens at clemens@math.ohio-state.edu.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of 12-15 quarter-long courses over two years. Besides satisfactory completion of these courses, for graduation students are required to either pass a Master's Examination or write a Master's thesis.

Mathematics Core Courses

There are eight quarter-long compulsory courses that constitute the core mathematics training and requirement for this specialization. The are organized in the following topics and sequences:

• A year-long sequence in Linear Algebra and Number Theory. See description.
• A year-long sequence in Topology and Geometry. See description.
• A two-quarter sequence in Real Analysis. See description.

Math Education Sequence

This is a year-long sequence specially designed for this M.S. specialization in collaboration with the College of Education at OSU. The sequence addresses numerous topics surrounding K-16 curriculum, pedagogy, class room practices, cognition and learning as they pertain to the teaching of mathematics. See description.

Mathematics Electives

In addition to the core mathematics courses, students are required to choose (with the approval of their academic advisor) a sufficient number of mathematics electives to fill up the required credit hours. If a student graduates with a thesis, a total of 45 hours is required, if a students graduates with an examination, 50 hours are required.

Amonth allowed electives are Numerical Analysis I & II, Applied Differential Equations I & II, Set theory, Mathematical Logic I & II, Complex Variables, and Survey of Combinatorial Mathematics.

Classroom Teaching

Although classroom teaching is a standard component of every graduate student's GTA employment and support, it carries additional weight in this particular specialization and is thus specifically listed in this section.

The department offers a wide range of over 80 undergraduate courses, which are taken by several tens of thousands of undergraduate students. Within these offerings there are many very different classroom settings, including large coordinated lecturers with recitations, small individual classes, classes taught in group or 'guided discovery' styles, as well as classes taught with extensive use of computers. This offers wide variety of settings for GTAs to gain teaching experience.

The department offers coaching and support through teacher preparation courses in the summer as well as class visitations with instructor or coordinator feedback. Both student and faculty evaluations of teaching are available.

Application Requirements

All application information can be found at http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/graduate/apply. Specific requirements for the Mathematics Educators specialization are as follows:

• B.S. or B.A. degree in Mathematics. The degree should include courses taken in advanced/multivariable calculus, linear algebra, as well as further core mathematics courses so as to comprise a rigorous undergraduate mathematics major.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Students from non-English speaking countries need to have excellent English skills. Both TOEFL and GRE General Test scores must be presented. (Neither test is required for domestic students).
• GRE Subject Test scores are useful but not required.
• Background in mathematics education is useful but not required, however, a demonstrated interest in education is useful.

Admission & Support

Nearly all admitted students are supported as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA).  Admitted students are generally expected to begin in the Summer Quarter.

Support

Students financial support is in the form of teaching assistantships. A typical teaching load includes two recitations meeting twice a week.Support includes the following:

• Waiver of all instructional tuition fees.
• Waiver also of summer tuition fees.
• Stipend salary for a 9-month period of at least $1800/month.
• Support also during the first summer.

Admission

Each year the Department will admit around six students to this specialization of the M.S. program. Students are expected to arrive at the beginning of the summer quarter in mid-June. During the summer they will participate in courses that prepare them for class room teaching and take further courses that count towards their degree.

^§) Formal recognition as graduate specialization is pending administrative approval.