2008-2009 curriculum
Mathematics education
Master of education/initial licensure
(Minnesota state licensure in business education)
Information session
Before applying to this program, applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an
information session for an overview of admission and program requirements.
Hour-long sessions are held at Student Services, Wulling
Hall. Register
online.
Note: The following program requirements apply to students admitted for the 2008-2009 academic year. Program requirements are subject to change. Students should consult a program adviser at the college’s office of Student Services to stay abreast of changes.
Program
The mathematics education initial licensure program at the University of Minnesota is designed to help you become an accomplished professional mathematics educator. The program is designed to help you become an inquiring, analytical, and reflective professional educator prepared to teach in the classroom and lead in the schools.
Master of education (M.Ed.)/initial licensure programs are for individuals with bachelor’s degrees who want to become licensed teachers. These graduate-level programs provide rigorous, professional teacher preparation in accordance with Standards of Effective Practice for Teachers (SEPT) and content standards adopted in fall 1998 by the Minnesota Board of Teaching.
Included in the program is preparation on understanding student learning, working with diverse learners, developing a variety of instructional strategies, creating positive learning environments, and preparing for a collaborative positive professional relationship with colleagues. Students develop skills and understanding of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards.
Students enter a 12-month program integrating educational theory with classroom practice. This program is offered through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Practicum and student teaching create a strong experience base in which to apply the principles and methods learned in University classes.
An important advantage of this program is its cohort nature. Students in each emphasis area begin classes together and continue through their course of study as a single group, building a valuable sense of community. Throughout their student teaching, prospective teachers work closely with experienced teachers, observing firsthand the daily rewards and challenges of the profession.
This program includes two components: initial licensure and M.Ed. degree. After successfully completing licensure requirements, students are recommended for state licensure to teach mathematics in grades 5-8 and 7-12.
After completing an additional 11 graduate credits, students are awarded a master of education (M.Ed.) degree in teaching. Students have seven years to complete their degree, beginning with the first course(s) used in the program, and must maintain a 2.80 grade point average (GPA) for M.Ed. courses.
Timeline
- December 15—All application materials due
- February—Submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for financial aid
- February/March—Committee review of applications
- Late March—Notification of admission decisions
- May 1—Deadline for University of Minnesota application for summer financial aid (eligible only if FAFSA has been submitted)
- Mid-May—Orientation and summer registration
- Early June—Summer term begins. To be eligible to start the program in June, the student’s official Praxis I test scores must be submitted to Student Services by June 1.
Admission criteria
Program admission is based on the following criteria:
- Knowledge of content area—Applicants must have a fully developed knowledge base of the subject area (see content area). A transcript review should be completed by the Student Services program adviser before applying. These reviews may be done by mail or in person. Students completing degrees outside of the United States must arrange for a transcript evaluation (see #3 under the “Application materials” heading below).
- Classroom experience with grades 5-12—100 paid or unpaid hours (for more information, see Classroom Experience)
- Cultural and other diversity experience
- Reflective essay
- Grade point average (GPA)—2.50 overall GPA at the time of application. The bachelor’s degree must be completed by the time of matriculation.
Application materials
Applicants are encouraged to check with a Student Services adviser to keep abreast of possible changes to admission requirements. All applicants must submit the following items:
- M.Ed./initial licensure application form [.pdf]
- Application fee: Make check, money order, or bank draft in the amount of $55 payable to the University of Minnesota. This fee must be paid each time an application is submitted.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary
institutions you have attended or are currently attending,
except the University of Minnesota. Transcripts must be
received from the issuing school in a sealed and stamped
envelope.
Any student with a U.S. bachelor’s degree or a comparable foreign degree from an accredited college or university may apply to CEHD. Official transcripts of all previous post-secondary academic study must be submitted.
If you completed coursework at a university outside of the United States, your transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation center. Request a “course-by-course” evaluation. This process can take four-six weeks, so please plan in advance. A suggested provider of this service is Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 (414-289-3400, fax: 414-289-3411). - Résumé highlighting classroom experience, diversity
experience, and other experiences relevant to your teaching
field. The résumé must include the following details for
each experience:
- Dates and total hours (e.g., October 2007-December 2007; two days/week to total 100 hours)
- Name and location of site
- Supervisor’s name and phone number
- Description of activities
- Description of the cultural background of the population with which you worked
- Reflective essay: Discuss how the experiences listed on your résumé have influenced your decision to become a teacher. Limited to two double-spaced pages, typed or word-processed, size-12 font.
- Two letters of recommendation addressing your education-related experience, work style, and personal attributes. Include at least one letter from a 5-12 site supervisor listed on your résumé. Sealed or unsealed recommendation letters may be submitted. Letters may be submitted in the application packet (preferred) or sent separately to CEHD Student Services.
Additional application materials are required for the following student groups:
Nonnative English speakers and/or international students
All nonnative English speakers must submit an official score
report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
(Exceptions may be granted for applicants who will have
completed 16 semester or 24 quarter credits within the past 24
months in residence as a full-time student at an accredited
institution of higher learning in the United States before
entering the University of Minnesota.)
Minimum TOEFL score requirements are listed below:
| Internet-based test | 79-80 |
| Computer-based test | 213 |
| Paper-based test | 550 |
Applicants may also be required to demonstrate spoken English proficiency in an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and/or oral interview with faculty or staff. Contact Student Services for more information.
International applicants who will require an I-20 for a student visa must submit a Financial Certification Statement, which will be mailed to you upon admission to the program.
Submission of application materials
- Applicant’s first and last names must appear on all pages of application materials.
- Submit all application materials on white paper (using paper clips, not staples) in a single envelope.
- Keep a copy of all application materials you submit.
- In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, write the name of the program to which you are applying (e.g., M.Ed./initial licensure: mathematics education).
- Submit application packages to:
Student Services
College of Education and Human Development
110 Wulling Hall
86 Pleasant Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Notification
All applicants will receive written notification of the admission committee’s final decision. Notification letters are typically mailed within eight to ten weeks after the application deadline. To reserve a space in the program, admitted students must include a nonrefundable $50 confirmation fee with the completed CEHD Intent to Enroll form. This fee offsets the costs of credential file, fingerprinting, and final official transcript processes required for licensure clearance.
The $50 confirmation fee is in addition to the $55 fee paid at the time of application.
Testing
The Minnesota Board of Teaching requires licensure applicants to pass several standardized Praxis Series tests administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). These tests are offered several times a year; students are responsible for registering for and taking Praxis Series tests by the required deadlines. Test information is available from The Praxis Series Information and Registration Bulletin, available at Student Services (612-625-6501) or the ETS Web site.
Students must pass the following tests to be recommended by CEHD for teaching licensure:
- Praxis I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST). Students must take this test before starting the licensure program. To be eligible to begin the program in June, the student’s official Praxis I test scores must be submitted to Student Services by June 1.
Additional Praxis tests must be taken before licensure program completion. See more details at Praxis testing.
Curriculum
Students in the M.Ed./initial licensure program in mathematics education complete foundations, methods, and clinical experience coursework for licensure.
Students begin classes in June and continue through August of the following summer term. During the first and second summers, students complete any remaining mathematics prerequisites.
First summer term
Foundations of education and arithmetic methods
- EDHD 5001—Learning, Cognition, and Assessment (3 cr)
- EDHD 5007—Technology for Teaching and Learning (1.5 cr)
- EDHD 5009—Human Relations: Applied Skills for School and Society (1 cr)
- MTHE 5011—Arithmetic Structures in School Mathematics (3 cr)
- PUBH 6003—Fundamentals of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (1 cr)
Note: The PUBH-designated course listed above may not be applied toward the M.Ed. degree.
Throughout the program, students take courses in foundations of education. Included are courses on psychological, sociological, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of education that lay the foundation for developing a breadth and depth of knowledge and skills in education. Students will also take an arithmetic methods course (MTHE 5011) focusing on recent trends in pedagogy, content, and instructional strategies for teaching mathematics topics typically found in grades K-8. Through inquiry, analysis, and reflection, prospective teachers learn to examine educational issues from multiple perspectives.
Note: Foundations of education coursework may be completed throughout the program, including summer, fall, or spring terms.
Fall term
Algebraic methods
- CI 5452—Reading in the Content Areas for Initial Licensure Candidates (1 cr)
- CI 5644—Working with Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students in the Mainstream Classroom (1 cr)
- EDHD 5003—Developmental and Individual Differences in Educational Contexts (3 cr)
- EDHD 5005—School and Society (2 cr)
- MTHE 5021—Algebraic Structures in School Mathematics (3 cr)
In the fall, student teachers enroll in an algebraic methods course that combines instruction on current methods of planning and teaching mathematics along with extensive clinical experiences. Students will spend time in a local middle school and two different local senior high schools. Student teachers work with University of Minnesota faculty and practicing teachers. They are immersed in secondary and middle-school classrooms, which provides the day-to-day interaction with students essential to teaching mathematics effectively.
Spring term
Geometric methods and student teaching
- MTHE 5031—Geometric Structures in School Mathematics (3 cr)
- MTHE 5696—Student Teaching in Mathematics (8 cr) (cannot be applied to M.Ed. degree)
In the spring, students complete a course on teaching geometry. The course introduces students to the latest trends in teaching geometry and is aligned with a placement at a local middle school or senior high school. Students also engage in a 10-week student teaching experience later in the semester. Each student teacher is assigned a mentor mathematics teacher and a University of Minnesota supervisor who can help the student teacher to assume the responsibilities of teaching mathematics and to critically analyze and reflect on their teaching practice.
M.Ed. completion
After teaching for at least one year, students complete the master of education degree by completing four courses from the following lists:
Required courses
- MTHE 5314—Teaching and Learning Mathematics (3 cr) [available fall semester]
- MTHE 5366—Technology-Assisted Mathematics Instruction (3 cr) [available spring semester]
- MTHE 5993—Directed Studies in Mathematics Education (2 cr) [available every semester]
Elective course (choose one):
- MTHE 5100—Topics in Mathematics Education (3 cr)
- MTHE 5155—Rational Number Concepts and Proportionality (3 cr)
- MTHE 5171—Teaching Problem Solving (3 cr)
- MTHE 5172—Teaching Probability and Statistics (3 cr)
See course descriptions and course schedules.
Preadmission program adviser
Rudy Hernández
Student Services
210 Wulling Hall
612-626-1513
E-mail: r-hern@umn.edu
Core faculty
Lesa Clarkson, 612-626-9243; e-mail: covin005@umn.edu
Kathleen A. Cramer, 612-624-7312; e-mail: crame013@umn.edu
Tamara Moore, 612-624-1516; e-mail: tamara@umn.edu
Thomas Post, 612-625-0069; e-mail: postx001@umn.edu
Terry Wyberg, 612-625-9823; e-mail: wyber001@umn.edu
Revised June 2008