MASTER OF ARTS FOR THE TEACHING MATHEMATICS DEGREE

MASTER OF ARTS FOR THE TEACHING MATHEMATICS DEGREE

DEGREE TO BE AWARDED UPON COMPLETION OF REQUIREMENTS: The MATM degree will be sponsored jointly by the College of Arts and Science and the College of Education; Arts and Science will confer the degree.

DATE OF INITIATION: May 1986. (Updated December 1998).

DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM:

The MATM program is designed to upgrade the mathematical and educational expertise of practicing (or those intending to be practicing) secondary teachers. Mathematics is best taught by people who know and enjoy mathematics, and the program seeks to produce individuals with strong mathematical backgrounds who are committed to the teaching of mathematics. The program is flexible so that a participant can build on his/her background without having to spend too much time doing remedial work.

The aim of the program is to train future leaders of the pre-college mathematics community - dedicated teachers who will be developing and refining classroom materials and be closely involved in the decisions affecting the future of pre-college mathematics.

This program fills a gap that presently occurs between existing Masters' degree programs in Education and the traditional Master of Science degree program in Mathematics. The former stress educational theory, method and practice, while the latter is regarded as preparatory for subsequent Doctoral studies or nonacademic employment. By contrast, the MATM program leads to a terminal degree, emphasizing subject knowledge but also recognizing the importance of further professional education course work.

We recognize that high school math teachers have varied backgrounds in mathematics, so it is inappropriate to have exactly the same requirements for all students in the program. For example, some may have recently graduated and have had Math 373, 474, and 475 within the last five years. For them, we would supply other courses of a more advanced nature. On the other hand, we should accept those with weaker backgrounds and allow them to take the aforementioned courses (naturally giving them extra work to do) with a graduate number and allow them to count towards the degree. The same would hold for those that had those courses many years ago and have effectively forgotten the ideas contained therein. In addition, if the student has not had these courses then we may legitimately allow students to include 285, 310, 311, 330, 331, 352, 410, 420, 430, 440, 485, 486, 488 as part of the degree requirements with the same proviso as mentioned above. We have several topics courses at the 600 and 700 level which may be used to implement the above. (Specific details of the precise requirements are provided below)

677 Topics for High School Teachers (repeatable for up to 9 credits when content differs)
776 Topics in Algebra and Discrete Math for High School Teachers (repeatable for up to 9 credits when content differs) To be Proposed

777 Topics in Analysis for High School Teachers (repeatable for up to 9 credits when content differs) To be Proposed

778 Topics in Applied Math for High School Teachers (repeatable for up to 9 credits when content differs) To be Proposed

The MATM degree is a service degree and its inclusion in UNR's degree programs is entirely consistent with the University's role as a land grant school and the accompanying obligation to offer some degree programs that are of direct and immediate applicability to Nevada.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

The requirements of the graduate school will be followed. These are 32 graduate credits, with at least 15 of these being at 700 course level; of these 32 credits, 23 will be in mathematics and 9 in professional education. No thesis is required. Specific Requirements and credit are as follows: MATM CREDIT WILL NOT BE GIVEN FOR ANY COURSE TAKEN AS AN UNDERGRADUATE OR FOR ANOTHER DEGREE.

Math 373 (taken as 677 for 3 credits)
Math 182 Optional (taken as 677 for 1 credit)
Math 283 Optional (taken as 677 for 1 credit)
Math 330 (taken as 776 for 3 credits)
At least one of 331 (776 for 3 credits) or 310 (777 for 3 credits)
Math 674 3 credits
Math 675 3 credits
9 credits at 600 or 700 level of approved Math Education courses (see below)
8 credits of math electives can be selected from any of the following list. (This list is not complete since most 300-400 math courses will qualify.) This list also applies when any of the above courses cannot be taken because it would represent a repetition of work done recently as an undergraduate

285 (2 credits for 778)

311 (3 credits for 777)

440 (3 credits for 777)

352 (3 credits for 778)

410 (3 credits for 777)

420 (3 credits for 778)

430 (3 credits for 777)

452 (3 credits for 776)

485 (3 credits for 776)

486 (3 credits for 776)

488 (3 credits for 777)

Special MATM offerings such as Set Theory, Number theory, Projective Geometry, etc. (2-3 credits for one of 776, 777, 778 depending on content).

Professional Education Courses: Courses totaling 9 credits may be selected from the following list. (This is not a complete list of acceptable courses and the particular courses will be chosen in consultation with the candidate's graduate advisory and examining committee.)

CTL 642 Curriculum Development in Mathematics (3 credits)

EDS 651 Improving Mathematics Instruction (3 credits)

CTL 655 Technology in Math education (3 credits)

CTL 640Curriculum Integration:Methodology & Applications (3 credits)

CTL 728d Problems in Teaching (Mathematics) (1 - 6 credits)

CTL 746 Secondary School Curriculum (3 credits)

CEP 642 Individual Appraisal (3 credits)
CEP 700 Introduction to Educational Research (3 credits)
CEP 738 Learning Theories in Education (3 credits)

Additionally, to qualify for the MATM degree the candidate must pass a written comprehensive examination covering three of the core courses (310, 330, 331, 373, 674, 675) and one other math course taken for 700 level credit and then must pass a final oral examination. The graduate committee of the Department of Mathematics is responsible for the administration and evaluation of the comprehensive examination, while the final oral examination is conducted by the candidate's graduate advisory and examining committee.

In summary, the MATM curriculum will provide subject matter courses and professional education courses designed to enrich a secondary school teacher's background and knowledge. The program emphasizes the attainment and teaching of knowledge rather than its discovery. Conduct of research is not a central theme of the program. Of course, students may take courses in which research is undertaken, but the prime emphasis will be on teaching the program candidates how to evaluate research and adapt it effectively to the secondary school classroom setting.

From the standpoint of organization, the College of Arts and Science will be the home of the MATM program with the Department of Mathematics effecting the day-to-day administration.

Program Entrance Requirements: To be accepted into the MATM program a student must have the following:

a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university with an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher on a scale of 4.0 or an average of 3.0 based on the last half of the undergraduate program;
the aptitude part of the Graduate Record Examination;
a valid (secondary school level) teaching certification in math or be eligible to be certified in math.

Academic Performance: Each graduate course must be completed with a grade of C or better for the credit to count towards the degree. Each candidate must earn a B average or better on all graduate courses taken.

Final Revision 12/7/98

1 In the case of 331 the student must also pass 182,283, and 285 if they did not have these as an undergraduate. The student is strongly advised to have a background of 283 in order to take 310 so in either instance the calculus sequence will form a strong foundation for the MATM degree.