Degree and Certification

This degree is a bachelor of science in education in middle school education with an emphasis in mathematics.

Additionally, upon successfully completing the initial teacher-certification process, the state grants you certification in middle school mathematics (grades 5 through 9).

Program of Study

This program encompasses three areas of study:

Phase I: Freshman – Sophomore Year

You are automatically accepted into Phase I with admittance to the University.

Course Work

The majority of your time in Phase I is spent completing your general-education requirements.

Course work through the College of Education focuses on facilitating learning at all levels of development. Consideration is given to the influences of cultural, political, historical and economic factors on students, teachers and schools.

Field Experiences

Field experiences in Phase I include:

• Sixteen hours in a classroom environment tutoring and working with students in small groups under teacher supervision.
• 20 hours in a service learning environment serving in community organizations (e.g. Big Brothers Big Sisters, Granny’s House).

Phase II: Junior Year

You must apply for admittance into Phase II in the spring of your sophomore year. For more information about the application process, please consult your adviser.

Course Work

In this phase, you consider different ways to teach mathematics by learning research-based instructional practices.

Field Experiences

You will spend approximately 24 hours per semester in learning labs or mathematics classrooms. You will help foster learning by engaging with individual students, working in small groups or teaching portions of a mathematics lesson plan.

Phase III: Senior Year

Course Work

In this phase, you will continue to examine and reflect upon research-based instructional practices for teaching mathematics.

Field Experiences

In your senior year you will have extensive experiences in the field. In the fall you are assigned to a middle school mathematics classroom for a 16-week, full-time internship under the mentorship of an experienced middle school mathematics teacher. During the fall internship, you are expected to actively plan, prepare and implement mathematics lesson plans that foster student engagement and learning, use appropriate tools to support instruction and manage all aspects of classroom instruction.

In the spring, you will continue to spend at least 20 hours interning in a middle school mathematics classroom. During this field experience, you will teach mathematics by engaging with individual students, working in small groups and teaching lessons.