About the Program

Welcome to Mathematics Education

Over its long and distinguished history, the Program in Mathematics Education has stressed the preparation of leaders in education. These leaders are successful scholars in their discipline, as well as educators. Faculty and staff are committed to leadership training through a variety of courses, workshops, and research experiences. Many of these are performed in collaboration with private, public, and parochial schools in the tri-state metropolitan region.

Through funded projects, dissertation research, training and service to national organizations, the faculty and students in mathematics education have helped frame the curriculum and methodology used in the schools of this and other nations. The Program in Mathematics Education emphasizes strong content preparation in a variety of areas of pure and applied mathematics relevant to education.

Master’s level offerings in mathematics education are appropriate for both initial and professional teachers. Advanced master’s and doctoral programs complete preparation for a variety of positions including: teaching, supervisory, and research roles spanning the elementary through college levels of instruction. Some courses offered through these programs are intended especially for students from other areas of study at Teachers College who need to acquire knowledge and skills in mathematics but who do not wish to earn a degree in this area.

Master of Arts

Emphasis is placed on those competencies necessary for effective mathematics teaching as a means of enhancing professional growth of initial and professional teachers. Conceptual issues in teaching are translated into practice through group and individualized instruction in special methods courses. Master of Arts requirements include a culminating scholarly project.

A minimum of 32 points of coursework is required. No transfer credit for graduate courses completed elsewhere can be applied to the M.A. degree. Courses taken through these programs and elsewhere at Teachers College in mathematics, mathematics education, and professional education to meet individual needs may be supplemented with permission by courses taken in other faculties of  .

Master of Science and Master of Education

Both programs require a minimum of 60 points, an essay or project, and involve extensive preparation in mathematics education.    For the Master of Science degree the college requires that a minimum of 32 points with an integrative project be completed under the auspices of Teachers College, including 18 points that must be earned in Teachers College courses. Master of Science students may use a maximum of 28 semester hours of graduate credit from other recognized institutions to reduce the degree requirement.  Master of Education students may apply a maximum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit towards degree requirements. Please refer to the Degree Requirements section of this bulletin for college-wide minimum point requirements. For the M.S. degree, there is greater emphasis on preparation in mathematics content. In the Ed.M. program, there is greater emphasis on preparation in professional education. Programs are arranged in consultation with the major professor to meet both Program and College requirements.

Applicants for the M.S. and Ed.M. degrees must also prepare a written integrative project.

Doctoral Degrees

The Department provides programs for both the Ed.D. and the Ph.D. degrees. In general, the Ed.D. degree places emphasis on breadth of professional coursework with a focus on educational practice. All candidates are required to be competent in statistical research methodology and computer programming, and to have knowledge of the epistemology of mathematics and of psychology sufficient to be an informed scholar-practitioner. All doctoral candidates must have a written program plan, approved by their advisor. The approved plan then must be approved by the Office of Doctoral Studies. Following submission of a statement of total program, the student normally completes doctoral coursework and engages in doctoral research and writing. Refer to the Ph.D. and Ed.D. Requirements Bulletin, prepared by the Office of Doctoral Studies, for a fuller description of degree requirements.

In planning a program of study, it should be noted that doctoral students are required to complete a minimum of 20 points after taking the certification examination for the first time, including points taken during the term in which that examination is taken.

Specializations

Elementary School Mathematics
The Elementary School Mathematics Specialist program is designed for those who are preparing for positions of leadership in elementary schools or in the training of elementary school teachers. Programs for elementary school specialists emphasize knowledge of subject matter, methodologies, and curricula of mathematics and include appropriate field experiences with elementary school students and teachers. In addition to program offerings, students have access to courses in related departments and institutions.

Secondary School Mathematics
The Secondary School Teaching program includes an in-service component for experienced teachers and pre-service education for students entering the profession. Programs are designed individually in consultation with a faculty advisor to reflect each teacher’s background and goals. The program stresses the direct application of theory to practice with particular emphasis on experiences with teaching strategies that match classroom activities to student characteristics, that examine teacher and student interpersonal interaction, and that reflect the historical and philosophical roots of the discipline.

Supervision in Schools
Students interested in mathematics supervision in schools may elect to develop individual programs that reflect their specific background and interests and that draw on the resources of the Department and College, or they may work as part of the staff of the field-based teacher education programs. School and university faculty work with graduate students in a collaborative effort where teaching, pre-service, and supervision training and education research are intimately related.

Teacher Education in Mathematics
The Teacher Education in Mathematics program is designed to prepare scholars for educational leadership roles as education professors in colleges and universities. Participants in the program have opportunities to build their mathematics content background through content courses in the Department and the offerings of Columbia University. There are opportunities also for professional experiences in the initial and professional teacher education programs.

College Teaching of an Academic Subject
Teachers College offers a doctorate in college teaching that emphasizes preparation in content supplemented by a program of professional education. Field experiences can be pursued in mathematics, computing, and several related disciplines. The course content and sequence are especially organized to meet the unique needs and career goals of each candidate within the general requirements of the Ed.D. degree at Teachers College.