Mathematics education
Master of education/professional studies
Program
The master of education (M.Ed.)/professional studies program in mathematics education is designed for experienced mathematics teachers who want to acquire advanced knowledge and leadership skills in the field of mathematics education.
This graduate-level, practitioner-based program is offered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
The program is flexible and can be tailored to accommodate individual needs. With guidance from faculty advisers, students complete at least 30 semester credits of work in three areas: a core academic program in education, coursework specific to the area of mathematics education, and elective coursework that allows students to choose additional courses within or outside the College of Education and Human Development. Requirements also include a school-based project examining a problem, issue, or topic identified by the student.
Courses at the University of Minnesota are offered at a variety of times, including late afternoons. Students can also enroll in courses offered during the summer and at off-campus school sites.
Admission
Admission requirements to this program include the following criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- A 2.80 minimum GPA
- A written personal statement describing your career goals and rationale for interest in the M.Ed. program (limit two pages)
- A résumé
- A completed CEHD Application for Admission to M.Ed./Professional Studies Programs, available at the college’s office of Student Services, 150 Williamson Hall, 231 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-6501; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu; or on the Web.
The college reviews applications on an ongoing basis. Application reviews for specific academic terms begin by the following dates. Students are encouraged to submit application materials to Student Services by the following dates:
- November 1—spring semester admission
- March 1—summer session admission
- July 1—fall semester admission
Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions four to six weeks after application deadlines.
Transfer credits
A maximum of 12 graduate semester transfer credits may be applied to the M.Ed. program. Credits may include any combination of the following coursework:
- Up to six graduate semester credits from fully accredited institutions other than the University of Minnesota for students enrolled at the University’s Twin Cities campus; up to nine graduate semester credits for students enrolled at the University’s Rochester campus
- Credits completed at the University of Minnesota before admission to the M.Ed. program
Transfer coursework must be completed at the graduate level and approved by a faculty adviser and the college. Workshop credits are usually not accepted for transfer to C&I programs. Contact the program’s faculty adviser for more information.
Curriculum
Students must complete at least 30 semester credits in the following areas:
Core requirements (minimum 6 cr)
- CI 5155—Contemporary Approaches to Curriculum: Instruction and Assessment (3 cr)
- CI 5177—Practical Research (3 cr) To be taken toward end of M.Ed. program; consult with faculty adviser.
- Mathematics education requirements (minimum 14 cr)
- Select two courses from the following list:
- MTHE 5155—Rational Number Concepts and Proportionality (3 cr)
- or MTHE 5170—Historical Topics in the Mathematics Classroom (3 cr)
- or MTHE 5171—Teaching Problem Solving (3 cr)
- or MTHE 5172—Teaching Probability and Statistics (3 cr)
- MTHE 5355—Mathematics for Diverse Learners (3 cr)
- MTHE 5314—Teaching and Learning Mathematics (3 cr) or MTHE 5313—Teaching and Learning Mathematics in the Middle School (3 cr)
- MTHE 5366—Technology-Assisted Mathematics Instruction (3 cr)
- MTHE 5993—Directed Studies in Mathematics Education (2 cr) To be taken after CI 5177; consult with faculty adviser.
Electives (minimum 10 cr)
Students choose electives from Math-designated coursework; a MTHE-designated course may be included.
After completing CI 5177 and a majority of the required and elective coursework, students independently complete MTHE 5993 under guidance of the faculty adviser.
Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.
Registration
Currently admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students may register online for coursework.
Students who want to begin M.Ed. coursework before admission to the M.Ed. program must complete a CEHD First-Time Registration for non-degree seeking Students packet [.pdf]. Packets are also available at the college’s office of Student Services, 360 Education Sciences Building, 56 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-3339; e-mail: cehdgrad@umn.edu.
For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-5815.
Core faculty
For more program information, visit the C&I Web site or contact faculty members listed below:
Lesa M. Covington-Clarkson,
assistant professor
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
612-626-9243; e-mail:
covin005@umn.edu
Kathleen A. Cramer,
associate professor
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
612-624-7312; e-mail:
cram013@umn.edu
Tamara Moore,
assistant professor
PhD, Purdue University
612-624-1516
e-mail: tamara@umn.edu
Thomas Post,
professor
Ed.D., Indiana University
612-625-0069; e-mail:postx001@umn.edu
Terry Wyberg,
lecturer
Ph.D., University of Minnesota
612-625-9823; e-mail:
wyber001@umn.edu
Updated October 2008