Mathematical Sciences, M.S. (Precollegiate Mathematics Concentration)

General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:

Kimberly Brockman; brockmank@etsu.edu; 423-439-6165

Dr. Robert M. Price, Jr., Department Chair and Program Coordinator

312 Gilbreath Hall
Box 70663
Johnson City, TN 37614
423-439-5359
e-mail: pricejr@etsu.edu

Faculty:

Robert Gardner; Anant Godbole; Teresa Haynes; Michel Helfgott; Debra Knisley; Jeff Knisley; Yali Liu; Yared Nigussie; Rick Norwood; George Poole; Robert Price; Edith Seier; Daryl Stephens.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a concentration in Precollegiate Mathematics. The precollegiate mathematics concentration is designed for in-service teachers and consists of an eight-course sequence with two tracks - a K-8 mathematics track and a 7-12 track - with the aim of producing an in-depth, profound understanding of the mathematics taught in elementary, middle, and high school. In addition, there are six hours of independent study and thesis research.

The courses for this degree are offered as part of a cohort. All who enroll in the program will proceed through the entire sequence as a group.

Program Admission Requirements

For admission to the program, a student must:

1. Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;
2. Submit three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with applicant’s academic performance, addressing likelihood of success in the School of Graduate Studies, and;
3. Complete all of the admission requirements of the graduate school.

Incoming students lacking certain prerequisites may be required to make up these deficiencies. However, graduate credit will not be given for this coursework.

Minimum Degree Requirements

The courses to be taken are listed below. All students in the program will take the same 21 hours of core courses. The other nine hours taken depend on whether the student is an elementary/middle or middle/secondary teacher.

Some Disclaimers

• This degree will not license you to teach math. (You need a Bachelor of Science degree with a Mathematics Education concentration or the MAT in Secondary mathematics.)
• This degree will not give you an add-on mathematics licensure. (You need 21 hours of mathematics classes at the undergraduate level as specified by the College of Education.)
• This degree is intended primarily for in-service teachers.
• This program will be offered, at least for the first few years, as a cohort program. Check with Anant Godbole (godbolea@etsu.edu) to see when the next cohort will start.
• Graduates of the secondary program will have enough mathematics hours to be highly qualified as teachers of mathematics under No Child Left Behind; graduates of the elementary program who have at least 3 undergraduate hours of mathematics prior to this degree will also be highly qualified as teachers of mathematics under No Child Left Behind.
• Graduates of this program will not be qualified to teach college-level mathematics at a community college or four-year college. Persons intending to pursue a career in collegiate teaching should enroll in the regular Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences .