With six different options in undergraduate degrees, including dual majors, our Mathematics Education program prepares professionals for a variety of positions of instructional leadership in the field of mathematics education. We offer degrees for middle school (grades 6 – 9) and high school (grades 9 – 12) education.
Program Description
The mathematics education programs at NC State include a variety of general and professional components. The general education component consists of courses and experiences in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and physical education that promote knowledge and enhance interests associated with a broadly educated person. The professional component consists of four areas:
- General pedagogical knowledge and skills;
- Content area knowledge and skills;
- Pedagogical content area knowledge and skills;
- Educational context knowledge.
General and professional knowledge is insufficient for preparation as a teacher. Students must also practice using the knowledge in the appropriate setting. Field experiences in the program provide the opportunity for on the job training, culminating in a year-long student teaching experience.
In the High School program (grades 9 – 12), prospective mathematics teachers develop sufficient content knowledge of the mathematical sciences (i.e. mathematics, statistics, and computer science) to teach all high school level courses. Many students in this program choose to pursue a dual degree option, which allows them to receive a B.S. in mathematics education and a B.S. in mathematics or statistics in NC State’s College of Science.
In the Middle School program, prospective mathematics teachers develop necessary and specialized knowledge of mathematics and science to be able to meaningfully teach these areas in the middle grades (6 – 9). Students in this program have the option to pursue a dual teaching license. This means they receive a B.S. in mathematics education, but may be recommended for licensure in both middle grades mathematics and middle grades science.