Mathematics Education (PhD) - Graduate - 2015 University Catalog
Montclair State University's PhD program in Mathematics Education prepares candidates for careers in mathematics education that include:
- teaching mathematics and mathematics education at a two-year college,
- teaching mathematics education and conducting research at a four-year college,
- working with state and federal departments of education or foundations,
- serving as a curriculum specialists or math coach for school districts,
- working with commercial curriculum projects, and
- teaching in a middle or secondary classroom and serving as a peer leader.
The program provides candidates with opportunities to obtain expertise in areas such as the teaching of mathematics, educational leadership, and curriculum development. All candidates work with faculty members to conduct research in mathematics education. The program recognizes the influence that teacher leaders have in renewing and strengthening our nation's educational system and the critical importance of strong education programs in our nation's quest for improving our social and political democracy while maintaining its high technological standards.
ADMISSIONS
Initial admission status requires that students meet the minimum admissions criteria. Prospective students must submit the following for consideration:
- A completed and signed application for doctoral study
- A personal essay describing their view of the relevance of doctoral education to their personal and professional development
- A statement discussing areas of potential research interest
- Transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work, (WES evaluation, if necessary)
- GRE scores; TOEFL or IELTS scores if necessary
- Three letters of recommendation. At least one must be from a college/university faculty member who can attest to candidate's potential to engage in research.
- Application fee.
Note: Mathematics Education was previously known as Mathematics Pedagogy.
Learn more about the Mathematics Education PhD program
MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Complete 60 semester hours to 67 semester hours including the following 8 requirement(s):
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REQUIRED MATHEMATICS EDUCATION COURSES
Complete 5 courses from the following:
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REQUIRED EDUCATION COURSES
Complete 3 courses for 9 semester hours:
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ELECTIVE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION COURSES
Complete 3 courses for 9 semester hours from the following list.
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DEGREE TRACKS
Complete 1 of the following research options:
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PRACTITIONER TRACK
Complete 4 requirements for 15 semester hours:
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Complete 2 courses for 6 semester hours:
EDFD 820 Qualitative Methods for Educational Research (3 hours lecture) 3 MATH 825 Research in Mathematics Education (3 hours lecture) 3 -
Complete for 3 semester hours.
EDFD 821 Quantitative Methods for Educational Research (3 hours lecture) 3 -
Complete 1 course for 3 semester hours from the following list.
EDFD 822 Advanced Methods of Quantitative Inquiry in Education (3 hours lecture) 3 EDFD 823 Advanced Qualitative Research in Education (3 hours lecture) 3 -
Complete for 3 semester hours.
MATH 830 Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 hours seminar) 1-3
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RESEARCH TRACK
Complete 2 requirements for 22 semester hours:
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Complete 3 requirements:
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Complete 4 courses for 12 semester hours:
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Complete for 3 semester hours.
EDFD 821 Quantitative Methods for Educational Research (3 hours lecture) 3 -
Complete for 3 semester hours.
MATH 830 Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 hours seminar) 1-3
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Complete 2 courses for 4 semester hours:
MATH 821 Mathematics Education in Higher Education (3 hours lecture) 3 MATH 822 Mathematics Education in Higher Education Practicum (1 hour lecture) 1
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QUALIFYING PORTFOLIO/EXAM/ASSESSMENT
Successfully complete the qualifying portfolio, examination or assessment requirement.
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REQUIRED DISSERTATION COURSES
Complete the following 2 requirements:
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ADVISEMENT COURSE
Complete for a total of 12 semester hours.
MATH 900 Dissertation Advisement 3-12 -
EXTENSION COURSE
After 12 hours of Dissertation Advisement, register for 1 hour of each semester w/in time limit set by Grad School.
MATH 901 Dissertation Extension 1
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ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY
Following completion of pre-dissertation research courses and qualifying exam, you may be admitted to candidacy.
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DISSERTATION REQUIREMENT
Complete a dissertation in accordance with Graduate School and doctoral program requirements.
Course Descriptions:
EDFD801: Democracy and Education (3 hours lecture)
This course will examine the concept of democracy and a range of interrelated issues inherent in the public purposes of schooling in social and political democracies. Students will inquire into the meaning of citizenship in a democracy, and the role of schools in fostering its development and expression. This inquiry will be conducted comparatively. Varying domestic and international socio-cultural and political contexts will be examined. Students will examine various curricular and pedagogical designs and governance structures that can be associated with models of democratic schooling. The moral obligations of pedagogy and stewardship that fall to teachers in the conduct of educating for democratic citizenship will also be examined. Previous course EDCO 801 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy.
EDFD803: Pedagogy: The Art and Science of Teaching and Learning (3 hours lecture)
This course examines the art and science of teaching and learning in an evolving social and political democracy. It aims at developing an understanding that teaching and learning occur in sociocultural contexts. Themes to be explored include competing views of knowledge and their implications for curriculum construction; current theories of learning and assessment; strategies to ascertain student's prior knowledge and experience; and pedagogical practices that build upon student's cultural capital. The course will examine diverse pedagogical strategies and their relationships to the structure and epistemology of the disciplines. Special attention will be given to the moral dimensions of the teaching-learning process. Previous course EDCO 803 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy.
EDFD804: Organizational Change, Policy and Leadership (3 hours lecture)
In this course, doctoral students will learn to analyze complex organizational patterns, situations and policies that define and affect diverse educational settings in the US and in other places. Students will examine various models of leadership, theories and research on change models, and the processes of educational policy formation. Students will develop an understanding of their own role as change agents. There will be a field component for this course in which students will conduct research on the development, implementation and/or evaluation of a plan for change in an educational setting. Previous course EDCO 804 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy.
EDFD820: Qualitative Methods for Educational Research (3 hours lecture)
This course introduces students to the theories and practices of qualitative research. Students develop skills to critically analyze qualitative studies and the various components of research design. They are also introduced to a rich array of qualitative approaches and possibilities in educational research. They develop an understanding of what is involved in designing original research and have hands-on practice with qualitative data gathering. Previous course ELRS 820 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in a doctoral program at MSU.
EDFD821: Quantitative Methods for Educational Research (3 hours lecture)
This course introduces students to major methodologies and fundamental skills of quantitative research. Students critically examine the features of common research methods, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs, as well as related sampling techniques. Students study the underlying principles of measurement, focusing on such concepts as validity, reliability, and bias. Students also acquire skills for interpreting basic statistical procedures. Topics include descriptive statistics, introduction to probability and statistical inference, and the presentation and interpretation of statistical data in empirical literature. The course provides students with an opportunity to use statistical computing packages, such as SPSS, to support data analysis and interpretation. Previous course ELRS 821 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in a doctoral program at MSU.
EDFD822: Advanced Methods of Quantitative Inquiry in Education (3 hours lecture)
The second in a sequence of two doctoral courses in quantitative research methods, this course enables students to further examine and apply quantitative research methods and tools. Students learn widely-used statistical procedures that are fundamental for the further study of statistics. They study inferential statistical methods and their applications to research. Topics include simple and multiple regression, one-factor analysis of variance, factorial designs, analysis of covariance, and nonparametric methods. Students have multiple opportunities to use statistical computing packages, such as SPSS, to support data analysis. Students further develop the skills for understanding and evaluating the use of quantitative methods in the research literature. Previous course ELRS 822 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: EDFD 821.
EDFD823: Advanced Qualitative Research in Education (3 hours lecture)
This is the second in a sequence of two doctoral courses in qualitative research methods, building on students' initial understanding of qualitative research from EDFD 820 Qualitative Methods of Research in Education. This course offers students the opportunity to develop a more in-depth understanding of qualitative research and its application to original research, including dissertations. Students explore the interconnections and congruence between theoretical and conceptual framing, research design, and data analysis and representation. Previous course ELRS 823 effective through Spring 2013. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: EDFD 820.
MATH740: Technological Tools for Education in Mathematics (3 hours lecture)
This course will explore the research literature on technology tools for education in mathematics and science in order to create a richer and more egalitarian learning environment. Classroom practices and state and national science and mathematics standards will be examined in light of research knowledge on technology in education. The scholarly literature on other issues related to technological literacy, such as equity, will be discussed and explored. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 512 or MATH 513 and matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy or permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH741: Historical and Multicultural Foundations of Mathematical Thought (3 hours lecture)
This course will trace the historical evolution of major themes and concepts in mathematics and the role and influence of various cultures in the development of these ideas. Multicultural perspectives will survey the impact of non-European cultures, including those of Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East, on the development of mathematical thought. The course will also trace major curriculum reform movements in the teaching and learning of mathematics throughout the United States during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and their impact on contemporary school programs. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH742: Mathematical Modeling in the Sciences (3 hours lecture)
The exploration of mathematical models in the sciences and issues related to the teaching and learning of such models. Includes the collection and analysis of data using modern technology. Discussion of curricula that emphasize modeling and current research related to interdisciplinary approaches to teaching mathematics and science. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy. Permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH743: Advanced Perspectives on High School Mathematics (3 hours lecture)
The exploration of mathematics content related to the high school curriculum, but developed from an advanced perspective. Emphasis on multiple representations and justification. Topics may include conic sections, rates of change, and combinatorics. Pedagogy will be discussed in relation to students' learning experiences in the course. 3 sh.
MATH744: Special Topics in Mathematics Education (3 hours lecture)
Topics may be selected from areas such as curriculum development, mathematics education policy, cognition in mathematics, comparative education, teacher development, assessment, perspectives on mathematical content, and student development. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Admission into Ed.D in Math Education and permission of Doctoral Program Director.
MATH745: The Use of Teacher Knowledge in Mathematics Teaching (3 hours lecture)
General and mathematics-specific domains of teacher knowledge are defined, critiqued, compared and contrasted. In addition, they are applied in analyzing and determining the domains' roles in lesson planning, responding to students' questions, addressing students' misconceptions, and assessing student understanding. The research history on teacher knowledge is examined and critiqued with an eye towards understanding the introduction and use of the domains of knowledge being employed by current educators and researchers. The role of these knowledge domains in implementing the NCTM Standards also is examined. Articles on teacher knowledge are discussed and analyzed. These ideas are employed in analyzing classroom or interview videotapes, audiotapes, and transcripts to determine the potential use of teacher knowledge as it is instantiated in more practical situations. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH790: Independent Study in Mathematics Education (3 hours lecture)
With the guidance of a member of the doctoral faculty, students investigate topics that are outside the scope of regular course offerings. This allows doctoral candidates the opportunity to explore research topics more deeply. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 semester hours. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in the Ed.D. in Mathematics Pedagogy; permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH811: Mathematics Education Leadership (3 hours lecture)
Students will gain experience working for systemic change in educational programs and thus become capable of assuming a leadership role for such change. This course is designed to provide a long-term experience with nurturing pedagogy, leadership development, and stewardship of best practices. Candidates will work closely with faculty to develop goals and expectations for specific change in their work settings, where appropriate, then evaluate progress towards these goals. Candidates will conduct field work in this area, including experimental design, implementation, and evaluation of results. The course includes reading, seminars, and portfolio development as well as presentations from visiting faculty and other leaders in mathematics education. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH812: Mathematical Modeling for Middle Level & High School Grades (3 hours lecture)
This course will examine mathematical modeling as a process of identifying a problem, determining a mathematical core, working within that core, and reexamining the problem to ascertain what mathematics reveals about the original problem. Specific models related to various areas of mathematics will be explored, developed, and applied in the solution of contemporary problems, and the models will serve as unifying structures in the secondary curriculum. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH813: Geometry for Middle and High School Grades (3 hours lecture)
This course discusses specific topics from geometry, their impact on the changing geometry curriculum in the schools, their application through technology, and their connection to other areas within and outside mathematics. Examples include dimension, scaling, measurement, and fractal dimension, with their use as unifying themes that can be studied from several points of view, that make use of current visualization technology, and that can be applied across disciplines. Additional topics may be selected from finite and projective geometries, spherical and other non-Euclidean geometries. The roles these topics play in enhancing mathematical thinking and visualization skills, both in these classroom teachers and, ultimately, in the students whom these teachers teach, are emphasized. Classroom materials, activities, and techniques are discussed and developed and concepts explained and explored through various modes, such as hands-on manipulatives, interactive computer software, and graphing calculators. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: A background in undergraduate geometry comparable to MATH 350 and matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH814: Algebra and Analysis for Middle and High School Grades (3 hours lecture)
Topics from algebra and analysis will be used to explore and unify a variety of topics in the changing school curriculum. For example, the topic of linear transformations can be used to motivate the connection between geometric transformations and the related algebra. Topics will be selected to provide students with the tools to approach algebra numerically with middle school students as well as more abstractly with advanced senior high school students. Other topics, such as the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, complex numbers, sequences, and series will be used to bridge the gap between algebra and topics in analysis. Then topics from analysis will be used to build a firm foundation on the structure of various number systems such as real and complex numbers. Part of the course will be axiomatic and theoretical development in the classical sense. Applications of these theoretical results to the school mathematics curriculum and to other academic fields, such as physics, will be explored. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 425 and MATH 431 and matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH815: Critical Thinking and Cognitive Development in Mathematics (3 hours lecture)
Cognitive development and the application of critical thinking and problem solving strategies to the teaching and learning of mathematics. Mathematical models as unifying structures will be examined together with investigations into methods of acquiring mathematical knowledge and the nature of mathematical proof. Contemporary learning theories in mathematics will be surveyed and applied in specific classroom situations. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH816: Mathematics Curricula (3 hours lecture)
This course will engage graduate students in important questions regarding the development, use, and adoption of mathematics curricula in the United States and elsewhere. Students will explore theoretical and historical perspectives on the definition and role of curricula and examine research on the use and impact of various mathematics curricula, including those currently being used in mathematics classrooms. They will investigate the impact of advancing technology on conceptions and delivery of mathematics curricula and explore implications for the future of mathematics education. They will also engage in a critical analysis of a particular mathematics curriculum or collection of curricula. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the Ed.D program.
MATH821: Mathematics Education in Higher Education (3 hours lecture)
Discussion of issues related to mathematics education at four-year colleges, spanning introductory mathematics courses to graduate-level teacher education and research courses. Research and policy initiatives related to collegiate mathematics education will be explored. The implication of these initiatives on teaching and learning at the college-level, as well on the role of faculty, will be discussed. This course is a prerequisite for MATH 822. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: EDFD 820 or EDFD 821.
MATH822: Mathematics Education in Higher Education Practicum (1 hour lecture)
Students will work with a faculty member on the planning, execution, and assessment of an undergraduate course in mathematics education. The course will prepare students for teaching mathematics education at two- and four-year universities. 1 sh.
Prerequisites: MATH 821.
MATH825: Research in Mathematics Education (3 hours lecture)
This course will examine the nature of research in mathematics education, its designs and methodologies, and its impact on school curricula. Research studies in cognitive development, curriculum and instruction, the teaching-learning process, language and communication in mathematics classrooms, and critical contemporary issues in mathematics education will be examined, analyzed, and discussed from the perspective of the classroom teacher. 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Education with a concentration in Pedagogy (Philosophy for Children) or Ed.D.in Mathematics Pedagogy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH830: Dissertation Proposal Seminar (3 hours seminar)
Students will work with their dissertation advisors to develop and refine their dissertation proposals. The seminar is a supplement to the formal dissertation proposal process that is outlined in the handbook. Successful completion of this course does not imply approval of the dissertation proposal. This course will be offered as pass/fail only. Cross listed with Center of Pedagogy EDCO 830 and Educational Foundations EDFD 830. 1 - 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in Ed.D.in Education with a concentration in Pedagogy (Philosophy for Children) or Ed.D.in Mathematics Pedagogy; admission to candidacy, permission of graduate program coordinator.
MATH900: Dissertation Advisement
This department requires 12 credits of MATH 900. While enrolled in MATH 900, students will work with their Dissertation Chair and their Dissertation Committee. Credits are reported as IP (In Progress) while the dissertation is being written. At the conclusion of the dissertation defense, a final grade of Pass or Fail will be recorded. 3 - 12 sh.
Prerequisites: Matriculation in the Ed.D. Mathematics Education (MTHE) Program; Advancement to Candidacy.
MATH901: Dissertation Extension
Once students have acquired 12 credits of MATH 900 Dissertation Advisement, they must enroll in 1 credit of MATH 901 in every semester in which they intend to work on the dissertation, up to and including the semester of the defense. Credits are reported as IP (In Progress) while the dissertation is being written. At the conclusion of the dissertation defense, a final grade of Pass or Fail will be recorded. MATH 901 may be repeated until the time limitation for completion of the doctoral program as specified in the Doctoral Policy Manual has been reached. Cross listed with EDCO 901. 1 sh.
Prerequisites: 12 credits of dissertation advisement.
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