Mathematics Education (BS): Middle Grades Mathematics Concentration
The Mathematics Education: Middle Grades Concentration (BS) degree is one of four undergraduate degree options in the Mathematics Education program in the Department of STEM Education.
This degree program prepares teacher-leaders to have a deep understanding of the mathematics and statistics they will teach and knowledge about different pedagogical strategies they can apply in the classroom. Students take five courses focused on mathematics education, beginning in their sophomore year. In addition, students take courses specific to teaching content in the middle grades. Our professional courses in the junior and senior year offer relevant pedagogical experiences, emphasize teaching mathematics with technology, and provide rich field experiences in math classrooms. Graduates are recommended for an initial North Carolina teaching license in mathematics grades 6-9. Students in this program have the option to pursue a dual teaching license. This means they will receive a BS in Mathematics Education but they may be recommended for licensure in both middle grades mathematics and middle grades science. They will be able to seek employment opportunities in education and make a positive difference in their communities.
Students in this program also have the opportunity to participate in:
- Undergraduate research
- Kappa student chapter of the NC Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and other high impact experiences such as Passport to Success, SAY Village, and study abroad
- Tutoring in local schools
For more information about this program, visit our website.
Program Coordinator
Dr. Cyndi Edgington
502J Poe Hall
919.515.1754
cpedging@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation Course | |||
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 2 | 2 | |
| Statistics | |||
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics 2 | 3 | |
| Mathematics | |||
| MA 141 | Calculus I 2 | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 2 | 4 | |
| MA 225 | Foundations of Advanced Mathematics 2 | 3 | |
| MA 403 | Introduction to Modern Algebra 2 | 3 | |
| MA 408 | Foundations of Euclidean Geometry 2 | 3 | |
| Linear Algebra Elective 2 | 3 | ||
MA 205 | |||
| Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | |||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | |||
| Discrete Math Elective | 3 | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Mathematics | |||
| Mathematics of Finance | |||
| Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications | |||
| Sciences | |||
| CH 100 | Chemistry and Society 2 | 4 | |
| or CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| BIO 105 & BIO 106 | Biology in the Modern World and Biology in the Modern World Laboratory 2 | 4 | |
| PY 131 | Conceptual Physics 2 | 4 | |
| Science Elective 2 | 3 | ||
| Communication | |||
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 | |
| Additional MA/SCI Electives | |||
| Choose 6 credits from this list | 6 | ||
To be eligible for a teaching license in mathematics only, either mathematics or science courses may be selected. To be eligible for teaching licenses in both mathematics and science, two science elective courses must be selected from EMS 375, PY 124, MEA 130 or MEA 101 and one must be chosen from PY 123, MEA 130, MEA 101, ES 100, ES 200, or ES 300. Grades below a C are not permitted in these sciences courses. (at most one grade below a C is permitted in required and elective math, statistics, and computer science courses) | |||
| Professional Education | |||
| EMS 204 | Introduction to Mathematics Education 3 | 2 | |
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 2 | 2 | |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 309 | Teaching in the Middle Years 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 306 | Middle Years Reading 2 | 3 | |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 305 | Equity and Education 2 | 3 | |
| EMS 480 | Teaching Mathematics with Technology 2 | 3 | |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 2 | 2 | |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 2 | 1 | |
| EMS 474 | Teaching Mathematics Topics in the Middle Grades 2 | 3 | |
| EMS 470 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Mathematics 2 | 3 | |
| EMS 471 | Student Teaching in Mathematics 2 | 10 | |
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education 2 | 2 | |
| EMS 490 | School Mathematics from an Advanced Perspective 2 | 3 | |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 2 | 3 | |
| GEP Courses | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives 2 | 5 | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 3
A grade of B- or higher is required.
- 4
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
Science Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ES 100 | Introduction to Environmental Sciences | 3 | |
| ES 200 | Climate Change and Sustainability | 3 | |
| ES 300 | Energy and Environment | 3 | |
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 | |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 | |
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
Additional Mathematics/Science Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC 110 | Computer Science Principles - The Beauty and Joy of Computing | 3 | |
| MA 116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming (Math) | 3 | |
| ST 312 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 | |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 3 | |
| MA 325 | Introduction to Applied Mathematics | 3 | |
| MA 335 | Symbolic Logic | 3 | |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| MA 351 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models | 3 | |
| MA 402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 | |
| MA 410 | Theory of Numbers | 3 | |
| MA 416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 | |
| MA 421 | Introduction to Probability | 3 | |
| MA 425 | Mathematical Analysis I | 3 | |
| MA 427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 | |
| MA 430 | Mathematical Models in the Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| MA 432 | Mathematical Models in Life Sciences | 3 | |
| MA 437 | Applications of Algebra | 3 | |
| LOG 335 | Symbolic Logic | 3 | |
| PY 124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 | |
| MEA 130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 | |
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 | |
| EMS 375 | Methods of Teaching Science I | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 4 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 4 | |
| Chemistry and Society 1 or Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| ED 100 | Intro to Education 3 | 2 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA 241 | Calculus II 2 | 4 |
| BIO 105 & BIO 106 | Biology in the Modern World and Biology in the Modern World Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| COM 112 | Interpersonal Communication D | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MA 225 | Foundations of Advanced Mathematics 2, 4 | 3 |
| PY 131 | Conceptual Physics 1 | 4 |
| EMS 204 | Introduction to Mathematics Education 3 | 2 |
| ED 204 | Introduction to Teaching in Today's Schools 3 | 2 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA 103 | Topics in Contemporary Mathematics 2 or Mathematics of Finance or Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications | 3 |
| Select one: | ||
| Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices 2 or Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
Science Elective 1, 5 | ||
| Mathematics Elective 2, 4 | 3 | |
| EDP 304 | Educational Psychology 3 | 3 |
| ECI 309 | Teaching in the Middle Years 3 | 3 |
| ECI 305 | Equity and Education 3 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MA 403 | Introduction to Modern Algebra 2 | 3 |
| ELP 344 | School and Society 3 | 3 |
| ED 311 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices 3 | 2 |
| ED 312 | Classroom Assessment Principles and Practices Professional Learning Lab 3 | 1 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics 2 | 3 |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EMS 474 | Teaching Mathematics Topics in the Middle Grades 3 | 3 |
| ECI 306 | Middle Years Reading 3 | 3 |
| ECI 416 | Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms 3 | 3 |
| EMS 480 | Teaching Mathematics with Technology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Science Elective 1, 5 | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MA 408 | Foundations of Euclidean Geometry 2 | 3 |
| EMS 470 | Methods and Materials for Teaching Mathematics 3 | 3 |
| EMS 490 | School Mathematics from an Advanced Perspective | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 4 | 3 | |
Science Elective 1, 5 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EMS 495 | Senior Seminar in Mathematics and Science Education | 2 |
| EMS 471 | Student Teaching in Mathematics | 10 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 117 | |
- 1
At most one grade below a C- is permitted in the courses satisfying the science requirements for a student intending to license in mathematics. For a student intending to license in mathematics and science, no grades below a C are permitted in the courses satisfying the science requirements.
- 2
At most one grade below a C is permitted in the mathematics, statistics, and computer science courses.
- 3
A grade below a B- is not permitted in EMS 204. A grade below a C is not permitted in all other EMS, EDP, ECI, ELP, ED courses.
- 4
Grade below a C is not permitted in MA 141 or MA 225.
- 5
To be eligible for a teaching license in mathematics only, either mathematics or science courses may be selected. To be eligible for teaching licenses in both mathematics and science, two science elective courses must be selected from EMS 375, PY 124, MEA 130 or MEA 101 and one must be chosen from PY 123, MEA 130, MEA 101, ES 100, ES 200, or ES 300. Grades below C are not permitted in these science courses.
Career Opportunities
Career Titles
- Elementary School Teacher
- High School Teacher
- Math Professor
- Middle School Teacher
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