Ph.D. in Mathematics
(Math. Education Specialization) - Program Guidelines
This document
supplements the Montana State University
Graduate Catalog.
Program Guidelines
The Ph.D. in Mathematics -
Mathematics Education Specialization is designed for candidates with
research interests focused on the teaching and learning of mathematics
and/or mathematics curriculum, instruction, assessment, and teacher
preparation/professional development in the K-12 education system.
Graduates of this program generally seek employment in a university
Mathematics Department.
Admission (preferred
qualifications)
-
A masters degree in mathematics,
statistics, or mathematics education, including courses comparable to
the MSU course offerings MATH 361 & 362 (Advanced Calculus I
& II).
- One of the following:
- Teacher certification with a
mathematics endorsement
- Two years K-12 teaching
experience
- Two years college teaching
experience
Required Equivalencies (upon
completion of coursework)
Provisional Licensure: All graduates of this program
are expected to
acquire a minimum level of competency in secondary mathematics
instruction, comparable to satisfying the requirements for Montana's provisional license to teach
mathematics. This includes a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics
and at least six credit hours of education coursework. Ph.D. candidates
who fall short of the six-credit requirement will select courses from
the following:
- Complete a secondary mathematics
methods course (EDSD 461 or EDSD 471)
- Complete either MATH 520, MATH
522, or MATH 523
K-12 Classroom Experience: Students
who lack sufficient exposure to instruction at the elementary or
secondary level will be required to complete school-based internships
prior to beginning dissertation research. Each internship calls for 135
hours of field experience as well
as participation in a spring seminar that may address reviews of
research,
lesson study, analysis of student work, and reflection on classroom
experiences.
- Elementary internship: teach,
tutor, and observe students in a K-8 classroom
- Secondary internship: teach one
or more courses at high school level
Required Course Work (70 credits)
Educational Statistics and
Research Methods (15 credits)
Internships--see explanation
above (up to 6 credits)
- MATH 576-01 (3) Internship:
Elementary
- MATH 576-02 (3) Internship:
Secondary
Supporting University
Coursework--to be approved by committee (up to 6 credits)
Mathematics Education (7 credits)
- MATH 528 (3) Curriculum Design
in Mathematics (alternate years, online)
- MATH 529 (3) Models of
Assessment in Mathematics (alternate years, online)
- MATH 500 (1) Seminar (once for
credit, then ongoing attendance)
Mathematics--choose from the
following (15 credits)
- MATH 503 (3) Advanced Linear
Algebra
- MATH 504 (3) Abstract Algebra
- MATH 505 (3) Principles of
Mathematical Analysis
- MATH 511 (3) General Topology
- MATH 512 (3) Geometric &
Algebraic Topology
- MATH 547 (3) Real Analysis I
- MATH 551 (3) Complex Analysis I
- MATH 544 (3) Partial
Differential Equations I
- MATH 545 (3) Partial
Differential Equations II
- MATH 560 (3) Methods of Applied
Mathematics I
- MATH 561 (3) Methods of Applied
Mathematics II
- MATH 581 (3) Numerical Solutions
of Differential Equations I
- MATH 582 (3) Numerical Solutions
of Differential Equations II
- MATH 584 (3) Functional Analysis
I
- MATH 585 (3) Functional Analysis
II
- MATH 586 (3) Probability Theory
- MATH 591 (3) Topics in Applied
Mathematics I
- MATH 592 (3) Topics in Applied
Mathematics II
- MATH 595 (3) Dynamical Systems I
- MATH 596 (3) Dynamical Systems
II
- MATH 597 (3) Topics in
Mathematics I
- MATH 598 (3) Topics in
Mathematics II
- MATH 570 (3) Individual Problems
- Or another approved 500 level
MATH or STAT course
Dissertation (21 credits)
- MATH 689 (3) Doctoral Reading
& Research
- MATH 690 (18) Doctoral Thesis
Note: Students may not register for
dissertation credits until all written comprehensive exams have been
successfully
completed.
Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
The written comprehensive
examination for the Ph.D. in Mathematics - Mathematics Education
Specialization consists of three, 4-hour components. Upon successful
completion of all written comprehensive examinations, the student may
proceed to preparation and defense of the dissertation proposal. The
student's doctoral committee may choose to substitute the proposal
defense for an
oral defense of the comprehensive exams. Ideally, students should plan
to
take the mathematics component in August following the first year of
study,
and the remaining two components following the second year of study.
The three components of the
written Ph.D. comprehensive examination, and the courses upon which
they are based, are as follows.
-
One component is to be chosen
from the mathematics Ph.D. comprehensive examination areas listed below
-
One component is in mathematics
education (MATH
528, MATH 529, and any other mathematics education courses designated
by the student's committee)
- One component is in educational
statistics and research methods
Mathematics Ph.D.
Comprehensive Examination Areas
- MATH 560-561 Applied Mathematics
- MATH 595-596 Dynamical Systems
- MATH 584-585 Functional Analysis
- MATH 581-582 Numerical Analysis
- MATH 544-545 Partial
Differential Equations
- MATH 547, 586 Probability
- MATH 547, 551 Real &
Complex Analysis
- MATH 511-512 Topology
