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A Graduate Degree Program at Montana State
University, Bozeman, MT
The
Master of Science in Mathematics (Mathematics Education option) degree program
at Montana State University--Bozeman offers a wide range of classes. Two things in particular drew me to this
program—the fact that it is a teaching degree, and the program’s distance-learning
component. (Oh, and awe-inspiring
professors--but I didn’t find that out until after I had committed myself to
this multi-thousand dollar adventure!)
First, I am Missouri-mule stubbornly against degrees that are just so many classes on a piece of paper. I know people who have them, and I can’t see that those degrees have made them better teachers. That is the main reason it took me 12 years of teaching before I decided to pursue a Masters degree. I firmly believe that proving I can do high-falutin’ math doesn’t prove a thing about how well I can teach my junior high math students. The classes in this MSMME have related to what happens in my classrooms on a day-to-day basis. Granted, there was some high-falutin’ math involved, but a core part of each class involved creating related lessons appropriate for the students at my school. Secondly, my proximity to universities coupled with my teaching load makes commuting to do graduate work impractical. Since my husband and I are both teachers, studying away from home in the summer is not only feasible, but also very enjoyable. Who could complain about spending summers in non-humid, mountain-enhanced, trout-infested Bozeman, Montana?!
Degree Program
Listed below are the courses from my Masters degree program; they are linked to MSU’s catalog descriptions. Courses marked with a ¶ were particularly instrumental to this capstone and were used in my oral defense. Other mathematics courses and official information can be found at http://www.math.montana.edu/. The best way to learn about a graduate program is to talk with someone who has been through it.
Course
Special Studies in
Developing Standards Based Mathematics
Special Projects: PBS MathLine
T3 Statistics
Institute
The courses above were
transferred from another university.
Transferring credits can be
tedious in a graduate program; be sure to check
the requirements before
counting on the classes in your degree program.
MATH
527 Modern
Geometry for Teachers Distance, spring 2000
¶MATH 424 Algebraic Investigations for the Middle Grades summer 2000
MATH 500 Standards for Mathematics Education: An Overview summer 2000
MATH 526 Discrete
Mathematics for Teachers summer 2000
¶MATH 535 Technology
& the Teaching of Mathematics Distance, fall 2000
¶MATH 531 Applications
of Technology in the Math Classroom Distance, fall 2000
MATH
518 Statistics
for Teachers I Distance, summer 2001
MATH 525 Analysis for Teachers summer 2001
¶MATH 533 Advanced Teaching
Strategies Distance, fall 2001
MATH 577 Improving Student Achievement in Mathematics summer 2002
MATH 500 Capstone Project Seminar summer 2002
Graduate committee: Ted Hodgson (chair), Maurice Burke, and Linda Simonsen
FAQ & “Why didn’t somebody tell me…”
When I began investigating the possibility of completing a Masters degree at MSU, I had a long list of questions I directed toward Maurice Burke via email. He said at the time he wished he had a website with the questions and answers as they were the kinds of things most prospective students wanted to know. Fortunately, the MSMME program has developed with each passing semester and more information IS now available on the web. See http://www.montana.edu/summer/mastdegree.shtml in addition to http://www.math.montana.edu/ for information. In the links below, I’ve tried to reconstruct as many of the questions I could remember asking. I’ve also included some things I didn’t know to ask and found out the hard way.
The following comments reflect one
graduate student’s opinions and do not imply endorsement by Montana State
University or its personnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the faculty have teaching experience in elementary or secondary classrooms?
How much will the degree cost?
How much time can I expect a distance class to require for successful completion?
Is it possible to do the entire degree through distance-learning courses?
What kind of arrangements can be made for summer housing?
Other miscellaneously-learned lessons
Ease of registering using Internet
Paying fees at the scheduled time for payment
Out-of-state students pay resident and non-resident fees
“Full time” students pay additional fees
Finding the right people to answer your questions
Communicating with the department secretary
If you skip a semester between classes
Answers and comments
Does
the faculty have teaching experience in elementary or secondary classrooms?
Yes. Each of the four mathematics education faculty have had at least 2 years experience in junior high or high school settings before entering teaching at the collegiate level. Working with teachers who are “in the trenches” and involved in the MSMME program also helps keep them abreast of life in the secondary classroom.
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How
much will the degree cost?
The answer to this question will vary depending on where you
live. Out-of-state students pay between
3 and 4 times what in-state students pay.
However, if you live outside of Montana, but within the northwestern
United States, you may be a part of a consortium that will allow you to pay
in-state rates. Talk with Maurice Burke about
that possibility. Otherwise, the degree
is at least 30 credit hours. You can
find fee information at the bottom left of MSU’s homepage under 
by following the link that references the
current semester. (click the red banner
and it will take you to MSU’s homepage)
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When
do summer classes start?
Classes for the MSMME program are split into two 3-week sessions. The first session typically begins the Monday following Father’s Day and the second typically begins the Monday following the Fourth of July.
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How
much time can I expect a distance class to require for successful completion?
My experience was about 9 to 15 hours a week. A distance class involves (in part) online interaction, many reading assignments, time for professional reflection, and development of projects for your teaching situation. As with anything, you get out of the classes what you put into them.
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Is
it possible to do the entire degree through distance-learning courses?
No. While many of the courses are offered in a distance-learning format, part of the degree program emphasizes face-to-face interaction with fellow math teachers and MSU math faculty. Some on-campus work will be required—at the very least, your capstone presentation must be done on campus.
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What
kind of arrangements can be made for summer housing?
There are a variety of housing options available on campus. See http://www.montana.edu/summer/housing.shtml for information.
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Relaxed atmosphere in classes
Teachers and students are on a first-name basis. Attire is casual if you wish—jeans or shorts and t-shirts are fine. Be aware that the math building is air-conditioned and some rooms could double as a meat locker at least part of the time!
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Ease of registering using Internet
Registering for classes from far away is easy via the MSU's MyInfo website (includes an online schedule of classes) or phone (if you know the course numbers). You must, however, have received an “Advisor Code” from the Registrar’s office in order to enroll in either of the aforementioned ways. IF YOU SKIP A SEMESTER WITHOUT ENROLLING IN ANY CLASSES, you must file an “Intent to Register” form before enrolling again—otherwise you don’t get the needed advisor code from the Registrar’s office. The form can be faxed or mailed. Generally, the math department sends out a letter or an email message to current students about what classes are being offered during the year, but you should make notes when you plan your degree program. Nobody tells you what you need to do. Some classes are offered via the extension service; enrollment for those is different, but they cost less. The next few items contain other comments about costs that you may want to read as well.
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Paying fees at the scheduled time for
payment
While registering via the Web is easy, one thing
distance-learning students don’t get is the “Schedule of Classes” document that
students on campus can pick up in a variety of locations. You don’t need it to figure out your
classes; all that information is on the MSU’s MYInfo website where you
enroll. However, this printed document
also lists fee payment deadlines. That
information is NOT published on the website where you enroll, at least not that
I have been able to find. DO NOT make
the assumption that your fees must simply be paid before classes begin. The business office sends out statements via
postal mail, but the statements’ timeliness is questionable. (I got one of mine on Monday when the
payment was due the previous Friday.)
Late payment fee is $40—ignorance is no excuse. After learning the hard way, I found fee
information at the bottom left of MSU’s homepage under and the link referencing the current
semester. (click the red banner and it will take you to MSU’s homepage) You can pay via credit card by calling the
business office, but you can’t pay online—at least not as of this date.
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Out-of-state students pay resident AND non-resident fees
Maybe most people in the collegiate world are aware of this, but it was NEWS to me when I got my first account statement. I knew out-of-state tuition was higher—roughly 3 times in-state tuition. However, I found out my tuition charge includes the in-state price as well as the out-of-state price. “EVERYONE pays in-state tuition” was the ‘explanation’ I received from the business office. Phooey.
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“Full time” students pay additional fees
If you are taking distance-learning courses while off-campus during the regular school year, you won’t have opportunity to be classified a “full-time” student. However, in the summer it is possible. Be aware that full-time students are charged a hefty fee for health benefits, regardless of whether or not you have your own insurance and medical plans. See http://www.montana.edu/wwwcat/expenses/FeeDescriptions.html for details.
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Finding the right people to
answer your questions
While I have found everyone I talk to at MSU polite and helpful, 9 times out of 10 they will refer you to another office. Folks in the math department don’t know all there is to know about getting a Masters in Math. Folks in the business office don’t usually know much about registration; folks in the registration office don’t know much about payment of fees; folks in the graduate office know mostly about enforcing deadlines and shuffling papers; dorm personnel don’t know about parking permits and may give you information that will get you a ticket; nobody knows anything about the campus computer network but will gladly refer you to the ITC (whatever that is-J-but I think it’s housed in the section of the library that’s roped off for construction!). This can be particularly frustrating to teachers from small communities where everyone knows all there is to know about everybody and everything!
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Communicating with the department secretary
Elizabeth Nicholas (the graduate math department secretary) probably knows more than anybody else in the math building! J When you have forms you must submit and deadlines you must meet from afar, communicate with your graduate committee chair AND THE SECRETARY. She is your advocate; she is friendly and understanding; she is on-site and can rattle cages if need be.
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If you skip a semester between classes
If you skip a semester without enrolling in any classes, you must file an “Intent to Register” form before enrolling again—otherwise you won’t get the advisor code from the Registrar’s office that you need to enroll. The Intent to Register form can be found online and can be mailed or faxed to the Registrar’s office.
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Immunization requirements
MSU has specific immunization requirements for ALL students
entering the institution. Be aware that
you will need to provide proof of these immunizations before you will be
allowed to enroll for your first classes.
Additional information can be found by looking for “Immunization” on the
side bar of the general information page.
You can access that page by choosing the current semester link under on
MSU’s homepage. (click the red banner
and it will take you to MSU’s homepage)
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