Catalog - Table of Index

Mathematics Major

Secondary Education Certification

Degree BS or BA, Mathematics
Department Chair Patrick Touhey, PhD

The secondary education program in mathematics (MTH/SECED) is designed to prepare junior high school and secondary school teachers of mathematics. The MTH/SECED program has been continually refined to keep pace with developments in the profession. It is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and leads to a teaching certificate valid in Pennsylvania (grades 7–12) and is transferable to many other states. A unique aspect of the program is that it prepares teachers to effectively deal with students with disabilities who are likely to be included in their classes.

Effectively, students majoring in MTH/SECED must complete two majors, one in teacher education and one in mathematics. Accordingly, students have two academic advisors who cooperate to keep students on track. Each semester they must meet with both of them. Pre-service teachers in MTH/SECED must successfully complete the liberal arts core curriculum, a series of generic teacher education department (TED) courses and field experiences, the courses and experiences required by the SECED specialization, and a content area major in mathematics.

MTH/SECED majors must satisfactorily complete a series of field experiences that begin during the second semester of the first year and continue every semester until graduation. By graduation, our pre-service teachers will have spent at least 700 hours in community classrooms. During students’ final semester, they must complete a 15-week student teaching assignment in two separate placements. All field experiences and teaching assignments are arranged by the university. Transportation to and from field experience and student teaching assignments is the responsibility of the student.

Students who successfully complete the MTH/SECED program are eligible for recommendation by the university to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for state teacher certification. The university’s recommendation and the successful completion of other requirements established by the state, including meeting the pass scores specified by the state on the national teacher examination, qualify graduates for an “Instructional I” certificate. Once certified in Pennsylvania, our graduates usually have no difficulty becoming certified in other states.

Sequence of Required Courses

First Year

First Semester	Total Credits	15	Second Semester	Total Credits	18
CPS 101	Intro to Programming: C++	3	CPS 121	Computer Programming	3
MTH 151	Calculus I	3	MTH 152	Calculus II	3
ENG 103	Composition	3	ENG	Eng Lit Core	3
ENG	Eng Lit Core (Amer or Brit req.)	3		Core	3
	Core	3	TED 111	Intro to Education	3
TED 101	First-Year Seminar or	0	TED 121	Educational Technology	3
TED 102	Transfer Seminar	0	TED 191	First-Year Field	0

Sophomore Year

First Semester	Total Credits	17	Second Semester	Total Credits	18
MTH 225	Calculus III	4	MTH 363	Abstract Algebra I	3
MTH 244	Set Theory and Logic	3	PHY 222	General Physics II	4
PSY 221	General Physics I	4	MTH 215	Statistics for Mathemeticians	3
TED 231	Learning	3	TED 251	Curriculum	3
TED 241	Development	3	TED 261	Teaching	3
TED 292	Sophomore Field I	0	TED 271	Classroom Management	2
			TED 293	Sophomore Field II	0

Junior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	19	Second Semester	Total Credits	16
MTH 364	Abstract Algebra II	3	MTH 341	Real Analysis I	3
MTH 241	Linear Algebra	3	MTH 242	Differential Equations	3
MTH 200	Historical Perspective of Math	3		Core	3
	Core	3		Core	3
	Core	3		Core	3
TED 350	Curriculum, Sec Ed	1	TED 395	Junior Practicum	1
TED 377	Classroom Mgmt, Sec Ed	1
TED 367	Methods, Sec Ed	2
TED 394	Junior Field	0

Senior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	16	Second Semester	Total Credits	12-15
TED 443	Parent Conferencing	1	TED 497	Student Teaching	9-12
MTH 342	Real Analysis II	3		Free elective	3
MTH 351	Geometry	3		Free elective	3
	Free elective	3
	Core	3
	Core	3
TED 401	Senior Seminar	0
TED 496	Senior Field	0

Total required for graduation 131 credits

Education Course Descriptions (TED) Mathematics Course Descriptions (MTH)