Undergraduate Majors
- Learning to a Greater Degree Contract
- Majors
- Academic Colleges & Departments
- Academic Advising
- Transfer Information
- Catalogs
- Online and Distance Learning
- The Graduate School
- Honors College
- International Center
- Registrar and Student Records
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Undergraduate Research
- Writing Center
Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Education Degree
 
|
The University of Central Missouri's Bachelor of Science in Education degree program with a major in mathematics leads to certification to teach high school mathematics in Missouri. Certification may also be transferable to other states, depending on their requirements.
All teacher education programs at UCM are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This degree also provides a foundation for graduate work in mathematics.
Skilled mathematicians, computer scientists, mathematics teachers and actuaries are needed today in virtually every corner of society. The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at UCM is meeting this expanding need with programs suited to student interests as well as society's demands.
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science offers a diverse curriculum, including courses in calculus, computer science, geometry, abstract algebra, statistics, actuarial science, and mathematics education. Students may begin the study of mathematics at a level equal to their background. Students with strong mathematics backgrounds may choose to begin with calculus. Others may choose to start with algebra or trigonometry.
Computer Facilities
A Mac computer laboratory provides mathematics education students access to a variety of mathematical software. In addition, all mathematics and computer science programs are supported by a laboratory of networked PC's running Linux and Windows. Electronic mail, World Wide Web access, and programming compilers are available as well.
About the Faculty
Mathematics education, mathematics, and computer science courses are taught by experienced and caring faculty members who believe in individualized attention for their students. The student-faculty ratio at the University of Central Missouri is about 17 to 1, which allows for personalized attention for each student.
The mathematics education faculty all have public school teaching experience and regularly publish in national journals, conduct scholarly research, present at state and national conferences, lead workshops in the public schools, fill leadership roles in state and national organizations, and seek and implement grants. In addition to a wide range of academic and professional experience, more than 75 percent of the mathematics and computer science faculty members have earned doctorates and all other faculty members have master's degrees.
Student Involvement
The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science sponsors several student organizations that meet regularly to discuss topics ranging from new discoveries to career opportunities.
The Central Missouri Mathematics Educators organization provides opportunities for preservice middle and high school mathematics teachers to discuss methods and trends in teacher education with UCM faculty and area public school teachers. Other organizations include Kappa Mu Epsilon, a national honor society for mathematics students; the Association for computing machinery which keeps students informed of changes in the department's and university's computer facilities; a student chapter of the Mathematical Association of America for students interested in recent developments in the mathematical community; and the Actuarial Organization which provides students with career information about the actuarial profession.
Career Opportunities
The current shortage of secondary mathematics teachers means that job opportunities for mathematics education students are abundant. Graduates of the mathematics education program at UCM are well-prepared mathematically and pedagogically to be effective high school mathematics teachers. In addition, the cognitive reasoning, organizational processes, and modelbuilding structure of mathematics are skills that are in great demand in the physical, biological and social sciences, in commerce, industry, and insurance.
To Learn More
Department of Mathematics and
Computer Science
660-543-4930
Admissions
660-543-4290
