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Math teachers lay the foundation for a student’s success in school and well into the future. They teach the core concepts that are necessary for basic daily living, such as handling money, compounding interest, and simple formulas like area and volume. It takes an extremely talented and special group of people to make this often-dreaded subject into an enjoyable experience for students.
A mathematics education degree gives you a pretty narrow field of job opportunities. Depending on the college you attend and your specific degree, you might be able to choose from either a middle-school or high-school teaching position.
The number of high school teachers needed in the country is slated to continue rising, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. You might want to jump aboard this steady source of employment by enrolling in one of these top programs.
Best Traditional Bachelor’s in Math Education Programs
Established as one of the top-ranked schools in the nation, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor has a rather extensive education program. Students can apply to the college of education in their junior year, but some might choose to take the preferred admission route their freshman year. This allows you to earn acceptance immediately and transfer to the school of education when you complete enough credits. A few of the required courses for math education include:
- Calculus
- Linear Algebra
- Probability
- Geometry for Teachers
In order to gain preferred admission status, you must have a 3.0 GPA and continue to accumulate the credits and grades to keep your status. You must have either two teaching majors or a major and minor at this school. This gives you plenty of flexibility to choose mathematics and a second area of interest. You will need 120 credit hours to graduate.
The University of Michigan’s School of Education and its Secondary Teacher Education Program are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation for Educator Preparation.
Attend one of the leading schools for secondary education at University of Wisconsin-Madison. You can study secondary education with a minor in mathematics that covers higher-level math such as matrices, calculus, modern algebra, statistics, and more. The mathematics minor will require 28 credits in addition to your core classes and secondary education courses (120 credit hours total).
You must be a current student to apply for the School of Education, so you will need to consider the University of Wisconsin’s general admissions requirements. Most students who are accepted will have a high school GPA between 3.8 and 4.0, as well as a 28 to 32 on the ACT (1330 to 1460 on the SAT).
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Stanford University presents a unique path to receiving a bachelor’s in math education. At this school, you will major in your area of interest (mathematics) and receive a minor in education. Their mathematics major includes topics such as mathematical reasoning, data analysis, linear algebra, and mathematics of knots, tangles, and braids. The mathematics department and the education department both offer a more rigorous honors program.
Admission can be challenging at this school, with most students having an average GPA that exceeds 4.0. Many applicants have SAT scores that range from 1430 to almost 1600. Students should be prepared for the fact that Stanford is an extremely selective school.
Graduation requires 49 credits from the math department and 15 other electives, in addition to their basic core requirements (64 units total). You must have 180 credits total. Stanford University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teachers of Education and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
In addition to learning higher level math skills, you can tap into plenty of educational resources at the University of Georgia’s College of Education. The curriculum at this southern school focuses on the specific topics you will teach for grades six through twelve, as well as different instruction methods and tips to incorporate technology into the classroom. Alternatively, you could select a double-major in education and mathematics. For the full mathematics education program, you will need to be admitted to UGA before applying to the College of Education.
General university requirements include a GPA that typically ranges from 3.88 to 4.13 and SAT scores between 1220 to 1360.
The entire program requires 120 credit hours, including the core classes required of every student at the University. The University of Georgia’s College of Education and its Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics Education are accredited by the National Council on Teacher Education and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Join the second-best university in the nation at University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education. They have the ninth-best education program in the country, including a five-year academic track that gives you a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s of teaching in one fell swoop. You should plan on getting your bachelor’s degree in mathematics while receiving your master’s in teaching.
Most students who apply to this school have an ACT score between 31 and 34, or the SAT equivalent. You must earn 120 credit hours to at least receive your bachelor’s degree.
The University of Virginia is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Best Online Bachelor’s in Math Education Programs
Western Governors University gives students a unique education that allows them to choose whether they want to pursue middle school or high school education. The program caters specifically to which age group and curriculum you will choose. In the end, you will receive a teaching certification that is accepted in all fifty states. Students will study human growth and development, classroom management, and mathematics courses.
Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, transcripts from your previous school, an interview with an enrollment counselor, and proof of a C or better in a college-level pre-calculus course (for admission to the Teachers College). Graduation requires the 44 courses including general education requirements and specialized education classes.
The bachelor’s in math education at Western Governors University is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Students can become math teachers at Granite State College with their initial teacher certification program. You can choose from mathematics for grades five through eight or grades seven through twelve. Areas of study include calculus, linear algebra, history of math, and managing student behavior in the classroom.
Admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED for consideration. Students who graduate from this school must take all fifteen courses in their area of study, as well as pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Exam and the Praxis II for math content knowledge exam. You will need 120 credit hours in order to graduate with your bachelor’s degree.
Granite State College is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.
Take advantage of the flexibility offered by Midway University’s online bachelor’s in math education program. Here, you will learn the foundational skills you need to teach effectively in a multicultural classroom and relay higher math concepts such as calculus, college geometry, and more.
The admission department recommends a GPA of 2.5 and an SAT score of 860 (ACT score of 18) before applying. The teacher education program requires separate admission with a 2.75 minimum GPA, professional recommendations, district paperwork completed, and a passing Praxis Core score. Students are expected to complete 34 general education course hours, 30 secondary math course hours, and 45 education course hours for graduation.
Midway University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The Education Program has accreditation through the Kentucky Educational and Professional Standards Board.
Are you ready to create a flexible environment so you can earn your bachelor’s in math education? Mayville State University offers one of the premier online programs that teach students the basics of child psychology, classroom management, and higher mathematics to give them a well-rounded education that prepares them for the future.
Before applying, you should have a high school GPA of 2.0 and an ACT score of 18 for the best chances of admission. You must have 125 credit hours to graduate with this degree, including 36 hours of their essential core classes. The majority of your areas will be spent learning secondary professional education, followed closely by higher level math courses.
Mayville State University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
You can select from either middle school mathematics or high school mathematics using the online degree program available from Indian River State College. In addition to their general course requirements (60 hours), you must also have 60 hours within your major field of secondary mathematics. These courses can include human development, instructional strategies, number theory, and more.
First-time college students can find easy admission at Indian River State College. Just your high school diploma is enough to qualify you for admission and guarantees you a spot at this online school.
Indian River State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How to Choose the Right Program
You can choose the perfect program based on your future career aspirations and the academic course load each school provides. Some will focus more specifically on mathematics while others will primarily teach you how to become a better educator. After this, you can rank schools by convenience, price, and accreditation.
Who accredits a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education program?
Understanding the accreditation schools possess is the key to ensuring that you receive a top-notch education that will prepare you for a future in teaching. Every school, including online programs, will have to maintain some type of accreditation with a state, regional, or national accrediting agencies.
Beyond this accreditation, many will opt to maintain voluntary status with the National Council on Teacher Education or the Accreditation for Educator Preparation. This helps to hold the schools accountable for offering a well-rounded curriculum that adequately prepares students for the future. Not all of the top schools hold this accreditation but it should be considered before you make a choice.
How long does it typically take to get a degree in mathematics education?
Most colleges and universities allow you obtain your degree in four years, just as with a standard bachelor’s degree from other programs. Some course loads will require five years depending on the timing of the courses offered and your enrollment date.
What does the curriculum include?
The curriculum for mathematics education will really vary based on the university. Some schools will require mostly higher-level math courses with only a handful of education classes to teach you basic classroom management. The opposite may also be true, where you will focus primarily on teaching techniques instead of mathematics.
In schools where you will graduate with your bachelor’s degree in mathematics and obtain your teaching certification, you can expect to find far more math classes than teaching courses. At some universities, you may be able to choose a double major that allows you to learn more higher-level math and teaching concepts at the same time.
How can I finance my education?
Obtaining your bachelor’s degree can be an expensive endeavor. You can finance this dream by applying for financial aid and grants through the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Grants offered by the federal government do not need to be repaid upon graduation.
Some of these top universities will also have scholarships available to eligible students on a first-come-first-served basis. These scholarships will not need to be repaid but might be based on your grades, test scores, and other criteria. Similar to a scholarship, some colleges will offer work-study programs that allow you to work off your debt in various positions around campus.
For the remaining amount, you might consider taking out a student loan that can be paid back upon graduation. Look for loans that have a low interest rate and don’t impose a penalty for prepayment. The federal government tends to offer more advantageous loan programs compared to private lenders.
What are the employment prospects for a bachelor’s in math education graduate?
In order to understand the employment prospects for a bachelor’s in math education graduate, you need to first determine whether you will be working in a middle school or a high school setting. In both cases, there is a slight growth needed among positions available in this field. All data is based on the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics with projects ranging from 2016 to 2026.
High School Teacher: A high school math teacher can expect to make an annual salary of $58,030. Jobs in this area are expected to increase by eight percent over the coming years, creating 76,800 more jobs.
Middle School Teacher: Much like the high school teacher, the need for a middle school teacher is also expected to increase between now and 2026. It is estimated that 47,300 more jobs will be created. Middle school teachers do make slightly less than high school teachers, with an average annual salary of $56,720.
