Dec 04, 2024  
2024 - 2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024 - 2025 Graduate Catalog

Mathematics Education, M.S.Ed.


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Description and Goals

The M.S.Ed. Mathematics Education prepares professional educators for leadership roles ineducational settings. The program contributes to the intellectual and professional growth of practicingeducators through a challenging and supportive course of study that respects and builds upon their experiences in the field. The cohesive student-centered program models excellence in education through rigorous coursework and faculty mentoring of research and practice. The 33-credit program helps teachers become effective educational leaders.

The program is designed to support the development of mathematics teacher leaders PK-12 for positions such as: mathematics coaches, mathematics curriculum/instructional specialists, mathematics interventionists, etc. or to provide an alternate route for people with an undergraduate degree in mathematics or with 15 undergraduate credits in mathematics, including calculus 1, calculus 2, geometry, and statistics.

Completion of the degree takes two to four years, depending on the individual’s pacing of courses.

The program delivery will be through blended courses (partially online and partially face-to- face).Approximately 30% of the program will be delivered through face-to-face instruction and 70% will be delivered using distance technology tools.

Field-based Research

All students will participate in field-based projects to develop the skills of independent research. UMF faculty, staff, and students who intend to conduct projects involving human participants must seek approval (or an exemption) from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is the administrative and decision-making body having responsibility for review and approval of research involving human subjects. Before any research involving human subjects can be initiated, it must be submitted to the IRB for review and approval. Guidelines for preparing and submitting a proposal to the IRB are located at:https://mycampus.maine.edu/group/umf/institutional-review-board.

Campus Technology Tools

Students are required to use the following campus technology tools:

     ●  MyCampus, the UMF web portal, from which you will be able to log into the sites listed below, as well as Mantor Library, Tk20 (the university assessment database) andUMS Academy(onlinetraining resources).

     ●  MaineStreet, the software where demographic information is stored, registration occurs and grades can be seen.

     ●  Brightspace, the learning management system used for hybrid and online courses.

     ●  University email.

Core Courses (21 credits)


Education Courses (12 credits):

 

 

 

Track and Specialization


LEADERSHIP TRACK:

Core Education Leadership Courses (3 credits):

Choose an area of Specialization:


Specialization: Math Coaching (6 credits)

     EDU 594 - Coaches as Change Agents in Mathematics Education  (This course will have aco-requisite field experience)

    EDU 596 - Mathematics Coaching: Empowering Educators for Effective Practice   (This course will have aco-requisite field experience)

Specialization: Math Intervention (6 credits)

     EDU 527 - Mathematics Intervention: Theory and Data Informed Decision Making    (This course willhave a co-requisite field experience)

  EDU 528 - Mathematics Intervention: Implementation and Assessment   (This course will havea co-requisite field experience)


SELF-DESIGNED TRACK (12 credits):

Each student completes a 12-credit set of graduate level education courses appropriate for his/her/their interests. The student will work with his/her/their advisor to choose these courses, which are not limited to those offered in mathematics education.

INITIAL LICENSURE TRACK:


 

Minimum Total Credits for the Degree: 33 Credits


Admission Requirements


Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

For the Leadership Track, applicants must have a minimum of 2 years of teaching experience and be employed or seeking employment as a classroom teacher or other educational professional.

For Initial Licensure Track, applicants must have a minimum of 15 credits in mathematics at the undergraduate or graduate level, including calculus 1, calculus 2, geometry, and statistics. Students applying for Initial Licensure Track may be required to provide additional documentation to comply with the Maine Certification Policy. The Maine Department of Education is the granting authority for teacher credentialing in the State of Maine.

Application

Application is made online at https://www.umf.maine.edu/grad-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/10/Application-UMF-MSEd-in-Math-Ed.pdf

Required supplemental materials include:

     ●  Application essay;

     ●  Two recommendations using the appropriate M.S.Ed. in Mathematics Educationrecommendation form - one from a colleague, one from current administrator or supervisor;

     ●  Official transcript(s) of undergraduate degree(s) (including UMF) and all graduate work;

     ●  Copy of certification or license and CHRC (if Leadership Track);

     ●  A nonrefundable $60 application fee.

Submission of Application

Applications and essays should be emailed as attachments to gradstudies@maine.edu, or sent to the address below. Supplemental materials should be mailed to:

Division of Graduate and Continuing Education

University of Maine at Farmington

111 South Street

Farmington, ME 04938

Admission Decisions

Only completed applications will be reviewed. Admission decisions are made by the Graduate Admissions Committee on a rolling basis until the enrollment cap is reached. Applications received after that point will be considered for the next enrollment deadline. All admissions decisions are final.

Immunization Law

Maine state law requires all individuals born after December 31, 1956, who plan to enroll in a degree program or plan to take 12 or more credits, to show proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus before registering for classes. Immunization records must be on file with UMF Student Health Services before students will be allowed to register for the class.

Transfer of Credits

If you are requesting that graduate-level coursework be transferred from another institution into this UMF Master’s program, in addition to your transcript you must submit the syllabus for each course you would like considered for transfer. Transfer decisions are made at the time of admission. A student, with the approval of the Admissions Committee, may transfer up to 9 graduate credits from another institution into his/her academic program; only 3 of these credits may be in the core of the program. Aside from EDU 582, transfer of credit into the core is not accepted. These credits must have been earned from a regionally accredited institution, within 5 years prior to admission, and with a minimum grade of B (or equivalent). Graduate credits applied toward an undergraduate degree cannot be used toward the Master’s degree.

Student Policies


Student Advising

Each M.S.Ed. in Mathematics Education student will be assigned an academic advisor. The advisor will review student transcripts and registration status to monitor student progress. A student is expected to maintain regular communication with his/her academic advisor.

Degree Completion

Those enrolled in the program will normally complete the degree within four years, including summers. Students must complete the degree within five years from initial date of enrollment, unless approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education because of special circumstances.

Leave of Absence

A student may request a leave of absence, and permission to join a subsequent cohort. These requests must be made in writing using the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and signed by the student. The Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education reviews requests.

Progress

A student is expected to make consistent progress towards the degree and maintain regular communication with his/her academic advisor. If a student does not enroll in a course for two terms orreceive an approved leave of absence, a space in the program will not be maintained, and the student must reapply.

Deferral Policy

After admission to an M.S.Ed. program, a student must begin coursework within three terms, or the student will be considered inactive. An inactive student must complete a readmission application if s/hewould like to be considered for readmission.

Withdrawal from Program

A student who voluntarily withdraws from the program after beginning coursework may submit admission application to be considered again.

Commencement

A master’s degree candidate may participate in the commencement ceremony only if he or she has applied for graduation and been certified to participate by Merrill Center Student Services. Where 3-6credits remain and completion will be in the summer immediately following commencement, students may participate in commencement. However, the diploma will not be released until after the receipt of the final grades at the end of August. All special circumstances must be approved in advance by the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education

 

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